Exmouth 16 - 14 Taunton
Exmouth have been a bit wary of Taunton over the past few seasons as the visitors had become a bit of a bogey side to the Cockles. Last January that myth was put to bed when Exmouth beat them comprehensively 44pts – 10pts but the preseason talk suggests that Taunton are one of the favourites for promotion this season. Exmouth kicked off and within minutes it seemed that the pundits were right about this Taunton side and that this was going to be a bad day for the Cockles. Early jitters saw the kick off fail to carry 10 metres and within two minutes Taunton pressure produced a penalty on the Exmouth 22. Jon Martin, their No. 10, had no problem in slotting over. The Exmouth restart sailed into touch and following further pressure the Cockles conceded another penalty right in front of the posts and again Martin had no problem in posting a 6pts lead.
Exmouth weathered the storm and started to get a share of the ball and although the Exmouth pack was feeling a bit of pressure, second row, James Finnegan, on his debut, was adding stability in the lineout. By the end of the first quarter a Rich Cadywould penalty had reduced the deficit to three points and the Cockles were back in the game. Exmouth increased the tempo and started to put together some good rugby and on the half hour a Paul Morgan offload gave Dale Sleeman space and the young centre brushed off the defence to score right of the posts. Rich Cadywould showed his kicking boots were on and he took the score to 10pts -6. Immediately on the restart Jon Martin had the opportunity to close the deficit but he was off target and when a Taunton lineout on the Cockles 22 was judged to be not straight the rub of the green seemed to be with the home side.
Exmouth took the game back to Taunton and a kick ahead by Cadywould was fielded by a Taunton player but he was pounced on by Dale Sleeman. The ball was turned over and Gary Hooper carried to the Taunton 22. Further pressure quickly produced another penalty for Exmouth and Cadywould brushed it over to take the score to 13pts-6. It did not take Taunton long to remind the hosts that they were still in the game when just before half time Samoan Tex Raratabu, the Taunton No 8, crashed over for a try. With the score at 13pts-11 this was very much game on.
Taunton restarted the game and when Jack Downey thumped the ball back at them and a player went offside the penalty looked straight forward for Cadywould. The Cockles No 10 was off beam this time and the initiative went straight back to the visitors.Taunton gained a penalty on the Exmouth 22 and when they kicked to the Exmouth 5 metre line a standard catch and drive was all that was required. The Exmouth pack, who had dug in all afternoon, had other ideas and their turnover ball was one of those critical moments that can decide the result of a game. Another Taunton penalty was kicked into the Exmouth 22 and this time the Exmouth pack pressured them at the lineout and the visitors knocked on. The pressure was still on and when an Exmouth player was penalised for not releasing in front of the posts Jon Martin made no mistake and Taunton took the lead back at 14pts-13.
As was demonstrated last week at Newton Abbot this Cockles side defend their line as if their lives depend on it but when they were penalised on their own 22 at the start of the last quarter another score looked a formality. With the posts begging, Taunton chose to kick for a catch and drive but only proceeded to kick the ball dead. On the restart the ball was thumped into the Taunton 22 and when they won a penalty Exmouth opted for a scrum. The ball found its way to Rich Cadywould who rifled the ball over with a drop kick. With the score at 16pts-14 Exmouth defended with a great deal of courage and with 5 minutes injury time played the referee relieved the pressure for everyone by blowing the final whistle.
The Cockles travel to newly promoted Yatton this Saturday to play a side which has yet to register their first league points of the season. Exmouth will want to carry on their good momentum and at the very least maintain their third slot in the League.