Devon Merit division two

Tavistock seconds 58

Totnes seconds 12

TAVISTOCK fielded several new faces and also welcomed back centre Simon Braithwaite from first team duty in recent weeks and who was to play a large part in this game.

The home side soon settled into their stride and with the forwards supplying plenty of good ball, the backs were soon stretching the Totnes defence.

Centre Braithwaite twice outpaced the visitors'  defence in the opening 15 minutes, to score two fine tries. Scrum half Craig Pascoe added a third try soon after. Fly half Rob Milligan added two conversions and a penalty, to put the home side 22-0 in the lead midway through the half. Totnes were competing well in the forward encounters and contained the Tavistock attacks for most of the rest of the half, but Braithwaite again outpaced the defence with another fine run, to complete his hat-trick and give the home side a 27-0 lead at the interval.

Tavistock scored another try soon after the restart, this time it was veteran lock Lee Easton who powered his way over the line after some good approach work from the forwards.

Fine passing moves from the backs then brought tries for fullback Rob Hockin and centre Richard Coker. Totnes converted try of their own, but this was soon followed by a fourth try from Braithwaite.

Totnes refused to give in and scored a second try.

The home side finished the game on top and lock James Hardman rounded off a hardworking performance from him, by racing through the tired opposition for the final try. Milligan potted three more conversions in the half, to bring the final score to 58-12.

Colts prop Martin Budden, having a runout with the seconds, scrummaged solidly and was prominent in open play. New hooker Jack Lewis and the back row of Paul Dunstan; Matt Henney and Joe Pook all put in good shifts, but it was the quick handling from the Tavistock backs and Braithwaite's clinical finishing that was the main difference between the sides.