An unchanged Exmouth side made the club’s first ever league trip to near neighbours Chard on Saturday, and, whilst the action failed to reach any great heights, the Cockles returned home with a maximum bonus point 29-9 win, writes Chris Wright.

On a pitch 15 metres shorter and 10 metres narrower than the Imperial ground, the Cockles made a confident start. With play deep in the home 22, the Cockles driving maul was halted illegally on three occasions as the tryline beckoned!

Despite their continual infringement the hosts were unpunished until Meadows missed a relatively straightforward kick as the Cockles eventually opted to take a shot at goal.

Worse to come when, on 20 minutes, Chard slotted a penalty as it was Exmouth’s turn to fall foul of the official. Frustration abounded on and off the pitch, the contact area was a complete lottery and, with the hosts stopped in their tracks on the Cockles 22, tackler Ollie Pyne stripped the ball with exceptional speed, the referee adjudged his action illegal and sent the flanker to the sin bin!

Chard kicked the resultant penalty to take a 6-0 lead against the run of play. James Harris was the pick of the Cockles players, and, after another Chard forward infringement, Meadows normally trusty boot let him down only to see him two minutes later make amends with a well struck kick.