Western Counties West

Tavistock 26

Truro 8

TAVISTOCK returned to winning ways, with a solid, workmanlike display against their mid-table Cornish visitors. The opening period saw both sides looking to run the ball, but neither team was able to stamp any real authority on the game. Fly half Richard West gave Tavistock the lead with a penalty, with Ayres soon replying in kind for Truro.

As the half wore on, Tavistock started to take control of the forward exchanges and enjoyed much of the possession, but were unable to breach the solid Truro defence. Two more penalties from West were all they had to show for their dominance at the half way stage.

The home side started the second half with a fine flowing move, which ended with number 8, Mark Friend slipping through the Truro defence for a try in the opening minute. West added the conversion and knocked over a drop goal soon after, to extend the lead to 19-3.

Tavistock continued to dominate possession and before long, another sustained attack ended with centre Dan Luffman racing in for a try, with West adding the conversion.

Despite remaining in control, Tavistock were unable to break through the Truro defence again. With the match starting to drift to a quiet conclusion, Tavistock lost influential flanker Duncan Law, to the sin bin for 10 minutes and in his absence, Truro mounted a series of forward attacks, one of which ended with an unconverted try by Carl Ranscombe.

This was a welcome and well deserved win for Tavistock but they were again guilty of not being as clinical in finishing off good approach work as they might have been.

With the amount of possession they enjoyed, perhaps Tavistock should have won by a wider margin.

Richard West had a good day with the boot, scoring 16 of his team's points.