Tavistock 23

Ivybridge 17

TAVISTOCK recorded their second win on the trot against a very young Ivybridge side. However, despite the win, there are still clearly some areas to work on, as Tavistock squandered a series of chances to close out the match and then proceeded to gift Ivybridge a route back in, which almost cost them at the end.

From the kick-off Tavistock were slow to start resulting in a converted try for the visitors as early as five minutes into the match.

This was the wakeup call Tavistock needed. They fought their way back into the game, with Shuttkacker stealing good lineout ball inside the opposition half and Law driving the ball deeper into the Ivybridge 22. From the resulting ruck Tavistock used good hands to reach the rapid Luffman on the wing or then popped the ball back inside for Furnival to beat his opposite man and race over the line, 5-7.

Tavistock continued to dominate Ivybridge, who started to gift penalties. From one such penalty West kicked to the corner and the Tavistock pack caught the resulting lineout and drove for the line. The Ivybridge pack managed to holdout, so Tavistock released their backs, who were looking dangerous all match. The Ivybridge backs struggled to defend and had to commit foul play to avoid conceding the try. West kicked the three points and Tavistock were leading 8-7.

Eventually Tavistock got the score they had been looking for. Goodspeed returned an Ivybridge clearance kick and charged up the field, before putting in an awkward kick over the top, which left the Ivybridge fullback with little alternative but to carry the ball over his own try line for a Tavistock 5 metre scrum. From the base of the scrum Smith fed West at fly half, who looked to put another Tavistock play in motion, before seeing the opposition open up in front of him, gifting West the chance to sprint over from 10 metres out. The resulting conversion was missed, 15-7.

As the match started to approach the last 10 minutes of the half, there was time for one more Tavistock score, as Shuttkacker produced the run of his life, smashing through the defence and touching down to the left of the posts.

Ivybridge came back at Tavistock and only some desperate defending held them at bay. Tavistock eventually conceded though, as they were penalised at the ruck for not letting go. The resulting penalty was kicked to leave the score 20-10 at half time.

The early part of the second half Tavistock had several chances to score, only for handling errors to stop them in their tracks. Even with Ivybridge reduced to 14 men, Tavistock still failed to get the all-important fourth try. Eventually Tavistock did at least take three points from all their dominate play. West slotting in front of the posts to take the score to 23-10.

With Ivybridge back to their full quota of players, they began to dominate for a large period of the half. With Tavistock under so much pressure it was a case of when, not if the referee would punish Tavistock for repeated infringement and Law received the yellow card.

Ivybridge's forwards continually drove around the base of the ruck and were rewarded with the try, converted m score 23-17.

Next week's league match away at Kingsbridge, KO 3pm..