TAVISTOCK and Plymouth Argaum both took plenty of positives out of their pre-season run-out at Bickleigh Down on Friday night.
Higher league Tavistock out-scored Argaum by six tries to four to win the three-period match 40-24, but both clubs, who struggled in their respective divisions last season, had really good numbers for the fixture.
Counties Two Devon outfit Tavistock, under new head coach Leigh Puttock after their relegation from Western West, stormed into a 26-0 lead in the opening third, thanks to tries by Jordan Taylor, Harry Ball, Calum Baker and Charlie Charlton and conversions by Freddie Fuller.
But Argaum, who were relegated to Counties Three Devon South & West last season, came back into it in the second period and bagged three unanswered tries, while the final third period was pretty even.
Tom Mann touched down for two of Argaum’s tries, with Tom Worboys and Adam Walker also crossing the whitewash, while Martin Budden and Freddie Fuller scored Tavistock’s other tries.
Argaum head coach Dean Avery said: “We played a new system, and I think it really worked. We had a lot of ball in the wide channels, which we’ve not had in previous seasons, so I’m looking forward to building on that.
“We gave a lot of players a game – I think 28 played. It was a bit difficult to get everyone on the pitch and working together, but everyone did get a third and it was a good run-out.
“Like Tavvy, we also have an awful lot to come back in who were on holiday.”
He added: “We struggled a bit at the beginning with physicality, but in the second third we fronted up a lot better and managed to go through a few phases and go wide.
“In one of the periods we scored three unanswered tries, which was good.”
Tavistock head coach Puttock said: “We got what we wanted out of it.
“There were massive positives, but there are still lots to work on.
“The pleasing thing was I didn’t even have to tell the guys about the mistakes they had made as they were walking off the pitch telling me what they had done wrong and what they need to improve on.”
He added: “We were outstanding in that first 25 minutes. The pleasing thing was, that everything we had worked on in training they put into action.
“There was a bit of a buzz as the guys can see what they are doing in training is coming off on the pitch. The lads that hadn’t trained were saying that they can see that they are not just going to walk into the team.
“We still have a few more guys to come in yet. We have actually booked a second team fixture in two weeks’ time when we play Devonport Services II in the league – they are going to bring over a third team to play our seconds. If we can get a second team out regularly it will just improve the club.”
Tavistock will continue their pre-season next weekend with a home game against Bude, while Argaum are set to travel to Liskeard-Looe.
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