NORTH TAWTON RFC 34-13 EXETER ATHLETIC

AFTER last week's away loss to Newton Abbot, North Tawton took to the field at Taw Meadow looking for their first win of the new season against a very unpredictable Exeter Athletic side.

A heavy rain/ drizzle making the warm-up routines a bit damper than either side would like, the ball in early match play was like a bar of soap, or so it seemed, as both teams struggled to keep it to hand.

Thankfully, as the game went on the sun came out and the match was played in dry conditions.

North Tawton from the start went at the away side, pressing forward at every chance, looking to hit the Exeter team before they had a chance to settle, and this they did with an early try from Pete Gillard who powered over the try line to score the first try of the match. aAmissed kick gave the Tawts a 5-0 lead.

Not long into the restart, Athletic got a penalty and they opened their ponts tally, making the score 5-3.

Dave Borne, who was making some good running lines, always threatening the Exeter defence line, got his reward with a try after some good interplay with the Tawts backs, kick added to by Liam Pyle, taking us to 12-3.

It was very much looking like the home side were taking control of the match and when Liam Pyle converted his own try taking the score to 19-3, it gave the Tawton side every opportunity to run up a big score, but fair play to Athletic, they weren't beaten quite yet and a score of their own just before half time took us to the break 19-8.

It was still all to play for. We got the second half under way with three tries by the North Tawton winger Aiden Dunster, two in quick succession, and one in answer to the Exeter try.

It was a somewhat conciliation try with in truth the game having slipped away from them.

The other thing I think stood out was the amount of verbal help the referee got in trying to run the game from both sides.

It must be said it made his job more stressful than it should have been, being a new ref on the panel.

That said, there were some quite strange calls made as the match went on.

With Aiden Dunster’s three tries and the boot of Liam Pyle keeping the score board ticking along, it has to be said that North Tawton were well on their way to their first victory of the season, and also their first win under their new coach Nathen Gossling, who has taken charge of first team matters.

Final score: 34-13. Man of the match: Aiden Dunster. Next week we are away to Cullumpton 2nds.

Christopher Phare