North Tawton 35 - Tiverton Seconds 7

WITH only one game in the last month, not playing at home for five weeks and with the visit of top-of-the-table Tiverton, it was with a touch of concern that the North Tawton faithful went into this match.

The Tawts had put up a good showing when the sides met in Tivey, the hope was they could get a good start and send the men from Tiverton home empty handed.

Well what can you say right from the off. North Tawton went at the visitors as hard as I've ever seen from a Tawton side, competing for every ball be it a ruck maul scrum they were making a point and within minutes got an early reward with a try from Glen Walters.

With the conversion by Jack Phare, it was 7-0.

You did wonder if that might wake the side from Tiverton up and stir them into more joined up rugby but North Tawton were having none of it.

Two penalties again from Jack Phare took it to 13-0.

A good attack from Tiverton, showing a glimpse of what they can do given room to move the ball around led to their only score of the game, a try with conversion, 13-7.

North Tawton seem to take this as a don’t go to sleep mode and stepped up another gear playing some of the best rugby of the season so far a second try this time by James Miller.

With a good kick added, we went into half time 20-7.

Lots of words of wisdom from the Tiverton coaching staff could be heard from the touch line, they were complaining of a long injury list which, I am afraid, all sides suffer from these days as North Tawton only know too well.

That aside I think they were quite shocked how well the home team were coming at them.

We started the second half in much the same vein, North Tawton at full tilt going for the try bonus point and Tiverton trying to get out their own half, the third try coming courtesy of Jeol Ireland, a missed kick getting us to 25-7.

Not long after, maybe just trying too hard to get an attack of their own going, Tiverton give another penalty away kicked over by Jack Phare 28-7, this took Tiverton to three tries away.

With the clock ticking down it was flat out from the home team to get that fourth try and with almost the last kick of the game Bill Sharp gets on the end of the final play and went over for the valuable bonus point, the try kick added by Jack Phare giving us the final score of 35-7.

While it can be said that Tiverton have injury problems, the old saying you can only play what's in front of you is so true.

Play like this every week and North Tawton will win more than they lose - They seem to have got their MoJo back. Who’s next?

Chris Phare