Devon One North and East League

South Molton 35

THIS opening match of the season with the new league set up gave North Tawton a taste of how difficult it is likely to be.

Facing a strong South Molton squad, Tawton were under pressure from the start and only good defensive work kept the visitors from the try line for the first quarter of the match.

Finally they outflanked the stretched Tawton line and despite good tackles from Chris Martin and then Simon Quick, the South Molton wing went over near the right corner for the first try.

The conversion was well struck by the scrum half to give South Molton a 7-0 lead.

An interception by Quick gave Tawton the chance to break away and good following-up took them to the South Molton 22 metre area.

From a lineout, the play resolved into a scrum to Tawton on the 22 but the pick up was fumbled and the advantage was lost.

South Molton put in a long clearance kick which carried on the following wind to push Tawton back down the field.

Good scrummaging by Tawton, with the new front row combination of Tom Phillips, Matt Weekes and Dan Carey, gave them some space to attack from deep but a powerful driving maul by South Molton forced them back into their 22 metre area.

They pressurised the Tawton line and despite a scrambled defence the South Molton full back wrestled his way over the line for the second try; this was also converted.

Shortly after the restart a high clearance from South Molton was well taken by Tawton full back Graham Sage and as he returned the kick a late follow through by a South Molton player earned Tawton a penalty.

They opted for the kick which was well struck by their centre to get them onto the score board.

Sound tactical kicking by South Molton gained them territory but they were penalised several times for going over the top at the ruck.

This gave Tawton's kicker Rob North the chance to counter and regain ground.

A good lineout, which had become an area of weakness for Tawton, was followed by driving play by Steve King and Andy Pyle to take Tawton to a scrum five metres from South Molton's line.

They managed to disrupt the South Molton scrum who were penalised, giving the Tawton kicker another opportunity which he converted to take the scores to 6-14 at the half-time break.

After the break the strength of the South Molton pack began to take its toll and they worked two good tries for their prop, running good lines round the edge of rucks close to the Tawton try line.

These scores were converted and the visitors extended their lead to 28-6. Continuing pressure forced penalties from the defending side and despite some resolute defence, with flanker Mike Young to the fore, South Molton squeezed in another try.

The conversion took them to 35-6.

A long penalty kick by North moved Tawton into the South Molton 22, but the subsequent lineout was lost.

Substitutions were made and Alfie May was moved from wing to prop, where he was able to provide some more penetration in the loose play.

Tawton moved up to the 10 metre line, where they had a scrum; this was strongly challenged by South Molton but good handling by Tawton kept the ball alive. Finally the move ended in a pile up on the try line and South Molton were able to clear.

In the final minutes they staged a break out with Tawton committed to the attack and their line exposed. A knock on with the final pass was the last action of the match.

Graham King