TAVISTOCK warmed up for the start of their Counties Two Devon campaign by beating Launceston II 17-5 in torrential rain at Sandy Park on Saturday.
Both sides struggled to get to grips with the conditions in the first half, with lots of knock-ons and mistakes.
Launceston started brightly but Tavistock defended well and neither side were able to manage a point in the opening 40 minutes.
But Tavistock upped their game second half and two Jack Rock tries within the space of six minutes gave them a 10-0 lead in the early stages of the second period.
The impressive Liam Watts then scored a third try for Tavistock with a good kick and chase.
It did look like Tavistock were going to keep Launceston II out, but the visitors scored a consolation effort with the last play of the game deep in injury-time.
Tavistock fly-half Chris Watts said afterwards: “It was a good effort from the lads in rubbish conditions. We were pleased with the result.
“It was 0-0 at half-time and the conditions did come into it as it was very scrappy, but second half we did well with the wind behind us and got a few tries.
“It was good to run through all of our plays that we have been working on in pre-season. I think Leigh (Puttock, coach) is pretty happy with how it has been going and the players are happy.”
Puttock added: “There was some great defence from us in the first half in horrible conditions. Going in at half-time with a zero with that wind and rain was massive.
“Then in the second half, the boys took it to them in attack and did everything we had been working on.”
Meanwhile, Plymouth Argaum concluded their pre-season with a 19-0 away defeat in tough conditions at Counties Two Cornwall side Liskeard-Looe, who had already beaten their league rivals Old Techs away.
Argaum were hampered by three of their starting players not making it due to transport problems and some injuries during the match.
Hooker Jack Badnall scored twice for Liskeard-Looe, with winger Alex Kendall adding their other touch-down in heavy rain at Lux Park.
“It was a bit frustrating,” said Argaum head coach Dean Avery afterwards. “Losing three of our starting line-up really threw us.
“The wind was also howling down the pitch and the rain was also horizontal, which made it almost unplayable, and we played into it first half.
“With the weather we just couldn’t move the ball like we did against Tavistock and we struggled to exit
“We also picked up about six injuries, which might be down to fitness at this time of the season and the ground was really soft.
“They (Liskeard) were leading 14-0 at half-time and we thought we could turn it around, but we just didn’t have the depth in the squad on the day with people playing out of position.”
He added: “It can be tough at this time of year with holidays and stuff, and it just didn’t really come together for us travelling down to Liskeard.
“But they (Liskeard) are a decent team and it’s certainly not doom and gloom.”
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