Clinical Honiton RFC too strong for hosts North Tawton

Honiton scored the first try of the game with Ollie Rice touching down wide right after several phases to maintain his fine return to the Ton. Johnny House added the extras.

The home side had plenty of possession but were not progressing up field into the Honiton twenty two. Their disappointment in lack of scoring was compounded when Honiton got the next try, Rice diving under the posts after a fine break by Ben Spence, House converted for 0-14.

Things were working well for the Honiton defence and Steve Smart scored his second try in two games with a fine break and outpaced the defence to score under the posts, again converted by House 0-21.

Although Honiton were looking good in possession, the same could not be said for their misfiring line out, penalty kicks were being squandered and nullifying the territory gained.

While the forwards were not firing, the back line was, Steve Smart intercepted and ran in under the posts to get his second try of the game and secure the bonus point, House hit the post with the conversion attempt, 0-26.

The second half started much in the same way as the first with the home side having possession but not getting on the scoreboard. North Tawton finally got their first try of the game when they pushed the Honiton pack off the ball on a five-metre scrum, the try was converted, 7-26.

It seemed like Honiton couldn’t get out of their twenty two or get hold of the ball, this was compounded when Sam Olive was shown a yellow card for a professional foul. 

With the home team camped on the Honiton line and down to fourteen men, it was almost inevitable that they would get a second try. After much pressure, they got a converted try to reduce the deficit to 14-26.

The play moved to mid-pitch and both teams exchanged mistakes and, as the dying embers of the second half started to fade, Honiton were awarded a penalty, House obliged for 14-29.

A few plays later the final whistle went for an away bonus point win for the Ton.