Devon two

North Tawton 27

Ilfracombe 12

NORTH Tawton welcomed a different looking Ilfracombe side from the last time they played them to Taw Meadows for an important league game. With only two teams promoted at the season end Ilfracombe are one of North Tawton’s biggest rivals for one of those places — let battle commence.

Straight from the whistle North Tawton put the away side under pressure with some good running play but a wayward pass led to Ilfracombe scoring the first try of the game, with the kick missed, for 0-5.

Tawton continued to move the ball around well and it was not long before Matt Baker got lower than the rest of the pack and scored a tryo to leve. Again the kick was missed for 5-5.

The confidence grew in the North Tawton side and a superb pass by the winger Shaun Braime freed up Dave Fewings to go over for the home side’s second try for 10-5. Some poor passing decisions by various Tawton players kept Ilfracombe in the game to the extent of another intercept by the Ilfracombe backs and they ran in for to take the lead at 10-12 after a successful conversion.

North Tawton come straight back at what appeared to be a tiring Ilfracombe  and again some good moving through the phases keeping the ball to hand resulted in Conner Mathis adding to his seasons tally of tries. Dave Fewings adding the kick for a half-time lead  of 17-12.

The second half got under way and its not long before some poor discipline from the away side it gave Dave Fewings the chance to add three penalty points for 20-12. It meant Ifracombe needed to score twice to win. However, Tawton were after the bonus point fourth try, which after running and some really good lines Luke Dennis burst through and over; with the kick it ended 27  12.

This was a well worked win for North Tawton and with bonus points it kept them in good position league wise.