This year’s Combination Pedrick cup was between Services III and Tavistock II.
Tavistock II in only their second game this season and much to everyone’s surprise, beat OPM Jesters by 42~7 so with the score in the referee's notebook they were in the final.

I have to say looking at that result I was rather expecting a similar scoreline this evening.
As it was it turned out to be a good game to watch, it went from looking like I was right to a tight second half where the lead changed hands a number of times leaving the crowd of three hundred out so riveted right up to the last minute of the game.

We started really strongly taking the game to them forcing them on the back foot and having to defend stoutly, which they did well. Then on about thirteen minutes we won a penalty on their twenty-two and midfield. Up stepped colt scrum half Rohan Johnson who put the ball over the crossbar for an early lead. 3~0.
The next fifteen minutes the game continued in much the same way with us taking it to them and defending when they ran back at us. Matt Richards on the left wing had a strong run down into their twenty-two, then when forced towards the touch line by the defender, grubber kicked on but could not retake the ball.
On the half hour Tavistock suddenly came alive and started to really run at us with three or four really strong running backs, I think it took us by surprise because they scored a seven pointer, that really lifted them and their large band of supporters; who didn’t have much to cheer about apart from the odd good tackle by their players. 3~7.
Only minutes later they repeated it with another seven pointer, 3~14 and then just before half time a third seven pointer, 3~21. With each of these scores the large a noisy Tavistock supporters got noisier cheering every positive moment by their team
As the half time whistle went the Tavistock supporters, quite rightly, were like a family of sparrows in a hedge, chattering to each other, excited and not unreasonably expecting more of the same and a cup-lifting victory to end their season.
I thought this is going the way of Tavistock’s game against Jesters and speaking to our players afterwards they seemed to feel the same, but to their great credit and probably after a tough lecture from Sam Bennett they came out in the second half determined to make sure it didn’t happen.
With no scoreboard or clock I have little idea of the time of events in this half, or the first.
Be that as it may, the first moment was a try from veteran No. 10 Matt Witcher, the conversion was missed. 8~21.
This raised the team spirit and with another veteran on the pitch from the bench, Joe Page, we surged forward. Joe, who came up through our youth, colts and to the seniors but has not played for a couple of years I would guess and asked to be on the bench so he could run out with his son colt’s hooker Cole Paqe.

Anyway, it was Joe Page who scored the second try with Rohan Johnson putting over a superb out wide conversion, 15~21.
Then Joe Page scored again but this time the conversion was missed 20~21.
With that the whole atmosphere around the ground changed, the Services supporters all cheered up and started to get noisy and those from Tavistock had less to cheer about and probably felt the end of a close match tension.

But not giving up the Tavistock team got to our line, but really good defence and unforced errors by Tavistock held them out as the clock ticked down.
The number of penalties to each side went up but neither side made much of them, a few times we kicked out but not far enough to relieve the pressure.
Around here, we changed referees when Gary Endacott went off with a pulled calf and Dave Riches took over
Then the inevitable happened and one of the Tavistock players forced his way through the crowd of players to score. Crucially, as it turned out, the conversion was missed.
The Tavistock players and supporters must have thought that was the winning try and it certainly looked like it. 20~26. We needed a seven pointer and there couldn’t have been more than four or five minutes to go.
Fortunately, we took the restart without knocking it on, and the ball moved down the line making ground. The forwards took it on, the handling was good and we slowly got down to the pitch ending at the scoreboard corner.
Looking from the far end of the pitch it was difficult to see what was happening, we had a lineout that we took cleanly, and shortly afterwards there was a cheer from our players, a loud blast from the referee's whistle followed by his arm in the air, and the Tavistock players were clearly downcast, Joe Page had scored his third try. 25~26 to Tavistock.
This last moment, the conversion kick by Rohan Johnston, on any day would be difficult, out wide on a large pitch and to possibly win the cup was a tense moment for everyone.
I don’t suppose he was feeling cool as he lined up the kick, but it looked like it.
A short run in and the kick and the ball, in slow motion, so it seemed, went between the posts for a one point lead, 27~26.
Two or three minutes to go and one last critical event, the restart. I am not sure who caught the high kick, but he deserves a special award or at least a pint because it was not knocked on, once again some safe passing and taking and we took the ball to them.
The referee’s watch flipped over to zero, and maybe alarmed, then shortly afterwards the ball was kicked out and we had won.
It was an exciting game to watch and was played in a good spirit. The crowd were well entertained and the changing score line kept everyone gripped.
From my view, Tavistock were on top in the scrums, but not by a game changing degree.
Our lineout went really well on the whole.
I thought our passing, taking, and supporting were rather good. However, I think we probably spent too much time going up the middle with the forwards; they were doing it well, but the Tavistock defence was good, so making ground was slow.
We had fast backs, not many being as fast at Matt Richards but the ball didn’t get to him often enough. It is a shame he has only been able to play a couple of games this season due to having to work on Saturdays.
What can you say about Joe Page? The skills are still there.
My man of the match was Rohan Johnson for that last conversion.
Afterwards the Tavistock players collected their medals and the President’s plate presented by Mike Freeman from the Combination executive and well known local coach and school master.
The Services players collected their medals, team captain Tony Polo lifted the Pedrick cup, and photos were taken.

At the start of the RNEC cup, we held a minute’s silence for Devon’s erstwhile secretary Treve Mitchell, who sadly passed away a few days ago.

Next, the seconds against Saltash in the Lockie cup at Albion on the 30th of April, kick off about 7.30.

The Team.

1. Alfie Smith.
2. Cole Page.
3. Misa Cvetanovic.
4. Conor Yeoman.
5. Dan Chugg.
6. Tony Polo. (c)
7. Steve Wells.
8. Freddie Dover.
9. Rohan Johnson.
10. Matt Witcher.
11. Josh Jarvis.
12. Matt Richards.
13. Nathan Learmo.
14. Alex Hanson.
15. Dan Cooper.
16. Sam Mullan.
17. Ross Taylor.
18. Kaff Simakoloyi.
19. Joe Page.

The Management.
Jim Moss and Sam Bennett.