Wessex 20 North Tawton 12

WALKING away from Flower Pot Lane rugby pitch, the home of the 2016 Devon One League champions, I was struck with a great pride in the efforts of the players who pulled on the North Tawton shirt today, make no mistake they gave it their all and deserved at least a bonus point.

While they might have come up short by one point for the much-needed bonus, every player should hold their head high knowing they left it on the pitch so to speak and did North Tawton RFC proud.

For long periods of the game the casual observer would not be able tell the "difference" between the league champions elect and a side fighting for league survival.

Things started well for the Tawts, an early lead from a penalty from the boot of Dave Fewings opening the scoring to make it 0 - 3.

This gave the travelling faithful some real hope that the home team weren’t going to pile up a cricket score which deep down with the season going the way it was, was a real fear.

The optimism was short-lived as Wessex turned up the power drive game, and with three tries and one conversion in quick succession, had built what looked a solid looking lead at 17 - 3.

The Tawts were in danger of being overwhelmed but once again this season the character of the Tawts shines through and with the aid of Mr Fewings’ trusty boot, slowly but surely started to pin the score back and keep Wessex honest, three more penalties bringing the score to 17 -12  bonus point territory.

It’s at this stage of the match that the Tawton side took it to the league leaders big time, finding gaps in what was becoming a shaky defence, all the amber and black stepping up to the plate, some hard tackles going in, Matty Dennis tackling anybody in front of him with a green shirt, the two props getting round the park in places.

Wessex didn’t want them, resulting in some half decent box kicking from scrum-half Jack Phare turning the Wessex team around when they started to make in roads into the Tawton 22.

Captain Quick and the rest of the pack pushed a much heavier pack back time-after-time but "Bang", just as the story of the nearly season goes, a late penalty kick for the home side gives them another three points and takes them eight points clear.

Try as they might, with the clock ticking down, the Tawts could not add to the 12 points already on the board and at 20 -12 (final score) they missed out on the bonus point.

The team out today, with respect to all, might not be the one put out by the selectors if others were fit OR available, but this team turned up big time.

A special mention to a certain Richard Gould who still, when called upon, pulls on the boots and puts in a full shift for the good of the cause.

Dan Quinn, work commitments aside, made it in time to play his part all be it 15 minutes late, but he got there.

This coming weekend’s game is probably the most important game of the season v South Molton at home.

Win and they stay up, lose and it could mean the relegation - this team don’t deserve that.

Chris Phare