NEW CROSS 30 - NORTH TAWTON 9
READING the final score you find it hard to believe that North Tawton, all be it for a brief period, were ahead in this game.
After going behind to an early try, two Dave Fewings’ penalties put them in front 6-5 and it looked to the travelling faithful that after weathering the opening momentum from the home team Tawts could be in for a good afternoon.
At this point Tawts were very much in the mix. Can’t resist the old adage “a game of two halves” because that is exactly what this match turned into.
Three more points to Dave Fewings from another well-taken penalty were no answer to the four tries scored by a vitalised New Cross who played some very good running rugby and finished the game with a total of six tries and a well-deserved bonus point win.
I think it would be fair to say that Tawton by and large struggled to contain the New Cross pack at scrum time and therefore got very little clean ball to build any attacks of their own. The lineouts also didn’t always go to plan so the Tawts were always on the back foot for nearly all of the second half.
For a Tawts fan it was a painful to watch 40 minutes considering the score at half-time.
The coaches will have some work to do this week to get things right for the visit of Ilfracombe in what becomes a very important fixture re league positions relegation etc.
The game at New Cross, with great respect to the players that took to the field, highlights the need for the coaches to be able to pick the team they want home or away. If Tawts are to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle the home side need to travel if you get my drift.
Chris Phare