North Tawton 16 - 
Honiton 38

AFTER a tough loss last week at home, by three points, North Tawton travelled to Honiton to try and put in an improved performance.

The Tawts started on the back foot with Honiton applying some early pressure in the “22” but some good defence saw North Tawton clear their lines.

After a few good passages of play a penalty was awarded for holding on and Liam Pyle stuck it over 0-3.

From the restart, again Honiton applied some pressure and some big hits from Tom Chisholm and Aidan Jeffrey kept them at bay.

Shortly afterwards North Tawton found themselves in a similar position and opted for the posts, Liam successfully kicking to make it 0-6.

Honiton realising their were in a fight then started to stretch the North Tawton defence with some good passing skills and hard running.

Lewis Edwards standing in on the wing pats down the ball, yellow card.

Honiton after 35 minutes finally broke through with a good backs move finished off by the number 10. 6-7.

Immediately from the restart North Tawton were awarded a penalty and this time Gary Sizmur hit it from range and was successful 7-9.

With five minutes left on the clock and North Tawton playing uphill first-half all that was required was to hold out until half-time but Honiton had other ideas and struck back just before half-time with another try making it 14-9.

A solid first-half performance and the slope in their favour the North Tawton travelling faithful had started to believe it was North Tawton’s day, early on in the second half the North Tawton scrum applied some good pressure on the Honiton five metre line, but was eventually cleared.

The game had started to open up with some fatigue and ill-discipline kicking in.

North Tawton started to give away too many penalties and a well worked maul by Honiton set up the score, conversion missed 19-9 shortly followed by 24-9.

However, North Tawton believed they were in the game and struck back with a well earned try by Lewis Edwards and Gary Sizmur with a fantastic kick from the corner 24-16.

Unfortunately, as the second half progressed North Tawton seemed to run out of steam and with Honiton having a decent back line put away two more tries 38-16.

On reflection this was a much better performance from the Tawts from previous weeks.

The scrums in particular worked well and some good passages of play but ultimately too many penalties and mis tackles cost North Tawton the game.

Tom Stevens, Simon Quick and Matty Dennis having a good game.

A week off next week and then two home games in a row which may well define North Tawton’s season.

North Tawton will play Exmouth II on Saturday, February 11.

James Miller