Cornwall and Devon

PENZANCE 25

NORTH TAWTON RFC 10

DESPITE the heavy rain a pitch inspection declared it fit to play and the surface held up fine.

North Tawton had the chance to play in front of a larger than normal crowd in this match in front of a partisan, Cornish crowd who love their rugby.

As a result, the score perhaps did not reflect the effort that the visitors put in.

It was only in the last 10 minutes that their tired bodies took their toll. North Tawton had to eventually concede to a more powerful scrum, were unable to get any clean ball at set pieces as the backs struggled to get any go forward the whole match .

There was no lack of effort, however, from North Tawton.

The home team went in front in the first five minutes with a well-worked try from a scrum; a penalty added to the converted try put the Pirates 10-0 up.

North Tawton regrouped with their heads up and made huge efforts to stay in touch with a home team growing in confidence. A great chip over the oncoming defence line by the scrum half and a good run down the line by Matt Baker ended with a well-worked try by the visitors. Gary Sizmur converted to make it 10-7. 

The home team responded with another try but missed the conversion for 15-7 while a penalty to North Tawton gave a half time score of 15-10 to the Pirates with the visitors still in the game.

Unfortunately for the Devon visitors that was as good as it got and the Pirates, with strength in their substitutes, seemingly became stronger to finish off the with two late tries.