Western Counties West

Exeter Saracens 17

Tavistock 18

A LATE penalty enabled Tavistock to end the season with a win by the narrowest of margins.

The early exchanges saw both sides using the boot to gain territory. One from fly half Rich Goldsby-West enabled Danny Luffman and Simon Braithwaite to chase into the home 22 where following a maul Tavistock managed to turn over the ball, causing the home side to infringe and concede a penalty which Goldsby-West kicked for the first points.

The home side responded and soon won a penalty which they kicked to level the scores. Tavistock came straight back and after getting possession in the home 22 they worked their way to the line where David Goodspeed dived over for a try which Goldsby-West converted.

The lead did not last long as good handling by Saracens got the ball wide and a weaving run enabled them to go round the defence and go in under the posts. The conversion levelled the scores. Back came Tavistock and following a good kick, Dougie Lloyd ripped the ball off the home defence in a ruck. The ball was then worked across the pitch enabling Mark Friend to go in at the corner for a try.

A maul in the Saracens half enabled them to burst through the Tavistock defence and a try seemed certain but a great covering tackle by Luffman kept them out.

The second half saw Tavistock camped in their own 22 but great defending kept the home side at bay with Duncan Law making some great steals enabling the visitors to clear.

The home side then took the lead for the first time as lack of Tavistock numbers out wide allowed them to go through and round under the posts for a try which they converted. It seemed that this would be enough to win the game for Saracens but Tavistock never gave up and following a run from deep by Willy Gibbs, Saracens were caught offside and Goldsby-West calmly kicked the penalty for Tavistock to regain the lead.

The home side still thought they could snatch back the lead but Tavistock held on to end the season with a win.