Devonport Services 33 ~ Exmouth 17

I didn't make the game but to follow a sort of match report taken from watching the video.
Exmouth kicked off playing towards the school end. A kick out of defence bounced back towards us and was fly hacked on twice by Shaun Crawford who was in the lead following it up, by the time he and the ball got to the try line there were players from both sides also arriving. Exmouth must have got hold of it but taken it over their line. A scrum to us which we won, we then played the ball a couple of times towards the posts only for Exmouth to give away a penalty in front of the posts that was easily kicked over by Matt Nyle. 3~0 after a couple of minutes.
From the restart we did not take the ball and it went into touch for an Exmouth lineout that they won, they tried to maul it but our pack drove them back, a couple of players splintered off that and played towards the posts only for the referee to take it back for a penalty to Exmouth about halfway across our twenty-two and near the lineout spot. Exmouth took the ball back to the twenty-two to take the kick. It went over and the scores were level after five minutes. 3~3.
After a long series of attacks defended well by Exmouth we eventually kicked long for a lineout on the club side. The long throw by Exmouth was knocked on by them and we won a scrum halfway in towards the posts. We won it, played across the pitch to win a penalty towards the stand side. Kicked for a lineout, won that and mauled but Exmouth defended the maul quite well so we played across the pitch only to win another penalty back at the lineout spot. Won that and mauled reasonably easily for the line for No2 Aiden Taylor to score. The conversion was missed. 8~3 after eighteen minutes.
Six minutes later they had a scum in front of the stand and in their half which we disrupted and which they gave away a penalty from. We kicked for the line out won and started to maul, Exmouth initially defended it well pushing it back but then we got going and went for the line for Aiden Taylor to break off a good eighteen feet out and go over after going through a defender. The conversion was missed. 13~3 after twenty-six minutes
A penalty to Exmouth was kicked long but didn’t make touch and we kicked it back for them to take it and run at us, just inside our half in attack they knocked on, we picked up and drove over into their half when the carrier was tackled it went to Liam Jarvis who broke any defence to run in, just before the line the Exmouth scrum half chasing made a heroic dive to try and stop him but he want in under the crossbar to score. Matt Nyle converted. 20~3.
Nearing half time we won a scum on halfway midfield and pushed them back easily, won a penalty but played on, when a long pass went straight in to touch the referee took us back for the penalty.
The last kick of the half about six feet into their half and midfield was well kicked over by Matt Neyle, with it half-time and a lead of 23~3.
With the Exmouth pack under pressure and the rising score line, it was not looking good for the Cockles on a rainy afternoon on The Rectory.

The second half kicked off by us playing towards the school. Exmouth must have had an extremely stiff halftime talk because they came out and really took it to us. Exmouth took the restart, one pass and a player accelerated down the middle of the pitch and up to the ten yard line in our half, they kept the ball moving for the No 14 to have a great run down the clubhouse side wing, a missed tackle and he got deep into our twenty-two only for the ball to spill in to touch when he was tackled. We won the lineout, played out of defence then kicked out, our chasing played knocked on trying to catch the ball and they had a midfield scrum. We infringed, they got a free kick and attacked but lost it and we kicked out. Tom Davies managed to regain the high ball from two defenders also trying to catch it and attacked only to be tackled. We played it across the pitch only to knock in front of the stand.
Eleven minutes into the half and a lovely run down the stand side wing got us not far from their try line. We mauled the ball on but Exmouth infringed and one of their players was yellow carded.
We went for a five yard lineout, mauled diagonally toward the post for Aiden Taylor to cross to score his third with Matt Nyle converting. ‘That’s his third try so he owes some beer” said Fraz over the loudspeaker. 30~3.
On nineteen minutes a long kick out by us was taken by the left winger, a neat sidestep and he was away, they continued to attack the ball eventually on halfway first going left then back right then back in with a pause for a bit of a maul part way then right for the winger to speed in from just inside our half and most of the way into the post. The conversion went over. With it, the half time team talk clearly had paid off and the score changed to 30~10.
Not many minutes later they got to our try line by the turnstiles and after failing to break through sent it down the line, the long pass went to the winger, who was tackled but he managed to get it away to a supporting player for the try. The sideline conversion went over. 30~17.
Could they keep it up?
We pulled ourselves together and came back at them and on about minute thirty-three three attacked from a scoreboard end lineout getting in close a couple of times then to win a penalty.
Matt Nyle kicked it easily from just outside their twenty-two and midfield.
Exmouth continued to attack but our fitness and defence held them out, we had one last go but it produced nothing. Exmouth had another attempt with a long kick from a penalty on their twenty-two but it dribbled over the try line. We kicked out to halfway, and they ran it back but it came to nothing and the referee blew for full time. 33~17.
A good win against knotty opponents in the past. All the hard work was done in the first half.
Aiden Taylor was the Nigel Chivell memorial man of the match presented by Journeaux Tax and Accounts. Aiden was probably last seen looking for his wallet to pay for the beers.

Scorers.
Tries for the 1s
Aiden Taylor (3).
Liam Jarvis.
Conversions.
Matt Nyle (2).
Penalties.
Matt Nyle (3)
Man-of-the Match. Aiden Taylor
No cards.
Exmouth two cards.

The 1st team v Exmouth.H.
1. Rikki Bentham.
2. Aiden Taylor.
3. Oli Symons.
4. Andy Pond.
5. Mike Rickard.
6. Mark Friend.
7. Liam Jarvis.
8. Matt Gregory (vc).
9. Dan Goldstone.
10. T.om West
11. Toby Knowles.
12. Shaun Crawford (c).
13. Tom Davies.
14. Freddie Davies.
15. Matt Nyle.
16. James Mcfarlane.
17. Isaiah Akinrowo.
18. Brandon Bonser
Head coach. Ben Russell.
Assisted by Rikki Bentham