TORRINGTON 7 - NORTH TAWTON 24

AFTER last week’s disappointing loss and carrying a few war wounds from the physical encounter with Tamar, normal service was resumed for North Tawton with a convincing win away to Torrington who were in good form and always a hard team to beat at home.

As the gathering crowd watched the final warm up routines, we were blessed with some welcome sunshine, but the minute the referee blew to start the game, down came the rain.

A very heavy shower made conditions very difficult for both sides, but even playing up the slope after losing the toss, North Tawton, by the time the rain had stopped, had gained control in the shape of two tries.

Both were scored by the captain Craig Dennis with one conversion by James Bowden, making it 0-12 to the Tawts.

Now the sun was almost back out Torrington seemed to warm to the task and came back at North Tawton with more intent and it took some good clearance kicking from Gary Sizmur to clear the line and keep the home side in their own half.

A missed penalty just before half-time by the Tawts kept the score 0-12 at the turn around.

In the second half it was North Tawton’s turn to play down the slope and endeavour to keep the ball, whether by kick or by hand in that bottom corner.

It wasn’t long before the away side got their reward with another try, this time Si Cox adding to his growing tally for the season albeit a missed kick, but the scores now 0-17.

North Tawton are now very much in charge and playing some good passing rugby despite the best attempts of the Torrington forwards to get involved in any way they could.

James Bowden, who had not had the best of luck with the boots off the tee, more than made up for it with a good try of his own, Gary Sizmur adding the conversion to make it 0-24.

You would think with the bonus point safe and the game well won that both teams might ease off a bit, but no way.

Torrington were playing for pride. They didn’t want to be nilled at home and with some strong tackling and power from the forwards they crept up the hill ever closer to the Tawton try line.

The Tawts defence was well drilled and did well to keep the bigger home side out for so long but with just a few minutes left on the clock Torrington finally got over the white wash for their only points of the afternoon.

With the kick it brought the final score of 7-24 in favour of North Tawton.

While it would be hard to say at any time that the result was in doubt, it wasn’t an easy game for North Tawton.

Everybody in the bright pink and yellow away shirts played their part, Craig Dennis with two tries, Si Cox and Gary Sizmur in the thick of it as always.

Jack Phare had his share of the tackle count but the Man of the Match was Nathan Abrams, in the words of the coaching staff, he had a blinder, well-deserved, next at home to Totnes.

Chris Phare