Merit

Tavistock seconds 36

Honiton seconds 5

TAVISTOCK, playing their first league game for five weeks, were hoping to return the compliment to the visitors, who had inflicted a heavy defeat on them earlier in the season.

The hosts kicked-off playing down the slope and the first 15 minutes were spent with  the home side probing, but not finding a way through the visitors' defence.

Then from a strong drive from the forwards, prop Dan Clark spotted a gap and burst through to put Tavistock's first try on the board.

The next 20 minutes saw the home side playing some fine rugby, with the forwards winning good ball and the backs using their pace to slice through the Honiton defence, to the extent that four more tries were scored in the period. Replacement hooker, Simon Parisio; wingers Tom Thursby and Ben Neale and fullback Simon Braithwaite, claiming the tries.

With flyhalf Josh Sutton kicking two conversions, half-time arrived with Tavistock comfortably leading 29-0.

With Tavistock playing up the slope, the second half was a much more even affair.

The Honiton forwards more than held their own in the scrums and lineouts and it was no surprise when the visitors were next to score with a pushover try from a 5 metre scrum.

Tavistock made a number of substitutions during the half, which disrupted their pattern of play and it was not until five minutes from the end, that the home side put together their best phase of play. A flowing movement from the halfway line, passing through many hands, saw replacement flanker Jack Lindsey score an excellent try. Sutton added the conversion, to bring the final score to 36-5.

Back row men, skipper Matt Cole and Pete Davis; props Dan Clark and Joe Hair and locks Tony Worle and Scott Pluckrose, all worked hard to contain the lively Honiton pack. Halfbacks, Niall Murphy and Josh Sutton combined well to keep the backs moving. Centres Ben Hadfield and Freddie Thompson made a number of strong runs.