TOTNES 22 - NORTH TAWTON 35

NOBODY said rugby is a summer game - it’s played on real grass come rain, wind or shine, and trust me that’s what happened at Totnes when North Tawton played.

It rained, then it rained some more, but North Tawton supporters didn’t really mind.

In the second half Totnes made their weight advantage in the pack really count on a wet surface in horrible conditions.

The much lighter Tawts side conceded three tries but it can be said not without some hard fought defence work.

With respect to the home side, the good work in the first 40 minutes put the game all but out of reach of Totnes.

Ten minutes into the game and the North Tawton captain showed the Tawts the way to the try-line and Craig Dennis over for the first points of the match, the kick added by James Bowden. The result was 7-0.

It was a sort of a nerve settler for the Tawts who didn’t look to be awake up until then. Maybe the players were just easing their way into the match?

The second try was by Conner Mathis, the kick by J B took us to 14-0.

Now North Tawton were up-and-running, getting control for the first 40 minutes.

Totnes hit back with a well-struck drop goal. They couldn’t find a way through the Tawts defence so resorted for a kick at the posts, making it 3-14 to the Tawts.

With half-time coming up, Gary Sizmur struck with the best try of the match, a bit of a solo effort in some ways.

It was a good jinking run and under the post J B added the extra to make the half-time score 3-21 to the Tawts.

The second half showed us no team are beaten until the final whistle.

The Tawts went further ahead with another good try by Connor Mathis, J B slotting the conversion making it 28-3 to the away side.

Totnes were playing for pride and with some heavier players taking to the field and a change of tactics as in scrum, they pushed over for a hard earned try to take the score to 8-28.

Totnes looked to be on a roll with this power-play, forward-based rugby and went looking for more of the same but just when that nagging doubt started to grow, up stepped Mr Sizmur for his second try of the match. J B added the kick to make it 35-8.

It was 65 minutes plus into the game and was a battle of the packs.

Although Totnes succeeded in pushing over for two more tries, taking the score to 35-22, North Tawton’s lighter forwards did more than enough to make sure the result was never in doubt which means we now progress to the semi-final of the Cup against old foes Torrington.

Next up is a home game against Wessex.

Chris Phare