Argaum Come Unstuck in the Mud

The early play was evenly contested as the teams adjusted to the boggy conditions at Taw Meadows, but gradually Plymouth Argaum’s strong pack began to win the territorial battle. An early penalty chance for them saw the ball bounce back off the post and Tawton scrambled it away. Then Tawton’s Jamie Stevens made a break and good support by his three-quarter line and took them to the Argaum try line. Tawton's Full back came through to collect the final pass and ground the ball for the try. The conversion was pulled across the posts and the score stayed at 5-0 to the home side.

Having breached the Argaum defence Tawton kept up the pressure and a tap penalty led to Argaum conceding an extra ten metres for not retreating, bringing the penalty in range to slot a good kick from just outside the 22 metre line. This took the score to 8-0 for North Tawton.

Argaum re-established their territorial advantage but sniping breaks and determined tackling by the more agile Tawton three-quarters kept them out of range. The conditions underfoot made it hard work for the packs and they were relieved when the half time whistle went.

A lively start to the second period by North Tawton pushed Argaum back into their half but a break by Argaum’s strong-running centre Ciaran Bennett, the stand-out player in their back line, took them back to the Tawton 22 metre area. Strong defence was called for, and Tawton flanker was having a field day with his tackling. They kept Argaum out even when a knock on tight to the try line led to a scrum 5 metres out.

Finally the pressure told and Tawton conceded a penalty close to the 22 metre line from where Argaum fly half Tom Richards converted for his side’s first points. Both sides put up a ferocious final phase to the match and although Argaum were again dominant in territory the lighter Tawton squad made the better of the heavy conditions and held on to their lead until the final whistle.