Tavistock kicked off their first home game of the season at Sandy Park seeking major improvements after their heavy opening day defeat away at Teignmouth.

Tavistock started the brighter of the two teams with long spells of possession in the Torquay 22. Strong running from Wingers Ben Hadfield and Glen Fuller put pressure on the oppositions try line. Despite this, Tavistock struggled to convert their pressure into points allowing Torquay to clear their lines. When Torquay were given an opportunity to attack they used their bulky pack to advance up the field with a number of driving mauls.

The next 20 minutes had an element of déjà-vu from the previous weekend for Tavistock as Torquay took control of the game scoring 20 unanswered points. Their forwards were dominating the set piece enabling them to drive over the line on two occasions and, whilst Tavistock were down to 14 men due to a yellow card for an infringement at the scrum, their strong outside centre found gaps in the defence to feed the visitors full back who strolled in under the posts. The addition of a conversion and a penalty from their scrum half gave Tavistock a mountain to climb going into half time.

Tavistock made a couple of changes in the forwards at this point by rotating the front row and bringing on Mark Friend on the flank. This appeared to spark the home side into action with half backs West and Murphy marshalling the moorlanders towards the Torquay try line. Tavistock's forwards started to gain confidence and a strong maul from a line out almost led to their first points as flanker Schuttkacker broke away but fell just short of the line. Tavistock maintained the pressure from the resultant scrum and were awarded a penalty, a quick tap from West saw him blast his way through the Torquay defence to score Tavistock's first points, he slotted the conversion with the last action of the half to set the game at 7-20.

The home side knew they would have to build on the improved performance at the end of the first half in order to get back into the game. Tavistock received the restart and a solid take from powerful number 8 Jake Phillips allowed West to clear their lines with a strong kick into the Torquay half. Tavistock regained possession in the Torquay half and continued to cause problems for the visitors. Powerful running from centres Lloyd and Brading put the team on the front foot enabling quick ball to be generated. West made the most of the possession to score his second try of the game when an overlap allowed him to cruise though the Torquay defence and score in the corner, the unconverted try set the score at 12-20.

Tavistock's confidence was growing and Torquay struggled to maintain any possession, on the few occasions they were given an opportunity to attack this was broken down with physical rucking from the Tavistock forwards and pressure defence from the backs. The constant pressure found Tavistock back in the Torquay 22, patient phases of play presented an opportunity for Brading to crash through the defence and touch down for Tavistock's 3rd try which was converted by West 19-20.

With Tavistock in touching distance of taking the lead they continued to put pressure on the visitors. This frustrated Torquay as they consistently gave away penalties for infringing at the breakdown. From one of these penalties, quick thinking from Murphy was halted illegally by the Torquay second row and, after some heavy petting from both teams, he was sent to the sin bin by the Devon referee. With the extra man Tavistock put further pressure on Torquay forcing them to give away two penalties within kicking range, the trusty boot of West slotted both opportunities to put Tavistock in the lead at 25-20. With just minutes to go the home side were confident that they could see out the game to claim their first points of the season. The defence held well and it was Tavistock who looked the most likely to score with Friend on the receiving end of a high tackle yards from the line which on many occasions would have warranted a penalty try. The final play of the game was Tavistock's as they took their own line out enabling West to clear the ball off the field to the delight of the home fans.

A positive turn around for Tavistock after a difficult start to the season. Next week they travel to Truro where they will look to build on this weeks result.