TORRINGTON 32 - NORTH TAWTON 20

TORRINGTON has not been a happy hunting ground for North Tawton’s last few trips and so it proved again with the Tawts coming off second best in what was an entertaining and well-matched game where neither side could really say they had the game under control. I think it would be fair to say that the final score of 32-20 flatters Torrington just a tad.

Things started well enough for North Tawton with an early penalty kick by Alex Dennis giving them a three points lead. They had kicked off the first half playing up the hill so you got the feeling they needed to keep the pressure on the home team and stay away from the bottom corner but that was no easy task when Torrington, knowing the advantage you get playing downhill, persisted in kicking the ball at every chance into the said corner.

It wasn’t long before Torry pressure gave them their first try with the kick score 7-3. At this stage of the match the teams traded penalties but unfortunately for the Tawts Alex missed a shot but Torry added to their tally making it 10-3.

With a bit of scrappy handling by North Tawton helping Torrington get their second try just before half-time with a missed conversion, 15-3. Alex made amends for his miss by putting one between the posts, 15-6. Last score of the half went to Torrington who added another penalty bring the half-time score to 18-6.

While the captains and coaches made their pep talks the small number of travelling supporters, which included some of the Tawts walking wounded, who I am pleased to say hope to be back playing next week, were hoping the Tawton players could use the slope advantage in their favour in the second 40 minutes because you knew that, ignoring the score board, North Tawton were still in this game.

As in the first half the Tawts start well and were soon pushing Torry well back in their own half. Good work by the forwards enabled Tawts scrum-half, Jack Phare, to dart in the gap for a well-worked try.

North Tawton were well back in this encounter at 18-13.

You got the feeling from the touchline that the tide was turning towards Tawton. Even the home fans were looking nervous for their team who were losing a bit of shape to their game and then, well at best call it a mix up, unlucky whatever, but a bad mistake right in front of their own posts, gifted Torry another soft try with the kick score now 25-13.

Nobody gives up in a Tawton shirt, to their credit, and back came the Tawts taking the game to Torry and a well-deserved try for the big man Dan Bennett and kick by Alex took the score to 25-20.

Tawton tails were up with a few minutes to go, this game could still be won. Two yellow cards for Torrington can only help Tawton’s cause but then again another mix up from a 5m scrum on the Torry line, a try will do it but somehow the Torry players got the ball away and went under the Tawton posts for the winning try plus kick making the final score 32-20.

A good game played in good spirits. You do feel Tawton deserved at least a losing bonus point. Getting points away from home are proving hard to get and Saturday’s rearranged trip to Ilfracombe will be another test. I hope the selectors have a good pool to pick the chosen from.

Chris Phare