TAVISTOCK head coach Joel Caddy took plenty of positives out of his side’s opening pre-season match away at last year’s Regional Two South West runners-up Crediton.

Tavistock, who won the Counties Two Devon title last term, were eventually beaten 56-26 by their higher league hosts, whose squad included former Plymouth Albion players Dan and Mark Lee and Jack Arnott.

But the visitors gave them a run for their money in the first half and were only 27-19 down at the break before Crediton completely changed their team for the second period.

Due to holidays and work commitments, Tavistock had only travelled with 20 players, including some colts from last season.

“We gave a good account of ourselves,” said Caddy. “We managed to score four tries and had another disallowed.

“Credit to them, they are good, and they were able to swap their entire team at half-time whereas we only had 20 players and no prop replacement.

“We had a bit of a makeshift team with people away, but we played well and we can hold our heads up high. Everyone worked their socks off and they stuck at it, especially in that second half when they brought on 15 pairs of fresh legs.

“We can take quite a lot of out of it, especially scoring four tries. The new players played well. It was a bit of an eye-opener to adult rugby for a few.

“Hopefully, next week we will have a few more available.”

Caddy did have praise for number eight Jamie Legg for his work at the back of the scrum, which did come under pressure.

Legg did get Tavistock’s final try late in the game. In the first half Joe Burbage, Chris Watts and Conor Packwood had also touched down, with captain George Hillson converting three of Tavistock’s four tries on the day.

Tavistock will now play Plymouth Argaum and OPMs at home in their remaining pre-season games.