FALMOUTH 17pts

TAVISTOCK 20pts

THIS was a typical end-of-season, middle-of-the-table match which seemed to lack the bite and determination needed to raise the enthusiasm of both sets of supporters.

Both teams had their moments of ascendancy during the game and the result was in doubt until the final whistle, but the heavy rain and dark, overcast conditions certainly contributed to a mistake-ridden game which failed to reach the standard of play expected of these two competitive teams.

Falmouth applied the early pressure and were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty try when Jack Brown seemed to be obstructed as he chased the ball over the Tavistock line, but the referee seemed certain that no offence had been committed and the stalemate continued.

For the first 20 minutes Falmouth certainly had the upper hand but, despite the territorial advantage, they were unable to turn territory into points. Then, as so often happens, Tavistock broke out and during their first serious attack they were awarded a penalty for a high tackle which flyhalf Josh Sutton converted with ease.

Gradually a pattern started to emerge as Falmouth secured sound possession from the lineouts but the heavier Tavistock pack dominated the scrums and this meant that the loose ball was all-important. In this respect the visitors began to get on top and launched a number of raids from loose play.

However, they lost valuable possession with a knock-on and Falmouth's man-of-the-match, Tom Spiller, seized the advantage to counter attack and sent winger, Gareth Leaver, away on a race to the left corner. When he was held up near the line, Spiller was on hand to cross for an unconverted try which gave Falmouth a 5-3 lead against the run of play.

Now was the time for the home side to settle, but the Tavistock forwards took control for the rest of the half and Falmouth were forced on to the defensive. The line held until another high tackle resulted in a quick-taken penalty near the line and flanker, Will Brown, crashed through for Josh Brown to add the extras.

Falmouth were just about hanging on as their scrummage came under serious pressure and they were denied possession. Then, just before the interval, another penalty by Josh Sutton extended the Tavistock lead to 5-13 at half time and a gap had opened up.

Falmouth, playing catch-up, needed to strive for quick points in the second half, but this became increasingly unlikely as neither side found it easy to cope with the wet ball.

Both teams tried to throw the ball around, but it was Tavistock which had the greater composure on the ball as they seemed to create space for their threequarters.

Tom Spiller had to work hard around the base of the scrum as Tavistock applied constant pressure at the set piece and Chris McColl showed his worth with a number of determined runs to establish position.

Young Jacob Stephens came on for his first senior game as flanker with ten minutes remaining along with Danny Trick and Richard Warwicker. The substitutions seemed to work as Falmouth won a quick loose ball and Richard Hambly fed Danny Trick on the burst for the centre to carve his way through to the posts. Jack Brown converted and Falmouth were belatedly back in the game at 12-13.

Tavistock were taken by surprise, but immediately came back strongly from the restart as Falmouth fumbled in open play and the turnover allowed centre, David Goodspeed, to run in unopposed from 30 metres for the clinching try and Josh Sutton converted.

With time running out and Falmouth trailing at 12-20, it seemed all over, but there was still enough time for Falmouth to come back with another score as Darren Pellow chased and gathered on the full a floated kick to the corned which allowed him to cross far out for the final try. The game and the season ended at 17-20 and both teams will meet each other again in the Cornwall and Devon League next season.

Falmouth: J. Cremin, C. Pollard, T. Colvin, S. Instance, C. McColl, A. Palmer, A. Lancaster, B. Short, T. Spiller, R. Hambly, G. Leaver, J. Brown, M. Slater, D. Pellow, M. Biggins. Replacements: J. Stephens, D. Trick, R. Warwicker.