Makeshift Tavistock defeated by St Ives

TAVISTOCK player-coach Marc Kerswill had nothing but praise for is makeshift side in the wake of a 32-14 Western Counties West defeat at St Ives.

- CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

A lengthy list of injury and availability issues meant plundering the second team for players, which meant conceding another, Devon Two game, this time against the Old Technicians. The Moorlanders 2nd XV have yet to honour a fixture this season and are in imminent danger of expulsion from their division.

Tavistock were in the game at St Ives until the final 15 minutes when St Ives claimed two tries to shoot over the horizon.

Kerswill said the only frustration was coming home from Alexandra Road with nothing to show for their efforts.

“It was disappointing to leave with no points following a very spirited performance, despite a lot of unavailabilities,” said Kerswill.

“Those who stepped-up really put in a shift away from home.”

Defeat leaves Tavistock (7pts) three places off the bottom of the table. St Ives (6pts) and winless Bideford (0pts) are the teams below them.

St Ives held a slender 8-6 lead at the break. Two penalties from Soco O’Connor featured on Tavistock’s side of the scoreboard.

The Hakes topped-up their tally with a couple of converted tries, but a third O’Connor penalty and a Liam Watts try kept Tavvy in contention at 22-14 behind.

As the game entered the final quarter, St Ives started to get on top.

“Their set piece came good and they turned over a lot of scrum ball,” said Kerswill.

“When we were eight points down Liam Watts went for a do-or-die interception in our own half and knocked-on, only to be sin-binned and a penalty try awarded.

“St Ives then scored a well-worked try from the restart kick.”

Tavistock are at home to Bude this Saturday, when the Sandy Park crowd should be swelled by supporters attending sponsors’ day.

■ SALTASH maintained their perfect record at the top of Cornwall One with a 32-17 win over Helston.

But they were made to work harder than they are used to for victory over a physical and tidy Helston side.