Devon two

North Tawton 42

Dartmouth 15

NORTH Tawton overcame a bruising Dartmouth pack to record a comprehensive victory.

The visitors started brightly, shifting the ball wide and trying to bring in their powerful forward runners into the game but it was North Tawton who came closest with a break from their own 22.

A box kick from scrum-half Jack Phare was chased well by Simon Quick, his tackle on his opposite number forcing the ball loose for William Sharp to fly-hack down field for David Fewings to chase. The bounce of the ball was unkind to the chasing centre and his attempted pick-up was fumbled forward.

Both Dartmouth and North Tawton missed penalties before the home side crossed for the first try on 24 minutes.

A set piece move from the scrum saw fly-half Jamie Stevens loop around Cameron Rickerby, hand off a flailing tackle and run in under the posts. Stevens converted to give the Tawton a 7-0 lead.

The home side struggled with the powerful Dartmouth pack and found themselves under their own posts after a catch-and-drive lineout saw flanker Tom Clarke dot down for the Dartmouth. The conversion faded wide.

The visitors failed to capitalise on their momentum and two quick fire tries on the stroke of half time put North Tawton in command.

A subtle chip over the top from Stevens turned the Dartmouth defence and with the ball bobbling awkwardly, the covering winger could only watch in horror as his attempted gather forced the ball flying back over his try line, with Rickerby racing onto the loose ball for the try. Stevens added the conversion and was on target again two minutes later to convert Rickerby's second try, an interception on half-way.

North Tawton ended the first half 21-5 to the good and added a fourth try three minutes into the second, Hammy Kerswell punching a hole before offloading for Fewings to cross under the sticks. Stevens' conversion was good.

Dartmouth refused to lie down, and scored two tries in quick succession to close the gap to 13 points. The first came from another maul in the Tawton 22 with Clarke peeling off to score under the posts. The impressive Clarke crashed over for his hat-trick six minutes later, brushing off two tackles on his way to the line. Again the kick was missed. With pressure building, North Tawton turned the ball over in their 22, Rickerby feeding Fewings to run in from 65 metres for his second converted try.

The heavy Dartmouth pack were beginning to tire and the home side were finding holes in the visitors' defence. A lineout 15 metres from the Dartmouth line saw Kerswell launch the ball clear of the forwards and into the hands of the onrushing Fewings in midfield. The centre rode a tackle and managed to stretch out for his hat-trick with Stevens adding the extras to make the score 42-15.

Dartmouth were reduced to 14 men after a dangerous tackle in midfield and Tawton saw out the remaining minutes for a hard fought victory.