Tribute Devon two

Plymouth Arguam 39

North Tawton 3

PLYMOUTH Arguam took full advantage of the strong following wind in the first half, opening the scoring with a penalty goal, struck by their fly half from the 22 metre line.

They kept North Tawton pinned back in their own half, and there followed a spell of scrappy play with both sides fumbling their passes, not always due to the wind. Tawton were not able to establish any forward dominance, which had been a feature of their early season form, and Arguam built on their lead with a well-worked try out wide on the left. This was converted to take the score to 10-0.

Arguam's other tries in the first half stemmed from their growing confidence in the pack - one setting up their right wing to score a mirror-image try on the opposite flank and the other resulting from a push-over try for the scrum. Neither of these was converted leaving the score at 20-0 to the home side at the break.

North Tawton put points on the scoreboard early in the second half through a Jamie Stevens penalty, after they had patiently worked their way up the pitch. They did not, however, exploit the advantage of the wind to the extent that Arguam had and were soon under pressure in their own half. A lofted clearance kick was collected by advancing Arguam players and they ran the ball straight back to score a try, which was converted.

Tawton were on the back foot, with their scrum being driven back in the set plays. Arguam were able to tie up the ball in the loose, giving their three quarters space to run at the Tawton defence. They duly scored another converted try to take the score to 34-3.

In the closing phases Tawton had built an attack in the Arguam 22 metre area when a pass out was given too much air and the wind drifted it into the arms of an Arguam defender who broke away and set up the final score for the home side. The try went unconverted giving a score of 39-3. This result leaves Plymouth Arguam at the head of the league table with a healthy lead while North Tawton drop to fourth.

North Tawton's next match is on December 28 with the first round of the Devon Junior plate, at home against Topsham. This replaces the traditional Boxing Day event, so all are welcome to come and end the festive season at Taw Meadows.