Great start to the U16 season

Exmouth began their first league fixture with a traditionally tough fixture away to Honiton. Playing down the slope the Exmouth pack quickly secured the kick off and fly half Zac Mattin set the tone for the first half pinning Honiton into Clubhouse corner. Despite strong defence the organisation and powerful mauling led to the first try as the forwards took clean line out ball and set a text book drive to the line. Having sucked in the defence Captain Connor O Shaughnessy broke off and carried the ball through two tackles to score.

Following the re-start the same pattern was repeated as Exmouth stuck to their game plan and drove the ball back to Honiton territory. With strong running in midfield from Rabbie Hansford the defence was stretched and a series of offloads resulted in hooker Sean Harrison breaking through for the second score.

Many sides would have folded under the pressure the huge Exmouth pack was exerting but Honiton came back strong and made a couple of quick breaks on the blind side - with their strongest ball carrier at full tilt stand in winger Chrissie Wright cut him down twice with outstanding textbook tackles - not only stopping the runner but creating turnovers into the bargain.

With defence and attack in great shape Exmouth powered Honiton back toward their try line and another phase of great inter play led to a score but the referee overuled the try for 'overdoing the celebration'!! The culprit quickly made amends in the next series of attacks as Exmouth completely overan the defence and scored in the corner with Jake Huntley determined to make amends with the touchdown.

The second half began with Exmouth playing up the slope but with a changed game plan - to move the ball before contact and to stretch the defence out wide. This quickly paid off with the dominant back row trio combining with rapid offloads and sidesteps - Will Irving doing most of the running with Toby Papp on his shoulder. The third back row Amigo joined from one yard out to take the final offload and crash over for the score.

Sadly an injury to dynamic prop Ollie Dawe led to a prolonged break in the game which was moved to another pitch - the momentum went out of the game at this point and Honiton renewed their efforts gaining two well deserved scores but the result was never in doubt as the discipline and focus of number eight, Toby Papp, supported by Charlie Gibbings, Will Irving and man of the match Chrissie Wright ensured Exmouth began the league season with all five points and restricting the opposition to no losing bonus point.

Scores: Tries - Connor O SHaughnessy (2), Sean Harrison, Jake Huntley.
Conversion - Zac Mattin (1)

Team (1-15, reps): Gibbings, Harrison, Dawe, Stafford, Cook, O Shaughnessy C, Irving, Papp, Flinn, Mattin, Warren, Hansford, Kirton-JOhnson, Wright, O Shaughnessy (L), Ramft, Huntley, Martineau, Prophet-O Neil, Downs.