Devon Merit

Tavistock Moorlanders 14

Exmouth thirds 24

EXMOUTH arrived as the unbeaten league leaders and after an  exciting and absorbing rugby game, were fortunate to return home with their unbeaten record intact.

The visitors started the game with the greater intensity and their bigger and heavier forwards posted two tries from rolling mauls in the opening 15 minutes.

The home side then started to settle and began to take the game to the visitors. A period of pressure from the Moorlanders saw several attacking phases kept out by some sturdy defence from Exmouth.

Around the half hour mark a rare attack from the visitors saw them score a third try from a kick ahead, aided by a kind bounce going to hand. The conversion taking the score to 17 – 0.

The Tavistock cause was not helped when prop Dan Clarke sustained a broken ankle. The remainder of the half saw more pressure from Tavistock, but no scoring.

Playing up the slope in the second half, the home side began to take control of the forward exchanges, with some fine rucking and mauling and after struggling in the first half, Tavistock were now dominating the lineout.

Tavistock were now moving the ball wide whenever the opportunity came and Exmouth were being continually penned back in their own half. The pressure had to tell and midway through the half, after the forwards had made yet another fine drive, quick ball saw flyhalf Tom Thursby make a good angled run through the Exmouth defence to score a well deserved try, which he converted himself.

Tavistock regained the initiative from the restart and five minutes later, a repeat of the forwards driving and another excellent break from Thursby, saw him score his second try, which he again converted, to bring the score to 14-17.

The last period of the game saw Tavistock continue to enjoy almost total possession and Exmouth putting in a fine, if at times desperate defensive display.

Four minutes from time, with the home side waiting for the referee to whistle for what they perceived infringement - a whistle that never came - and the Exmouth left winger race away to score a converted try against the run of play and seal an away victory.

Tom Thursby took the man of the match honours for Tavistock, but this was essentially an outstanding performance from the whole squad. The Tavistock squad wish Dan Clarke a speedy recovery.