Exmouth kicked off down field with a bitter wind blowing across the pitch. Brad Perkins, making his 1st XV debut, was soon in the action when he marked a speculative kick by the St Mary’s out half. Both sides were probing for openings but with nine minutes on the clock it was Exmouth who scored following a scrum on their own ten metre line. From the scrum Richard Cadywould kicked ahead and although the ball was fielded by the St Mary’s centre his pass out of the tackle was intercepted by a chasing Ollie Turton who charged up field with outside half Richard Cadywould in support. The No 10 scored and he converted his own try.

Within minutes of the restart Exmouth were penalised and St Mary’s kicked to touch but they messed up their lineout and Exmouth were awarded a scrum on the St Mary’s ten metre line. Graham Smith picked up from the base of the scrum and set off on powerful run, Gary Hooper carried it on to the home 22 and flanker Andrew Smith was on hand to scamper over for the Cockles second try. Cadywould converted to post a 14pts-nil lead with thirteen minutes on the clock.

St Mary’s came back and they were putting some pressure on the Exmouth scrum during a period littered with mistakes. One driving maul carried the ball twenty metres and when they turned over an Exmouth scrum on the Cockles five metre line a score looked inevitable. The Cockles defence was superb and when St Mary’s were penalised the threat was over. Cadywould kicked to the halfway line and when another penalty was awarded his kick at goal sailed just past the posts. The ten minutes to half time was played out between the 22’s, a quickly taken penalty by St Mary’s was stopped in its tracks by Ollie Turton and Paul Morgan went close but the half ended with no further score to add to Exmouth’s 14pts lead.

St Mary’s restarted with the advantage of the slope and with ten minutes played their No 8 Mike Davidge broke the Exmouth defence and passed to winger Chris Randall who dropped the ball when tackled close to the Exmouth line. The Cockles soon got back into the St Mary’s half, and although the pack was under pressure Graham Smith was driving things from the base of the scrum with James Finnegan getting involved at every opportunity. A missed penalty by Cadywould worked well for Exmouth when St Mary’s knocked the ball on in front of the posts and although St Mary’s defended this scrum another infringement gave Exmouth a second opportunity. A solid Cockles scrum on the 22 allowed quick ball to pass to Jack Downie and supporting Graham Smith finished off with an unconverted try. With only minutes of normal time to play second row Mike Prosser scampered over for St Mary’s only score.

This win keeps Exmouth at the top of the League, five points ahead of Taunton, with seven games to go, four of which are at home.