Sunday saw a squad of 13 turn out to welcome the Exeter Chiefs U12s.

(two stand ins borrowed from the visiting team), it was an exciting match and our boys held their own against the superior size and weight of the Exeter team.
The Chiefs went home the victors but nothing was given. The Young Cockles worked solidly in defence, holding the Visiting team to only 2 tries in the first half, and three after the break, by which time the Exmouth lads, with no spare players to take over, were really feeling their legs! Quick work from the forwards and some nifty kicking that gained useful ground, put the Cockles in position to score on several nail-biting occasions. But determined work in defence from the Visitors, meant that illusive first try the Exmouth lads strived for, remained just out of reach.
Whilst the score may not have gone the way we would have liked it was a great match to watch and the boys can be proud of their performance. Keenan Palmer was one who clearly relished the full sized pitch with more than one try saving tackle, and Solomon McIntyre took the dubious honour of winning the Mars bar challenge for some tenacious play in and around the centre.