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The start


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Tavistock  25 : Exeter Saracens 22


Tavistock were slow into their stride and found themselves 5 points down after only two minutes, when the Saracens pacy flyhalf raced through a gaping hole in the home defence. This sparked Tavistock into action and the next twenty minutes were evenly balanced with the Tavistock forwards working hard up the slope, to supply some decent possession to their backs, but wrong options and poor passing prevented Tavistock breaching the Saracens' defence. Saracens fashioned a second scoring chance, which was duly taken. Tavistock forwards then forced their way upfield again and prop Tim Child was on hand to score an unconverted try. Three minutes from halftime, Saracens made another swift break and split the home defence for a third well taken try, which was also converted, giving them a 17 - 5 lead at halftime.

Playing down the slope now, Tavistock's forwards gradually started to take the initiative from their dowty opponents. For fifteen minutes, the home side were camped in or near the Saracens 22, but had not managed to break through when Saracens made a swift counterattack and after the home team were harshly penalised for a crooked feed at a scrum near their own line, a quick free kick resulted in another try to the visitors. At 5 - 22 down, it looked all over, however, Tavistock thought otherwise and spurred on by veteran scrumhalf Richard Staniland and aided by some good line kicking from fellow veteran, flyhalf Martin Credicott, the home forwards took control of both the set scrums and the rucks and mauls and in the next twenty minutes, scored three tries from driving mauls, which the visitors were quite unable to defend. The tries came from locks, Lee Easton and Darren Cole, with Staniland capping a fine game with the third one. Credicott converted one of the tries, which brought the scores level with five minutes remaining. The Tavistock pack continued to pummel the Saracens defence and with the last action of the game, the visitors were penalised for offside, leaving Credicott to calmly bang over the penalty kick from 30 metres, to complete an amazing fightback.

This was a victory over a very good Saracens side, who were always dangerous when allowed to run the ball and was a victory gained by sheer determination and hard work. In addition to the scorers, captain John Wakem led by example and back row men Tom Dawe and Andrew Griffiths were prominent throughout.

Next week, another Merit League match away to OPMs in Plymouth. Kickoff 2.30pm.




2nd XV Match Report



....TRFC