Devon one North and East

Buckfastleigh Ramblers . . 6

North Tawton 21

IN conditions almost as bad as those at Totnes two weeks ago, North Tawton's hardy band of travelling supporters were rewarded this time with a deserved victory to celebrate.

With the wind advantage in the first half Buckfastleigh took the game to North Tawton and gained two penalties from which their fly half was able to kick the points.

North Tawton handled the conditions rather better and put together some promising attacking moves. A long kick by Ramblers was fielded in Tawton's 22 metre area by winger Graham Sage who ran the ball back with a good looping run and took play well into the Ramblers' half.

Paul Turner, playing very effectively at flanker, almost made it to the line and the Ramblers' defender picked up an injury in the tackle which held up play for some minutes.

Tawton renewed the attack and Ramblers were penalised as they defended close to their line. A tap was chosen and the ball went out along the line ending up in a mauling drive under the posts. From the middle of this number eight Steve King forced the ball down for a try. The conversion from scrum half David Fewings gave North Tawton a slender lead.

As the half finished North Tawton defended well against the Ramblers' attack and a vital hook against the head in a scrum about five metres from their line by Adrian Pierce gave them a chance to clear. A final penalty kick for Ramblers went wide leaving the score at the break 7-6 to North Tawton.

In the second period with the wind advantage North Tawton made sure of the win with a comprehensive display of 15 man rugby.

The front row of Pete Wonnacott, Speedy Peirce and Lewis Keily more than held their own, and with Steve King revelling in the conditions and breaking off the back of the scrum to good effect, the threes were able to work some good moves. Two tries were their reward - firstly to Dave Fewings collecting an inside pass from Graham Sage and the second to Simon Quick who ran on to a short pass from Fewings and had the momentum to carry him through the defensive tackles. Fewings converted both to put North Tawton 21-6 ahead.

The score remained the same at the end of the match despite another touch down by North Tawton when the referee was unsighted by a melee of bodies on the try line.