Merit

Teignmouth seconds 7

Tavistock second 12

TEIGNMOUTH took the game to Tavistock from the kick-off and spent much of the opening period in the visitors' half.

The home fly half slipped through a gap in the Tavistock defence after five minutes and was only denied a try by a superb smother tackle from centre Sam Smerdon, preventing the ball being grounded.

Tavistock gradually worked their way into the match, with their forwards increasingly forcing the home pack on to the back foot. With both sides spoiling and defending well, chances were few and far between and it was not until the final minute of the half that Tavistock lock, Mark Wheatley forced his way over the line, following a series of drives from the Tavistock pack, for the opening score. The conversion was missed and half-time arrived with the visitors leading 5- 0.

Tavistock failed to control the restart and the home forwards took advantage of hesitancy in the visitors defence to score a converted try in the first minute of the half, to take a 7-5 lead. Tavistock spent most of the remainder on the offensive, with the forwards, now dominating in the scrum and Wheatley and flanker Robin Jones winning much of the ball in the lineouts. Teignmouth defended well and were more and more disruptive and Tavistock could not turn their forward dominance into points.

However two minutes from time, the ball was moved out to the Tavistock wing, where Simon Braithwaite set off on a 60 metre dash up the touchline, to outstrip the cover defence and score a fine try in the corner. Centre Nick Lane added the conversion. The last play of the match saw Teignmouth engineer an opening for a try but flanker Tom Charlesworth produced another fine tackle that prevented the ball being grounded.

The Tavistock front row of Joe Hair, Marc Kerswill and John Wakem gave their opposite numbers a torrid afternoon. Wheatley had an outstanding game, with fellow forwards Tim Child, Josh O'Neill, Jones and Charlesworth all making their mark. Scrumhalf Niall Murphy had a good match while the threequarters all defended well.

This was a hard earned win for Tavistock thanks to a strong display by the forwards and fine defence from everybody.