Exmouth fielded three closed season signings making their league debuts, teenager Ben Hawley at number eight, prop Issac Dalton and full-back Ollie Rice, with skipper Dave Bargent leading out the side in this opening fixture.

Confidence is high at the Imperial Ground, with very few departures from last Season’s squad and a vigorous preseason regime that said no one anticipated such a demolition job. Three minutes in George Meadows got the ball rolling with the first of his 11 successful kicks at goal as the home side were caught offside.

George Savage scored the Cockles first try following good interplay on six minutes and Meadows duly converted.

Debutant Rice got his first league try on the quarter hour, the elusive fullback showing a real understanding of how to score, something he displayed in pre-season.

Meadows converted from the touchline to give the cockles a 17 point and it was his boot that added a further three points with a well-taken penalty.

Skipper Bargent was heavily involved in the next try; the Cockles simply outplaying their hosts in every department, as Garry Hooper touched down out wide. Meadows slotting the extras then once again minutes later he added another penalty.

In the second half, with a 30 point lead, the Cockles might have been forgiven for taking their foot of the gas. However, there appears to be a ruthless streak in this squad, probably born from brutal preseason sessions!

Ollie Rice got his second and the bonus point score quickly followed by a try for flanker James Harris with Meadows slotting both conversions.

With 15 minutes gone in the second half, skipper Bargent got his first of the season under the posts as Exmouth’s support play continue to pay dividends and once more Meadows converted.

With the game won, Weston got two late consolation scores both unconverted, sandwiched between two more converted tries for Exmouth from Matt Ryan and Richard Bright.

The final whistle could not come quick enough for the hosts and they were relieved to not concede more. Eight team tries, and an impressive eight conversions and three penalties from the boot of George Meadows.

In an impressive team performance, it would be hard to single out players, that said, debutant Ollie Rice caught the eye.

This Saturday the Cockles travel to Barnstaple looking for another win on the road.