NORTH TAWTON 88 - NEW CROSS 0

THE last time North Tawton played at Taw Meadows they lost a tight very contested game against a strong Exeter side and maybe, with this in mind, plus the loss of last week’s match due to the weather, the home side went at the visitors from New Cross with full intent right from the first whistle.

It didn’t take long, with all due respect to the away side, who never gave up all afternoon for the assembled crowd to realise that this was going to be a bit of a miss-match - top of the league playing bottom.

As I say, with respect, it showed, 14 tries with nine conversions really hammering home the difference.

The home team were offered the match on 60 minutes with the score at 60-0, but with an eye on points difference, captain  Craig Dennis politely refused and chose to play on, giving all on the bench some game time.

It has to be said New Cross accepted the decision and they also dug deep to see out the full-time whistle, if anything getting better as the game went on.

They deserved more than the nil they got for effort.

Two tries apiece for James Bowden, Si Cox, Gary Sizmur, Craig Dennis and a try each for Si Quick, Tom Chisholm, Ryan Goss, Alex Dennis (nice to see him back), Jordan Cornthwaite, and Matt Baker, with the kicks added by either James Bowden or Ryan Goss we got to 88 points.

It’s fair to say everybody in a Tawts shirt played their part but two players stood out, one being Si Cox.

What an addition he has been to the side this year, but the captain and coaches’ man of the match was Tom Stevens, one of the younger players in the side but always worth his place and getting better every week.

There is now no game until after Christmas.

Chris Phare