NORTH TAWTON 29 - EXETER SARACENS 0

AFTER the excitement and tension of last week’s win away to the other Exeter side, expectations were high at the home of the league leaders, Exeter Saracens, that another big win could be on the cards bearing in mind the 77-5 win that the Tawts handed out to the opposition at their ground last week.

If thinking that way was happening, nobody told the much changed Sarries side that took to the grass at Taw Meadow right from the first whistle you could see they meant business they looked a much more together outfit than Tawton had faced a month ago.

With every break down being fiercely contested by both sides it was stalemate scorewise for the first 18 minutes with the home side really finding out they had a game on their hands, not to undo the good effects of last week’s win.

Just as the home support was getting a tiny bit restless, step up the no 14 for another captain’s role and with the first of his three tries a typical North Tawton running, quick-passing effort from Craig Dennis got the Tawts on the scoreboard, a missed kick into a heavy wind, and it was 5-0.

Exeter Saracens did not let their heads drop and spent the rest of the first-half coming back at the Tawts time and again, testing how good the Tawton defence was.

We went in at half-time 5-0, which was good.

Off we went for the next 40 minutes and as it seems the way this season, the North Tawton side cranked up the volume so to speak.

The team went at the opposition with more intensity and it wasn’t long before the Sarries dam burst.

The second and third tries came for Craig Dennis with one conversion added taking us to 17-0 with still 20 minutes to go after the bonus point.

The Saracens side, while never giving in, did start to show signs of accepting the fact the game was getting away from them.

One or two handbags were being chucked about but it’s all good fun unless you are the referee!

North Tawton’s answer to all the fun was in the hands of Gary Sizmur.

It would not be Saturday without a try from him to take the team to 22-0.

That was the bonus point in the bag and all it left now was a bit of a solo effort from Tom Stevens who on acquiring the ball took off up the field looking every inch the back he’s not and over for a well-deserved five-point kick added.

It was an easier kick because Tom had made sure of going under the posts giving us the final score of 29-0.

The result brought us another step closer to the season’s main aim.

Man of the Match was Matty Dennis. Considering how well others played this week it was a great accolade to his own performance but he does it week-after-week, so no surprise. No game this weekend, we will have to make do with the Six Nations.

Chris Phare