Devon one

North Tawton 17

Wessex 8

NORTH Tawton bounced back from three successive defeats in emphatic fashion, beating leaders Wessex who have only lost once this season in the league.

With a number of regular players unavailable due to injury North Tawton found themselves playing a number of untested combinations across the park. Proceedings fell into place however as Tawton started in dominant fashion.

With the wind in their favour the Mid-Devonians boasted much of the possession and territory, eventually converting their statistics into points as Alex Dennis saw space down the blind flank to release Will Letherbridge for the opening score.

Wessex refused to roll over and their defence remained resistant for much of the half until a turnover ball from Rob Steptoe in the line out saw Luke Dennis perform an excellent offload to Letherbridge who welcomed himself to a first half brace.

That left the score 10-0 to North Tawton at the half-time break.

With the conditions in favour of Wessex in the second half, North Tawton knew that 10 points was not enough of a cushion to seal the game. They did, however, remain on top of the game as Wessex’s kicking game did not match up to the host’s pinpoint accuracy and kick chase.

Wessex got on the board early on in the half as an infringement at the line out saw them reduce the deficit to only seven points. Tawton did make things hard for themselves they only played the remainder of the half with 14 men. Firstly James Miller was sent to the bin for slowing of the ball, only to be welcomed back to the pitch brushing shoulders with Dave Gibbs who was sin-binned in familiar fashion.

Pressures eased when the returning Craig Dennis bumped his opposite number to trounce his way to the try line allowing Alex Dennis to convert. Wessex still had victory in their sights and with Hammy Kerswill going to the bin for a scrum infringement they still had the extra man.

A consolation try was all they could muster however as their busy lock bundled over off the back of the line out. This was not enough however as their momentum was halted in superb fashion as Letherbridge capped off a man of the match display with a fine try saving tackle and turn over to seal the win.