Devon one

Torrington 32

North Tawton 20

TORRINGTON has not been a happy hunting rugby ground for North Tawton’s  last few trips and so it proved again with the visitors coming off second best in what was an entertaining and well-matched game. Perhaps the final score flattered Torrington just a tad.

Things started well enough for North Tawton with an early penalty kick by Alex Dennis giving them a three-point lead. As the visitors played up the hill in the first half Torrington knew the advantage of playing down hill and persisted in kicking the ball at every chance into the corner.

It was not long before Torrington’s pressure gave them their first try and with the kick put them 7-3 in front before a further penalty 10-3.

Scrappy handling by North Tawton helping Torrington get their second try just before half time; an Alex Dennis penalty pulled back three points for the visitors before the home side added another penalty to make it 18-6 at half time.

In the second half, with North Tawton hoping to use the slope to their favour, started off well.

They pushed Torrington well back in their own half and good work by the forwards enabled scrum half Jack Phare to dart in the gap for  a well worked try to reduce the deficit to 18-13.

Tawton fans were hoping the the tide was turning towards the visitors with the home team beginning to lose a bit of shape to their game.

However, a mix up by Tawton in front of their own posts gifted Torrington a soft try for 25-13. Nobody, though, in a Tawton shirt gave up and to their credit came back with a well deserved try by Dan Bennett; the conversion by Dennis made it 25-20.

Two yellow cards for Torrington could only help Tawton’s cause but then again another mix up from a five-metre scrum on the Torrington saw the home team get the ball away and go under the Tawton posts for the winning try; the conversion made the final 32-20 to Torrington.

This was a good game played in good spirits and North Tawton deserved at least a losing bonus point. Getting points away from home are proving hard to get.