NORTH TAWTON 15 - SOUTH MOLTON 7

NORTH Tawton headed to local rivals South Molton on Saturday, December 14 looking for their first win there for nine years.

Both teams have had different fortunes this season, with South Molton at the bottom of the table and Tawton looking to keep pace with the top half of the table.

A very blustery and wet day on Friday meant the pitch was in doubt of being acceptable to play, however with the game confirmed Tawton knew it would be slippery under foot against usually strong South Molton pack.

The game kicked off with North Tawton playing down the slope and started to build momentum in the Molton half. Some strong running in the backs from Matty and Luke Dennis.

The passing sometimes going amiss and many scrums, usually an area where NT struggle but seemed a match. Greg Parratt and Dan Quinn getting the better of their opposite numbers and growing into the game.

After 20 minutes North Tawton got the first points of the afternoon. A great backs move followed by a good offload from Jack Phare back to Luke Dennis saw a try under the sticks, the conversion taken by Captain Gary Sizmur 7-0.

South Molton looked to respond quickly, getting a few penalties and progressing into NT half.

However, some good steals at the line-out and halting the advancing Molton scrum, North Tawton quickly got back into the opposition half, a penalty of their own taking the score to 10-0.

Strong build up play again and good kicking saw a promising line-out drive halted short of the line. The Tawts looked to build again from the scrum, a poor pass to Gary Sizmur, but the Captain saw space down the opposite flank and darted his way over the line. Conversion missed, 15-0.

With half-time approaching the supporters of North Tawton knew we needed some more scores as Molton will come back in the second half using the slope to their advantage.

Half-time comes and goes and NT indeed spend the majority of the second half camped on their own line. But the strong defence unit headed up by Jordan Cornwaithe with crunching tackles and slippery Simon Cox stealing turnovers at the rucks kept Molton at bay.

A rare surge into the Molton half saw another strong maul, however it is halted by some handbags. As a result Luke Mingo got a yellow card. With 14 men, South Molton grew into the game, run-after-run with their strong forwards resulted in a try of their own, conversion taken - 15-7.

With minutes left on the clock, Molton tried to build up steam, but the defence organisation of North Tawton kept them at bay. With the light fading, the last play of the game, South Molton kick for goal, seeking a losing bonus point.

The kick hits the post and NT clear, final score 15-7.

It was a tale of two halves, however the difference in quality of passing and organisation being the difference. It was felt that NT could have scored more if passes went to hand. But a win at South Molton is rare and a win is a win.

Man of the match was Luke Dennis. Strong tackles, great running lines, his hunger back.

On Saturday, December 21, North Tawton host Topsham for the last game of this calendar year.

The A Team also host Topsham at home. A double header with a 2.30pm kick off.

James Miller