TAMAR SARACENS 21 NORTH TAWTON 33

NORTH Tawton had to come from nine points down at one stage to maintain its unbeaten start to the season with a very well-constructed come back on Saturday, September 29. It led to a 21-33 win away to a very dogged Tamar side which is always hard to beat, even at home.

Things started well enough with the Tawts opening the scoring six minutes into the game.

Luke Dennis broke free and going over for the first try of the afternoon, with the kick from Gary Sizmur, it was 0-7 to the Tawts.

From the restart it was obvious that the home team were not going to take losing lightly and so they cranked up the intensity and went after the quicker but lighter away side with everything they could muster, giving the North Tawton team nowhere near as much time on the ball as they would like or have become used too.

Frustration crept into the Tawts game and penalties started to hurt, position more than points at this stage, but the home side did get to the try line twice before half-time with some help from some poor kicking out of hand from the Tawts.

The ref blew for the break with Tamar 14-7 up. The travelling faithful could say how did that happen? We are the better side but the score board doesn’t lie? Time for some changes and a rethink is on the way.

The second half got underway with a missed penalty by Tamar giving the visitors a let off not to go further behind and a yellow card for the home team also easing the pressure, self inflicted at times, it must be said.

Then like a switch being thrown, the Tawts decided to play rugby their way. Let’s gets down Sarries end, keep the ball in-hand, quick passing.

This is better from North Tawton and over went Craig Dennis to get a try back, a missed kick making it 14-12, now we got our game on.

Tamar were not going to let North Tawton back into it that easy and back up to full strength was their reply with their third try of the match, with the kick added it was 21-12, as far apart as ever.

Just hold your nerve Tawts followers. The Sarries were almost still celebrating when James Bowden was on a loose ball, had a good take and was over for a quick answer, taking the score to 21-19, the kick added by Gary Sizmar.

The replacements at half-time by the Tawts were making their presence felt, no more than Si Quick who was the wise head in what could be difficult times, alongside the new captain Craig Dennis.

It was time to get this game finally sorted out and with a Si Quick try, with conversion by Gary Sizmar, and a try and kick by Gary Sizmur, the Tawts made it 33 points and the game was well away from a very good Tamar side which proved to be very resilient adversities, the final score 21-33.

This North Tawton team proved they work for each other, are not going to give up and are going up.

Nobody thinks they can go through the season without a hiccup or two but its going to take a good side to beat them.

As a paid up member of the travel club it’s good to watch.

Si Quick got Man of the Match which was well-deserved.

I just want to add one name to this report, Si Cox, he was everywhere at the right time during all of the match.

Chris Phare