Western Counties West

Tavistock 10, Burnham 27

BURNHAM left Devon with maximum points on Saturday after a 27-10 bonus-point victory over Tavistock.

Tries from Stuart Blake, Ollie Streeter, Tom Chaffey and a penalty try sealed the points for Burnham, who remain just three points behind leaders Ivybridge, in second place.

Tavistock started the match brightly, but Burnham weathered the early pressure before Stuart Blake powered over from the back of a driving maul.

A second was added almost straight from the restart, as Ollie Streeter got himself on the end of Matt Love’s offload to maraud in under the posts.

The third wasn’t far away as this time Chaffey broke clear; only to be denied by a trip from a Tavistock player.

The referee duly awarded a penalty try which Piper converted for 19-0, but Chaffey’s moment was to come.

Just before the break, he broke clear to score in the corner and seal a first-half bonus point.

The second half was a more passive affair as Burnham seemed to go off the boil – with only Piper’s penalty to show for their efforts.

Tavistock scored two late tries to give the score line a more respectable look and Burnham must learn to close out games in more clinical style if they are to fight their way out of the division.