Western Counties West Bideford Chiefs 39

Tavistock 12

THIS was very much a match of contrasting halves as Tavistock went down against a home side currently challenging at the top of the table.

Early pressure saw the home side go over in the corner for their first try but this was followed by a period of pressure from Tavistock which saw them camped in and around the home 22.

A series of lineouts and scrums set up driving runs from Dougie Lloyd, Mark Friend and Lloyd James but the breakthrough would not come. A yellow card for David Goodspeed enabled Chiefs to stretch the Tavistock defence and run in two tries, both converted, as well as kick a penalty during his time in the bin.

A try from a tap penalty five metres out, which resulted in a yellow card for Ade Baker, and a long range penalty enabled the home side to go in at half time with a lead of 32 points.

Whatever coach Mike Lewis said at half time certainly had an effect as the Tavistock tackling and handling improved beyond recognition. The ball was being moved about at pace and both Ben Hadfield and Willy Gibbs made good runs into home territory.

Tavistock's opening try came from Ben Hadfield as following a series of drives for the line, fly half Rich Goldsby-West's high cross field kick enabled him to out jump the home defence to score. Goldsby-West converted.

All the play was now coming from Tavistock and their second try came as Gibbs made a great weaving run and the supporting Andy Griffiths and then Friend both gained several metres towards the corner where Friend managed to offload in the tackle enabling Dan Oner to shrug off his tackler and go over to score.

The pack were now dominating and drove the home side back over their own line but couldn't capitalise from the resulting scrum. A turnover enabled the home side to break out and moved the ball downfield and from a lineout five metres out drove over for the final try. The last few plays saw Tavistock winning scrums on the Chiefs put in but they could not capitalise.