Devon one

St Columba/Torpoint 26

North Tawton 0

SAINT Columba missed a chance of early points when a penalty kick was pushed wide of the posts.

They kept up the pressure on North Tawton and, following a scrum 10 metres from Tawton's line, their inside centre Rob Owles made an outside break and slipped through the defence for a try; this was not converted.

The strong home pack was starting to dominate the visitors, though they put up strong resistance. Good recycling of the ball from a maul took them to the line again and prop Taff Howells forced his way over from close in. The conversion by scrumhalf Ben Green was good and St Columba took a 12-0 lead.

A better spell of play by North Tawton gained them territory following a tap penalty by Jack Phare and gave them time on the ball in the St Columba half.

As St Columba came back at them a head injury to a Tawton player required a substitution. Good mauling play by Tawton close to the line saw captain Steve King rip the ball free and fly half Chris Martin was able to clear their lines.

The relief was short lived as St Columba renewed their attack and flanker Martin Ruskyn went over for a try close to the post. With the conversion slotted by Green the home side ended the half with a 19-0 lead.

A good start to the second period by North Tawton took them to a lineout on St Columba's 22 metre line but the ball went loose in the follow-up play and they were able to clear.

St Columba had a lineout in a similar position at the Tawton end but it was well defended and forwards Jo Madden and Mike Young, working in unison, stole the ball away. Tawton kept their momentum and the pack drove St Columba back to within 10 metres of the line but a fumbled ball in the three-quarters saw the hard-earned territory kicked away as St Columba defended.

A well placed kick by Tawton's Phare took them back into the opposition 22 metre area but once again the lineout was disrupted. St Columba had chances to increase their lead but handling errors in their three-quarters meant Tawton were able to hold them out.

St Columba got the decisive score as their captain and number eight Dave Hussey broke off the back of a scrum on Tawton's 22 metre line and went through for a try, converted again by Green.

North Tawton maintained their composure and came back at St Columba with some good penalty kicking out of hand to set up attacking lineouts but were unable to break down the home defences.

North Tawton gave a good account of themselves in the second half, preventing any score by the opposition until almost full time.