Exmouth suffer more woe in unfortunate defeat at Shelford

It’s an old adage in sport that when you are challenging at the top the ball rolls your way and, when you are in desperate need at then wrong end of a table, it tends to roll against you, and that is precisely what is currently happening to the Cockles who now look doomed to a swift return to more local rugby next season, writes Steve Birley.

Once again the Cockles worked themselves into a position from which they had every chance of going on to claim what would have been, potentially, the start of a great escape from National Two (S) relegation when they led 18-12 at half-time.

However, a disputed try with just ten minutes to play ultimately broke the back of the Cockles performance and they slipped to a sixth successive defeat.

Exmouth director of rugby Chris Wright said: “I suppose I should not be surprised by a lack of fortune on our part anymore. In the second half with us leading 18-12 the skies darkened and a biblical wind appeared for the remainder of the half, which we had to play into! That said, once again the players showed great character against a side that had won their last seven on the bounce and it was comforting when, post match several home supporters took time out to offer us praise for what they considered a very good opposing team performance. That’s small comfort, but good to hear nonetheless.”

Read more at The Exmouth Journal.