Yatton started well and against the run of play the Cockles took the lead when Rich Cadywould slotted a penalty when Yatton infringed at the ruck. The home side continued to apply pressure and after a series of penalties they should have levelled the score when they won a penalty on the Exmouth 22. Fullback Tony Hill hooked the ball wide but on the restart they secured the ball and set up a maul. Quick ball set scrum half Nick Garnham off on a arcing run and a lack lustre Exmouth defence could not stop him scoring close in. Kicker Tony Hill redeemed his previous miss and added the conversion points and Yatton took a deserved 7pts-3 lead. On the half hour Yatton went further ahead when veteran No 10 Dave Keating banged over a nice drop goal following continued pressure on the Exmouth line.

With the score at 10pts -3 the second half started badly with the Cockles shipping another penalty in front of the posts and Tony Hill had no problem taking the score to 13pts-3. But Exmouth were gaining momentum and the next twenty minutes turned the game upside down when they went on the rampage. The front row started to function with young guns Sean Cooper and Ed Baxter starting to make some drives with Mark Rowsell locking up the tight side. Lock James Finnegan was stamping his mark in the lineout and was starting to show around the field with partner Martin Westaway always in support. The back row of Tony Emmins, Ben Boswell and the burgeoning Chris Strong started to get their hands on the ball and the whole side looked a different outfit.

Jack Downie was the first to get a try but it was a break and off load by full back Matt Hopper that put the winger in space. Experienced Jon Boltrukiewicz was now on at 10 and he stroked the ball over to take the score to 13pts-10. Five minutes later Ben Boswell’s try, following carries by Gary Hooper and Dale Sleeman gave Exmouth the lead. Jon Boltrukiewicz kicked the conversion to post a score of 17pts-13. With fifteen minutes of the half played Exmouth secured a penalty on the Yatton 22 and a Jon Boltrukiewicz kick to the 5 metre line set up a regulation catch and drive. Ben Boswell obliged with the touch down and the faultless kicking of Boltrukiewicz took the score to 24pts-13.

Yatton’s lively scrum half tried to get things going carrying to the Exmouth 22 but a relieving kick by Hopper was quickly followed by a penalty on halfway. From the lineout the ball went through many hands and it was a Hopper offload that put Jack Downie in for his second try. Jon Boltrukiewicz converted and at 31pts -13 it looked curtains for Yatton. To their credit they came back when Nick Garnham scored his second try but within minutes a drive and offload by Edwin Baxter put James Finnegan in for his first try for the Club. Boltrukiewicz converted and two minutes later the dominant Exmouth pack turned over the Yatton eight and Finnegan charged over the line for his second.

With ten minutes left to play a Hopper break put Paul Morgan clear but he was held up and when Yatton knocked on captain Mark Wathes was on hand to score wide of the posts. In the dying moments of the game Morgan again showed his pace and his break and offload put Jack Downie in for his hat trick. This win puts Exmouth on top of the League and in good shape to receive old foes Brixham at the Imperial Ground on Saturday, KO 2.30.