Raby secures last minute draw

TRIBUTE SOUTH WEST ONE (WEST)

MIDSOMER NORTON 19 TEIGNMOUTH 19

Two points lost or two gained? Well, without Henry Raby’s last ditch try the Teigns would have slipped to a second defeat this season, that much is sure. However, the general consensus of opinion among the team and the management was that this was very much a missed opportunity.

Last season a draw at this point would have been most welcome, so Teignmouth’s dissatisfaction with this result gives some indication of how they have moved on and what they see as a realistic target for their second year at this level.

Midsomer Norton clearly feel they are a club that is going places; promoted from the Southern Counties League last season, they have a well-appointed ground on the edge of town, with several pitches in excellent condition and a welcoming clubhouse. However, they had struggled in the first three matches and remained pointless at kick-off.

When Alex Ford went on one of his trademark defence-busting runs to open the scoring in the second minute, it looked like this could be another disappointing day for the hosts, especially as Matt Laventure curled an excellent kick between the posts for the conversion.

The home side build their play around a massive pack, and their forwards soon got on top of the scrums and lineouts and, despite playing into the teeth of a gale they were on level terms on 15 minutes thanks to a Jack Rowles try and a Ben Taylor conversion.

Teignmouth should have had a comfortable half-time lead, but circumstances prevented Raby from touching down on three occasions, and so the teams turned round with the score at 7-all.

Midsomer felt more comfortable with the wind behind them, and in the 52nd minute Jason Abbot put them in the lead with their second try of the match. The lead was short-lived, however, as from the re-start the Teigns set up a good attacking position from which Will Sowden benefitted to notch his first try of the season, and Laventure again added the conversion.

It looked like that might be enough for the visitors, but they were continually frustrated in the set-pieces and with 10 minutes remaining Ben Moon ran in his side’s third try under the posts and Taylor duly converted to give Midsomer a five point lead.

That was the signal for the visitors to pour forward to try to rescue something from the game. Camped in the home 22, they forced the Somerset defence to concede a succession of penalties. On another day the referee might have awarded a penalty try in front of the posts, allowing Laventure an easy kick for the win. As it was, Teignmouth remained patient and eventually got the ball wide to Raby and he dived over in the corner to tie the scores. With the difficulty of the angle and the strength of the wind it was asking a lot for Laventure to play the role of hero, and sadly for the visitors his kick went just wide.

Coach Marc Dibble admitted to being frustrated at the final whistle, as he felt that his side failed to maintain the necessary tempo throughout the game, but he praised his side's defensive qualities when under pressure. This week the Teigns welcome Gloucester side Matson to Bitton Park, kick off 3pm.