Devon one

DARTMOUTH 5

NORTH TAWTON 33

THIS was another trip to the southern reaches of the county and another well-constructed away win for North Tawton. The score suggested a comfortable win for the visitors but Dartmouth made them fight for every point and for every metre.

Dartmouth also won the territory battle 60/40 with a determined attack always willing to run at North Tawton but the visitors’ defensive play gets better week by week - they hold the line, come up together when required and put in some big tackles. The home side also struggled to deal with the quick break turning defence into attack.

It took nine minutes of the first half for North Tawton captain Craig Dennis to show the way to the Dartmouth try line with the first of his two tries; the trusty boot of James Bowden adding the conversion 7-0 to the visitors.

Back came Dartmouth  pushing North Tawton well back in their own half but one mistake in the build up and the visitors were down the other end in a flash for a welcome try by Ryan Goss; the kick added by James Bowden made it 14-0 to North Tawton. North Tawton lost their scrum half  Jack Phare to a painful hand injury and his place was taken by Jack Davey. The visitors went looking for the next try and it wasn’t long before it was almost a repeat performance with Dartmouth pushing hard, but another mistake in their build up, this time it was Dan Dennis, who went over for the five points; the kick added and made it 21-0 to North Tawton at half time.

The second half started as the first finished with more attack from the home side but North Tawton made them wary of their quick attacking backs - Craig Dennis proving their fears well founded with his second try with the kick added by James Bowden for 28-0.

Dartmouth did not give up and came at the visitors hard and fast and seemed to be camped in the Tawton red zone; they finally got their reward with a push over try but missed a kick for 28-5.

More of the same came with Dartmouth on the front foot but the North Tawton side were looking more and more comfortable almost letting the home side have the ball and wait for the chance to counter attack. A run from well inside their own half involving several players saw Simon Quick; the conversion was missed this time as the game ended with a North Tawton win. Man of the match was Tom Chisholm.

North Tawton have strength in depth this season because even with a few key players missing due to injuries and work commitments the shape of the way they want to play is retained and working well.