Bideford thirds 29

North Tawton secs 29

FOR the first time in more than a decade North Tawton fielded a second team to take on Bideford's third.

Although three players short of the full 15, the Tawton side was supplemented by players loaned from the opposition to make a good match.

North Tawton scored first with a scrum-half try by Matt Weekes as the ball was recycled from a ruck close in to the Bideford line. Jamie Stevens converted to put the Tawton boys 7-0 ahead. Bideford responded with a driving maul to which Tawton had no answer; this resulted in an unconverted try for Bideford. About half way through the first half North Tawton pressurised Bideford's line and from a 5m scrum the ball was shipped along the line to Jabby Fewings on the wing. He crossed for a well-taken try, which was not converted.

The next two scores went to Bideford; first there was an unconverted try for their full-back, then their wing collected a ball from a lineout inside Tawton's 22 metre area and scored a try. This one was converted to make the score 17-12 to Bideford at the break.

Early in the second half North Tawton's centre Jamie Stevens sprinted some 50 metres to touch down almost under the posts. Jack Phare added the two points to take Tawton into a 19-17 lead.

Bideford came back strongly and had Tawton pinned back in their 22. Their defence held up until another good break put Fewings down the left to score his second try, converted by Phare to give Tawton a 26-17 lead.

Tawton's prop and chairman Richard Gould exploded from a maul and it took two tackles to halt his progress. This led to a yellow card against Bideford for dissent. The resulting penalty attempt fell short.

With ten minutes to go Bideford scored a breakaway try from the back of a scrum. The conversion brought them to within two points of North Tawton. Despite a well-struck penalty by Tawton's Stevens to edge out the score to 29-24, Bideford exploited Tawton's right flank and ran in another try.

The conversion missed leaving the score at an honourable draw.