Devon and Cornwall

NORTH TAWTON 6

PAIGNTON 11

THIS match had a bit of everything but most of all it was a fine advert for the game at any level with two teams going at it for the full 80 minutes.

Paignton arrived at Taw Meadow sitting in second place and with a confidence of a well drilled side able to call on a lot bigger catchment area for players than North Tawton.

The first 10 minutes was an exchange of kicks trying to gain territory, each testing the others set piece play; Paignton learnt quickly that the Tawton side were more than a match in both scrum and line out depts.

The visitors struck first with a penalty to take a three point lead and a yellow card for North Tawton did not help the home side’s cause. The next points on the board though went to North Tawton through a penalty for 3-3 each. In a tight game it was end to end rugby; the only try of the match followed with a good run by the away side and the missed conversion made it 3-8; another penalty took the score to 3-11 with Paignton looking to have got a grip on this match.

North Tawton needed to score as they could not afford to let Paignton get further ahead and with an increase in intensity they were rewarded a penalty, successfully kicked to into half time just 6-11 down.

Despite no more scoring in the second half, a good game of rugby was played by both sides with North Tawton having more ball in hand, pinning the away side back in their own 22 for long periods. At the final whistle it was a relieved Paignton side leaving the field with an away win and North Tawton having to be content with a losing bonus point. Dan Dennis was North Tawton’s man of the match.