TAVISTOCK’S highly-successful season was brought to an end in style on Monday with their second team playing at Twickenham.
The Moorlanders were one of four men’s team and four women’s grassroots sides from around the country invited to play at the home of English rugby in a special RFU Community Game Twickenham Takeover event.
Tavistock II played three 20-minute fixtures throughout the day and the first was the trickiest with a tough encounter against a Doncaster Phoenix II side, who have been undefeated all season.
The Moorlands battled bravely but struggled against a physical Doncaster side who scored three tries winning 19-0.
Tavistock also started their second game against East Peckham & Paddock Wood on the back foot when their powerful winger burst through from the halfway line and scored on the right-hand side.
However, the Moorlanders kept their composure, and half-backs Freddie Fuller and Chris Watts moved the ball into the wider channels and winger Sean Donnelly and centre Jack Rock started to make yards.
And they took a two-point when centre John Henry drove over from five-metres out and Rock converted.
Tavistock were now in the ascendency and props Jason Ward and Richard Cann were dominating the scrum.
A resulting penalty enabled a kick to the corner and a well-worked catch-and-drive saw club stalwart Hammy Kerswill power his way over the line. It was a fitting try as it was Kerswill’s hard work in keeping the club’s fixtures and results up to date on the RFU’s game management system that helped lead to the team’s selection to play at Twickenham.
Tavistock started their final game against Haverhill & District brightly and Ash Toll got a massive cheer for a thunderous tackle on his opposing winger driving him backwards.
Hallam Bourton started to dominant the line-out and back-rowers Angus Hogg and Jack Giddy made yards with the ball in hand.
Hooker Johnny Harris and prop Jez Hill kept the opposition at bay with a number of tackles, but it was Kerswill that took the plaudits. After a long line-out throw to Rock a series of phases saw the ball move to the Haverhill 22 and after a number of pick and goes Kerswill was on hand to drive over for his second of the day.
Haverhill came back and equalised the score at 5-5 each before another series of drives brought Tavistock close to the line. Prop Joe Hair looked to have found his way over only to get stopped inches from the line. Fortunately, young scrum-half Freddie Fuller was quickest to react, and he snapped up the ball and darted over the line to cap a memorable day for all involved. Rock converted giving Tavistock 12-5 victory.
The second team’s trip to Twickenham followed on from the first team winning Counties Two Devon and the Lockie Cup and their colts also won the Devon Bowl.