Devon Merit League

Torquay thirds 48

Tavistock seconds 71

ON a pitch that was only just playable following heavy rain, Torquay and Tavistock served up a highly entertaining game of running rugby, featuring a total of 18 tries.

Torquay had a big squad, including a heavyweight scrum, whereas Tavistock fielded a number of younger players and from the start, the game became a contest between the heavy, powerful Torquay forwards and the lighter; faster Tavistock side.

Retaining possession was key and despite conceding a try to a driving maul after only three minutes, Tavistock were soon spreading the ball wide, with a number of good passing and handling moves, that the home side could not contain and racked up six tries in the next thirty minutes. Torquay forwards went on the front foot again and scored two more tries of their own in the last few minutes of the half as Tavistock led 38-19 at the interval.

The home side started the second half with two more tries in the opening ten minutes before the Torquay forwards started to enjoy more of the possession and rumbled in three more scores of their own. With both sides tiring the last ten minutes saw the teams swap two more tries each, to conclude an unusually high scoring; but thoroughly absorbing contest.

Tavistock's tries came from full-back Rob Hockin (4); centres Ben Hadfield (3) and Doug Lloyd (2); wing Richard Coker and prop Joe Pook one each. Colt David Milligan converted 8 of the tries and had a fine game at scrum-half and combined well with his brother Rob Milligan at flyhalf, in ensuring quick ball was constantly available to the rest of the backs.

Although conceding weight to the Torquay pack, the Tavistock forwards all put in good performances, with Paul Edwards and Matt Henney prominent in the lineout; Will Tomkins; Billy Boulton; Glen Holmes; Brennan Drewitt; Liam Mills  and Andrew Griffiths all worked hard in the rucks and mauls and replacement prop, colt Martin Budden, again used his impressive pace, to cause all sorts of problems for the opposition. Veteran Martin Credicott added his experience to the side as a second half replacement.