This was a must-win match for the Chiefs as anything else would have delivered a serious blow to their goal of staying in the Western Counties West division and they duly delivered the result.
Early pressure saw them on top in set-pieces with the scrum going forward relentlessly and it was from such a situation that the referee finally decided this had been deliberately wheeled once too many times for his liking and awarded the home side a penalty try after 15 minutes. Centre Will Hancox stepped up to convert and settle any early nerves.
The visitors responded and came close to a breakthrough but were undone when giving away a penalty and the match took on a curiously static feel for a while with neither side able to really dominate.
Wellington were the better side however and gradually got their play flowing with rucks and mauls becoming increasingly effective. It was from such a passage of play that Captain Robin Trott received the ball at fly half and ducked to the inside, ignoring the overlap to his right, to score. Hancox again added the extra points to extend the home sides lead.
This seemed to spark some life into both sides as Tavvy tried to get into the game more but they could not get into position to take advantage thanks to some serious defence by the Red and Blacks.
It was from another Tavvy attack that the home side profited as Hancox spotted an interception opportunity which he picked off perfectly to run from deep within his own 22 the length of the field and score under the posts. He also converted to give the home side a comfortable cushion.
However there was a sting in the tail as the visitors slotted a penalty through Captain and fly half Richard Goldsby-West right on the stroke of halftime.
The second half turned into something of an equal tussle with both sides struggling to take control but the visitors did score a try through Goldsby-West early on.
Try as they might Wellington did not get in position to find the all important fourth bonus point try with the Devon team’s defence holding out aided by the occasional inevitable error from the home side. It became a bit of a dour struggle but with the points in the bag from the first half the home side were content not to risk their winning position as the clock ran down
Next week’s matches:
The First XV travel to bottom placed team St Ives looking to gain another important result to ease their situation in the Tribute Western Counties West division. This is never an easy fixture however and the Cornishmen will be looking to repeat their recent performance, also against Tavistock, on November 1st when they secured their only win of the campaign so far. Wellington will have to take this game as seriously as any to ensure they return with the spoils.
The Seconds are at home to their Chard counterparts in a Tribute Somerset One fixture following their win at bottom side North Petherton last week. The match is generously being sponsored by Janet and Glyn Meredith.
The Thirds are also at home in a local derby against Taunton in the Tribute Somerset Two South league which is being supported by ARC Electrical and will be hoping that they will be able to raise a side following their third cry off of the season last week. All players should be aware that should the side get to a point where too many matches are called off the League co-ordinating committee will exclude the team from their remaining league fixtures and expunge the previous results to ensure that teams vying for promotion or trying to avoid relegation are not disadvantaged through these cancelled matches. This would inevitably leave the side struggling for any fixtures for the rest of the season
The U18’s will want to continue their good run of form and are also at home to Nailsea & Backwell with Club suppliers St Austell Brewery giving this match their kind support for which the Club is extremely grateful.