Exmouth Rugby 1st Team v Weston-super-Mare RFC Saturday 26 November (Away)

Final score: Weston-super-Mare RFC 27-14 Exmouth RFC

Exmouth battled until the end to try and steal a reward from this game. 

A minute on the clock and the visitors were knocking on the door to open their account. Moments later Exmouth were back in their own half trying to work their way up field against a strong breeze and driving rain.  

The first of two interception tries on 3 minutes was followed up by another on 10 minutes, this did put Exmouth on the back foot. Cameron Maslen & Euan Tremlett the recipients of wayward pass, Archie Tilsley sandwiched a penalty between the conversions.  The COCKLES found themselves 15-0 down early in the game. 

Resilience and the ability to fight back will be key to the rest of this season, well worked tries in quick succession from Jake Inglis, with a great solo effort from Robbie Weeks put The COCKLES back in the game, both converted by George Meadows, 15-14 after 25 minutes. With an eye on half-time, it seemed an increasing penalty count, which did not improve in the second period would work against Exmouth. Weston scored again, Maslen try, Tilsley extras, after a mid-field defensive slip, under prolonged pressure, the first forty minutes done, 22-14 to the hosts.

The spirit was high, even with weather and light deteriorating the floodlights came on and the rain hit harder. Perhaps a reflection of conditions, the only score of the second half went to Ben Cox, Tilsley converting, 27-14 after 48 minutes. 

The rest of the half was played out with opportunity for both teams, strong COCKLES defence helped immensely, a high penalty count didn't, some at scrum time. This did improve with interchanges. Weston handled the conditions well and deserved their eventual win, take off the fourteen points from two errors and Exmouth securing a scoring opportunity the result would have been different. 

Right on full time The COCKLES did get a chance to close the gap. A deft kick to the corner gave the boys a 5 metre line-out to work with. Exmouth line-out had largely been good through the game, better than the hosts. To the regular viewer it seemed a choice of lineout call made things difficult for us, the ball was lost and kicked to touch to end the game. 

Endeavor and toil never in doubt, the back line used what ball they had to test Weston, pretty even overall in the forwards. The COCKLES needed a little more of the game to go their way. 

Next up, another an away trip up the M5 on Saturday 3rd December, Chew Valley RFC. The COCKLES won the home fixture 20-15 in early September. This will be a tough outing against the high flying North Somerset outfit in 2nd place in Regional 1 South West League.

Exmouth QUINS and NOMADS games on Saturday 26 November had to be postponed unfortunately. Both matches to be rescheduled for later in the season.

On Saturday 3 December QUINS entertain Brixham 2nd Team at home. Kickoff at 2.30pm. Whilst NOMADS have a week off.