An expectant home crowd was bolstered by a large contingent of Cockles supporters all hoping their team would take the honours. The home crowd did not have long to wait at Newton Abbot took the lead through a Jarred Harris try, conversion missed by Fly-Half Tom Putt. The All Whites were definitely up for this game and Matt Jess, playing at Scum Half scored next, making the score 10-0. Putt missed his second slot at the posts. The first 17 minutes the Cockles were starved of ball possession so found it difficult to get a foothold on the game. 20 minutes into this match and Full-back Tom Whelan put away a long range penalty, Exmouth on the board, 10-3. From a break on left of field to cross pitch phase and slick handling, Dave Bargent sped away to touch down in the left corner, 10-8. Whelan missed the conversion. Exmouth heads were up and for the next 10 minutes the Cockles pressurized the Newton Abbot line. It was unfortunate that from a flat attacking pass, Kev Dennis intercepted, from what appeared an offside position and ran the length of the field to increase the All Whites lead, 15-8, missed conversion again. A lengthy delay during the first half elongated the playing time and on half-time Exmouth were back, working towards their opponents’ line. After several phases, young scrum -half Sam Fulthorpe got his first senior try. Whelan could not slot the extras from wide out. 15-13.

Both sets of supporters felt their team would win this, however it was Exmouth to speed out after the break. With 60 seconds on the clock, Dave Bargent made a break which eventually ended with his own try. Superb strength and determination got the back row player his second score. Slightly unfortunate, Whelan slipped on the conversion. 15-18. The Cockles took the lead and were in no mood to relinquish, after 50 minutes Whelan had a chance to kick a long range penalty but came up slightly short. With both teams going hammer and tongs at each other, the Cockles seemed to put the game further out of reach. A kick to the corner resulted in a line-out. From an infringement, Newton Abbot collapsing the line-out, the referee had no option but to award a penalty try with automatic conversion points to add 7. This also secured a 4 try Bonus Point for Exmouth. Score now 15-25 after 65 minutes. Newton were determined to get back in the game and so it proved. Putt who had missed three conversions finally found his range slotting two well taken penalties on 70 minutes and 78 minutes. The score had closed to 21-25. After taking the option to pick up 3 points so close to the end of the game, the All Whites were banking on retrieving the ball from kick off and running back to seal a score for victory. They did this in part and worked their way to the Exmouth try line. A couple of line-out drives they came up short, superb defence from the Cockles. From a scrum 5 metres out, they had their opportunity to close the game. Exmouth forwards, to their immense credit battled hard and eventually got in a position for Fulthorpe to launch the ball away to finish the game. There was a first 1st XV start for Will Bright in the back row, with new prop Charlie Tribble, joining the fray after during the second half, both showed up well in a team performance full of courage. The final 10 minutes was heart wrenching for the Cockles contingent, eventually with big smiles in the mini heat-wave.

Coach Pez will reflect on missed opportunities and improving phases of play. Also happy with a 5 league point away win, that breaks the duck on the road this season.

Saturday 27th October, home to basement outfit Old Patesians.