TRURO 43 - NORTH TAWTON 14

NORTH Tawton travelled to the city of Truro with a long-standing winning away run on the line and a team missing several players due to various reasons. Add the weather conditions to the mix and the Tawts are up against it.

The rain started in the warm ups and got worse as the afternoon turned into evening, it was still pouring it down when I got home, me and the notebook soaked to the skin!

The rain might be coming down but the heads of the North Tawton team certainly didn’t, the scoreline suggesting a hiding - it was anything but, the North Tawton players to a man did the club proud and fought for every loose and not so loose ball at times.

They were up against a Truro side that had been relegated last season and had kept many of their playing staff, so in fairness you might expect North Tawton to be a little in awe.

Forget that idea right away, the first 15 minutes or so the Tawts looked comfortable even if they were spending more time in their own half than they would like, the touch-line "experts" gaining hope and expectation by the minute.

But alas for the travelling getting wetter a couple of tries for the home team set the pattern for the next hour of play. Try as they might, and did, the Tawton team could not get any phases together to trouble the scoreboard at the same time as shipping tries taking the score to 43-0.

I said an hour and I meant an hour because without doubt the last 20 minutes belonged to North Tawton. With the slippery ball now being kept in-hand they decide to run at the city boys who for a minute or two were probably thinking of a warm shower but this lot from North Tawton want to play the full 80 - a good move down the wing some good handling skills and over goes Will Lethbridge for a try kick added by Gary Sizmur - seven points on the board.

Truro it seems are not liking this, the Tawts in their faces, soggy tails on the rise coming back for another go at the Truro try-line and in desperation Truro concede a penalty try and two yellow cards to boot, you got the feeling if we started the game again!

In truth it was a big loss score wise for North Tawton and maybe a reality check on the task awaiting them as the season unfolds but with the willingness for players to make themselves available I strongly feel that the Tawts are in a good position not only to survive but to have a big say in this league.

The last 20 minutes of the game more than proved that.

This weekend North Tawton are at home to another strong Cornish team, Bude.

Chris Phare