Torquay 3 - 9 Exmouth
The two previous visits to Torquay have been unhappy events for the Cockles, particularly when, as current County Champions, they were dumped out of last seasons Rhino Cup. After Saturday’s game, when the Torquay Athletic players formed their huddle in the centre of the Rec, they must have wondered why they hadn’t made it three home wins in a row. They had spent most of the game in Exmouth’s half, much of it in the Cockles 22, had at least seventy five percent of the possession and yet they were the vanquished.
On the evidence from the touchline it was because they simply could not break an organised and courageous defence, by a side with Cockles stitched on their chests, on a day when the Tics kicking was not up to the task. It would be difficult to name names but when Tony Emmins had to come off in the latter stages he looked like he had been working at the coal face. At the end of the game when the Cockles trooped off victorious, they all looked the same.
Exmouth kicked off towards the seafront to get the game under way and the ball was punted back by Torquay to the halfway line. From the lineout Graham Smith made a break and when Torquay went offside at the maul, twenty yards out, Richard Cadywould had no problem in posting a 3pts lead after only two minutes play. From the restart Torquay flyer Matt Allanson made a break down the touchline and when Exmouth gave away their first penalty Torquay kicked to the Exmouth 5 metre line. The Cockles won the lineout but undid the good work by conceding another penalty on their own 22. Torquay should have drawn level but the ball sailed past the posts.
With only seven minutes played Exmouth conceded their third penalty and although the kick was slightly longer the Torquay kicker again failed to hit the target. After ten minutes Exmouth were briefly back in the Tics half when the referee, Andy Thompson from the Gloucestershire RRS, showed his mettle by surviving a collision with Exmouth’s big man Stuart Lowe, but Torquay soon regained the ball and set up camp in the visitors half. The pressure came on but Exmouth were putting in some big hits and were nicking the occasional scrum and lineout and when a catch and drive looked certain to produce a score Exmouth held the ball up on the line.
Another penalty shot was missed by Torquay and following a further two penalties the referee decided that he had had enough and a yellow card was required. Graham Smith was the player to go and when, five minutes later, following a disagreement at a scrum, Ben Boswell and a Torquay player, joined him in the bin, prospects did not look good.. With four minutes of injury time played Torquay finally drew level with a Matt Jackson penalty.
Torquay kicked off the second half and traded kicks between the 22’s with neither side gaining any advantage. Torquay still looked the more likely to score and with ten minutes played they should have gone ahead but the final pass went into touch rather than into the wingers hands. Torquay stole Exmouth’s lineout but were penalised just short of the line. Richard Cadywould thumped the ball to touch and when Torquay gave away two quick penalties, the first on halfway, the second on their 22. Richard Cadywould slotted the second to regain the lead.
Torquay were still in contention but with thirty five minutes played they could not cope with an Exmouth catch and drive and conceded another penalty and Cadywould floated the ball over and extended the lead to 9pts-3. Torquay launched a spirited riposte but the Cockles were still battling and withstood the final onslaught to record a very worthy victory.