NORTH TAWTON 13 - TORRINGTON 10

I SUSPECT the celebrations went well into the night from a victorious North Tawton squad of players and coaches alike after their well-deserved and hard fought win over a strong Torrington side in the Devon Shield final.

The game was played as a triple-header with teams from Exeter Sarries v Old Tecs, Sarries winning the vase match and Dartmouth v Totnes in the Cup match.

Dartmouth came out on top in that battle, all this happening at the superbly-presented Taw Meadow ground which is a great credit to those at NTRFC.

A large crowd had watched the first match with interest but I think it fair to say that the home supporters were waiting for the Tawts v Torrington match.

There was a touch of nerves mixed with the excitement and this was the third time the Tawton team had made the final but as yet not won.

Nobody at North Tawton underestimated a big Torrington team who had not come just to make up the numbers.

Right from the first whistle it was clear the home side were up for it, getting to the break down quick, not giving Torry time to reset and forcing mistakes from a side that finished second in the league.

A penalty chance missed by Dave Fewings was soon forgotten when he slotted over his second attempt to give the Tawts a 3-0 lead and with Dave getting a knock in the tackle, Alex Dennis took the next kick to make it 6-0 to North Tawton.

Six points up, but the Tawts weren’t bossing the game just on top at this stage, Torrington are a good side and they ain’t going to roll over.

Some good play from the home team, with some slick passing skills moving the ball around, kept the big Torry boys busy and it got its rewards with a well-taken try run in by that hooker who scores every week, take a bow Matt Baker.

The kick added by Dave Fewings resulted in the half-time score 13-0 to North Tawton.

The next 40 minutes that was the second half proved to be anything but easy for anybody wanting a Tawton win.

Torrington threw everything, and the sink, at North Tawton and their first try, albeit with a missed kick, did nothing to calm Tawton nerves.

Some big tackles were going in from the Tawts and you could sense Torry’s confidence growing, but to be true to the Tawts they fought for every ball and every yard on the pitch.

Tawts couldn’t lose three in a row surely, but with the clock ticking down Torrington, went over for their second try but a bad miss for the conversion right in front of the posts made the score 13-10.

Five minutes to go felt like 55 from where I was watching on the sidelines but the Tawton team held their discipline and at the final whistle they could start to enjoy a very much welcome and deserved victory, the better team had won on the day.

I’ve said this before in my ramblings but you don’t have to go to Sandy Park to get your rugby fix, nothing I will ever see there will compare to watching my own son and his friends collect their winners medals after a really good game of rugby and the smiles on the faces of all concerned with NTRFC.

Chris Phare