North Tawton RFC seconds 14

Crediton thirds 31

THIS fixture was more than a decade in the making as North Tawton fielded a 22 strong second XV side at home.

With the likes of Bourner, Fox, Ash and Nye retrieving their hung up boots from the attic the game brought huge positives to Taw Meadow as the return to regular second team rugby becomes more and more ominous.

In difficult conditions the game did not start in North Tawton's favour as Crediton's cohesion shone and two quick tries saw the visitors 12-0 up in as many minutes.

This kick started the A team's engine as some brave tackling by Phare in midfield saw possession being retreated and taken deep into the Crediton half. A well constructed maul 10 metres out saw the visitors sucked in and space for King to bundle over from a yard.

This gave the home side confidence and there was some exciting rugby played throughout the first half but the organisation from Crediton saw them capitalise outwide from two further turnovers resulting in breakaway tries. The half ended in a positive manner for the home side as Phare caught the visitors a stray in tapping quickly and going in under the posts to make it 14-24 at half-time.

With the game much in the balance North Tawton were in with a strong chance of reducing the 10 point deficit in the second half. The Tawton scrum became dominant as captain Gould and Quinn saw the set piece move in one direction only. This dominance, however, was not enough to see the whitewash being crossed in the second half as the Crediton defence stood strong. Crediton broke free and looked for a five pointer only to be denied by the ever present Davis covering good ground.

As the second half looked to end an uneventful one it took Nye to entertain the crowd as he took shadow boxing literally with his opposite number; this was as good as it was going to get as Crediton capitalised on a Tawton error five metres out to finish the game off 31-14 victors.