NORTH TAWTON 54 - TIVERTON THIRDS 22

NORTH Tawton were just too quick for a Tiverton Third Fifteen team who seemed to have a lot more second team players on the field by the final whistle.

It was a game played in good nature by both teams who were glad to have a fixture on a sunny but chilly Saturday afternoon - rolling subs the order of the day.

This was an A team game for North Tawton who gave some game time to some players who might not be available otherwise, and with some playing out of position gave the chance for Tawton to try out a new scrum-half - step forward Dave Quick.

After a bad first pass (Dave’s own admission) belied his tender years to run the show and gave a lesson to the younger players that age is no barrier to enjoying a run out on a Saturday for the good of the cause.

Early pressure by Tiverton in the top clubhouse corner led them to over-commit to a ruck and Tawton running the length of the pitch to score the first of their tries.

This seemed to be the pattern of the first half with Tiverton pinning Tawton back in the same corner for periods only for Tawton to get the ball out to the backs at any given chance, get round the Tivvy pack, run the pitch and score.

It has to be said that Tawton didn’t have it all their own way and Tiverton kept the points score within touching distance at half-time making it 31-17 to North Tawton.

The second half got underway with a few changes of personnel from both sides but no change of outcome.

Tawton added to their tally with more tries, taking the game away from Tiverton as a winning option.

The old fella comes off for Tawton - his job done, but if Tivvy thought it was going to get any easier, no way as step forward another Quick, to see out the game at scrum-half - son, Simon. How often does that happen?

The match finished as always on the refs whistle. The final score was 54-22 - victory for North Tawton.

There is no game tomorrow so more time for the missing and wounded to recover ready for league action.

Chris Phare