NORTH TAWTON 21 - SIDMOUTH 19

FOR the second time in the last three matches North Tawton pulled off another last minute last kick of the game victory to add to their growing escape stories of this season.

Having got off to their normal sluggish start and giving Sidmouth a 14-nil lead with only 20 minutes gone it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for the home side.

Sidmouth are sitting in the top three of the league and are a well drilled team who arrived at Taw Meadow full of confidence to take on a Tawton side missing a few key players. So taking an early 14 point lead they were happy with the way things were panning out, two converted tries to the good, both tries the result of some good work by their wingers.

This wasn't what the home supporters wanted to see, Tawton suffer an injury and this brings on a certain Mike Youngers who straight away makes his presence felt with some big tackles and taking the game to the visitors.

Things start looking a little better when Cam Rickerby forces his way over for the first of his tries, aided by most of his team mates and kick added by Liam Pyle, its 7-14.

Now with their tails up the Tawts go at their visitors with a renewed vigour and its not long before they get their second try from the ever physical Youngers, conversion added, its 14-14.

From being 14-0 down the Tawton side go to half time with a growing belief that they could get a win out of this match while Sidmouth looked good in playing running rugby they didn’t seem to care too much for the heavy tackles that Tawton were putting in.

We get under in the second half with a yellow card for James Miller and its not long before Sidmouth get their third try but with the kick missed its 14-19 to Sidmouth.

North Tawton don’t panic, a converted try with time to spare would do the job and with this in mind go at the Sidmouth defence with real intent.

It’s been a game where all the rugby has been played either inside the Tawton or Sidmouth 22, very little played in the middle, a real view of defend or full on attack from both sides.

The game has now gone almost full circle and its the Tawts that are making the visitors glad of every bit of respite from the refs whistle they could, just doing enough to keep out a persistent pressure from the home team.

But you cant keep a Cam Rickerby out forever and with a mighty show of power and skill Cam goes over right under the posts leaving an easy kick by Liam to win the game 21-19.

With the ref blowing for full time as the kick was on its way it was the first time North Tawton were in front the whole match, another one in the bag from being behind not good for the nerve me thinks.

Next North Tawton play their penultimate game and last home game vs Tiverton II.

Chris Phare