NORTH TAWTON RFC Spirit in which this match was played was a credit to the game of rugby

NORTH TAWTON RFC

Spirit in which this match

was played was a credit

to the game of rugby

NORTH TAWTON

FIFTEEN 29

NORTH TAWTON

PRESIDENT'S FIFTEEN 29

THIS was a match of true quality between two sides fully committed to the desire to win but showing tremendous mutual respect.

The President's side was captained from scrum half by North Tawton president, Paul Fewings and contained a mix of former North Tawton players plus several from Okehampton.

North Tawton was substantially the team who have played so well in the Tribute Devon Two league this season, coming third on points difference, with some guest players.

Early pressure by North Tawton tested the President's Fifteen defence but they were equal to it, blocking a break by Tawton winger Graham Sage and finally pushing Tawton back to half way.

A cut to an eye of Tawton centre Simon Quick brought on Karl Poynton as substitute.

A scything run from deep by President's full-back Gareth Espin cut through Tawton's line and he went over at pace for the first try, which was not converted.

The President's scrum was settling well to their task, both in the set pieces and the loose, but the pace of play became a bit frenetic and mistakes were made.

A powerful drive by President's prop Dan Carey took his side within striking distance of the Tawton line but Tawton defended well and were able to clear their area.

North Tawton were awarded a penalty about 40 metres out but the kick drifted wide. Tawton's scrum half Richie Friend, having an excellent game behind the Tawton pack, ripped the ball out of a maul and a pass to Karl Poynton, found him in space to break through for a try under the posts. This he converted himself to put Tawton 7-5 ahead.

The President's side responded promptly with a second try from Espin, collecting a pass from centre Luke Honeychurch to sprint through and score; Honeychurch converted to take the President's men to 12-7.

As the half finished an important cover tackle by Friend helped prevent another possible President's try. Then, in the final moments, Tawton had a try disallowed as Sage popped up on the left wing and squeezed over by the corner flag.

Ten minutes into the second period North Tawton made some substitutions and were again pressuring the President's 22 metre area.

A break out of loose play by Poynton gave him a second try, which he converted.

Almost immediately Tawton had another try, this time from another of their guest players, full back Jake Chisholm.

This was also converted by Poynton, to put Tawton 21-12 ahead.

Far from conceding the lead the President's side responded with two tries of their own. The first came from another Espin break. He fed the ball out to left wing Lee Carey for him to charge over for the try; the conversion was missed.

A penalty to the President's side 15 metres from the Tawton line, was tapped and passed to Honeychurch who scored the try.

The conversion was well struck by fly-half David Fewings as the President's side edged into a 24-21 lead.

North Tawton came back into the game with a good break down the right wing by Alfie May. A scrum 20 metres out was given and the defenders cleared the ball but the next attack took Tawton to within five metres of the President's line where a maul developed.

There seemed to be little on but Tawton's Simon Quick, back on the pitch having been stitched up, spotted a gap and stepped through the melee of players for a well-taken try.

The conversion missed but Tawton were on a roll and shortly afterwards they were awarded a penalty. A short discussion with the referee resulted in the President's side conceding an extra 10 metres, which brought the spot into range for Poynton to opt for the kick and duly slot the three points with a good strike.

The scores now put Tawton ahead by 29-24.

There was time for one more push and it was the President's men who took the initiative. A break by their full-back Espin was foiled by some clever defensive work by Tawton's own full back Chisholm.

They gained a scrum 10 metres from the Tawton line from which fly-half David Fewings neatly switched the direction of play to pass out to Lee Carey on the wing and he made sure of the try to draw the match 29-29, with the conversion to come.

Unluckily the conversion just missed so the final score remained a draw at 29-29.

There are all sorts of clichés about "champagne rugby" and "end-to-end play" but this match was the best advert for rugby at this level.

The spectators all agreed they had been entertained by two sides playing with maximum commitment to the ideals of the sport; the result was a bonus.

The final action of the season at Taw Meadows is a seven-a-side event on May 23 when all supporters of the club will be welcomed to a rugby and barbecue finale to the season.

Graham King