Friendly

North Tawton seconds 47

Bideford thirds 10

AT the start of this friendly match a minute's silence was observed in respect for Richard Ash, a club life member and one of the moving forces behind the establishment of the club at its Taw Meadow ground.

With a fresh breeze blowing down the pitch in favour of Bideford Nomads they held the territorial advantage for the first 20 minutes. North Tawton played themselves back into the match and were awarded a penalty try after putting the Nomads under pressure with a maul on their try line. The conversion by fly half Jamie Stevens notched up the first seven points.

The Nomads responded with a well-taken penalty kick from 20 metres out, converted by fly half Joe Hemus. Tawton were getting into their stride and on the half hour good pressure by the scrum close to Bideford's line gave scrum half Matt Weekes the chance to pop the ball up to prop Richard Gould coming on a well-timed charge to go over for a try close to the posts. Once again Stevens converted to take the score to 14-3 to Tawton.

Five minutes later it was Bideford who crossed the whitewash as their number eight James Evans finished off a good move started with a tap penalty 20 metres out; Hemus converted to make the score 14-10 at the break in favour of the home team.

With the wind now at their backs Tawton started the second half with a try for centre Graham Sage coming from a scrum five metres out. The conversion was missed but the impetus was with Tawton now and four more tries were to come to seal a good win. The first came as a result of good support running by second row Andy Pyle, on hand to take the pass from a breakaway runner. Pyle was in the right place again for his second try, coming off the side of a driving maul close to Bideford's line. Both tries were converted by Stevens.

Tom Chisholm, playing his characteristic rumbustious game, broke through the Bideford defence to touch down wide out on the left; Stevens converted.

An outrageous dummy by second row Tom Davis started the play for the final try. The play developed until Tawton were again camped on Bideford's try line and the ball was bundled over the line with Jake Chisholm making the touchdown. The final conversion by Jamie Stevens gave North Tawton a comfortable win.

North Tawton go up to Devon One league next season as champions of Devon two, which means the presence of a good second team will be important to provide the strength in depth required of the higher league. This will be a target for the new season.