OPM 15 - NORTH TAWTON 39

THE season got underway for real for North Tawton with an away trip to Plymouth.

There was a new look North Tawton team who, with four players making their debut for the Tawts, and confidence high after a good win against Tavistock, were looking for an away win to get their season off to a flyer.

From the kick-off North Tawton showed real intent and were on every loose ball, pushing the home team well back in their own half of the field, with some good handling skills from the backs.

Jack Phare, starting at number 14, wasted no time in going over the try line for the first of what turned out to be seven tries in total.

The conversion was added by one of the new boys, Gary Sizmur, barely started and the Tawts were 7-0 up.

The North Tawton side were in full flow from the restart, running at what seemed to be a shell shocked OPM side.

A delightful cross field kick from number 10 Ryan Goss was gratefully caught by Matt Baker who touched it down for the second try, with the kick missed, taking the score to 12-0 with 14 minutes gone.

At this stage of the game it all looked so easy for the Tawts and with another of the debutants Simon Cox making some good breaks cutting well into the OPM defence line it wasn’t long before Gary Sizmur got good ball and went over for his first try for the Tawts - 17-0 no kick added.

A long team talk under the posts from the OPM kept the away side waiting for a restart but the way things were unfolding for them it was probably needed and to be fair it did make a difference and with a successful penalty kick giving them their first points of the match and also some much needed confidence.

A North Tawton team with their tails up were having none of it and the new scrum half Jack Davey, with some quick thinking and handling skills, dotted down for his first try for his new team.

Another missed kick took the score further away from the home team score to make it 3-22.

We now got the pattern for the next phase of the match, keeping the ball in-hand, keeping the pressure on, jumping on any loose ball and running at them.

Two more tries were achieved for the Tawts before the referee blew the whistle for half-time.

Simon Cox, with his first for the club, and not to be outdone by all these newbies, captain Craig Dennis gets a good "un" right under the posts.

This, with more missed kicks, took the Tawts to 34, but with a good reminder that it takes two to make a match, the OPM got their first try with a well-worked move of their own, half-time score 8-34.

The second half started with an OPM side determined to get back in the match and they soon had a second try with the conversion added bringing them at 15-34, renewed hope.

They could still yet get something out of this game, the pattern was changing and it was the OPM on the front foot, pinning the Tawts back for long periods.

It was North Tawton’s turn to defend, but they did, Si Quick coming off the bench to add a fresh pair of legs.

Jack Phare took up the scrum half duties with the other Jack having taken a knock and bit-by-bit the Tawts started to get back on top.

Make no mistake, if the OPM had added a third try in this period, it could have been a nervy finish for the travelling faithful.

Craig Dennis as the new club captain this year steps in to fill some big boots but, if leading by example is a must, Craig will be there, never stopping all day and putting the game to bed with his second try of the match giving us the final score of 15-39.

All-in-all this was a very good showing by the Tawts and promises well for the season ahead.

Competition for places is surely going to increase with all the debutants more than playing their part in a bonus point away win.

Man of the Match was Matt Baker.

The next match is at home v Old Techs.

Chris Phare