Bromley 14 - 35 Exmouth

It was EDF National Trophy day last Saturday and Exmouth, seemingly always destined to travel away in this competition, made the 400 mile round trip to Bromley in Kent. Away trips in the League this season have been a bit torrid for the Cockles so this was an opportunity to get into the winning habit. Although Bromley might have considered themselves underdogs for this game they are a side that has winning ways, unbeaten this season and an appearance in a Twickenham final in the last few years.

Playing downhill with the wind Bromley quickly made their mark   when their talented No. 8, Tom Standfield, recently back from New Zealand, split the Cockles defence to score. Fullback Keiran Leeper converted and with just two minutes on the clock Bromley were seven points up. Exmouth responded with a Cadywould penalty four minutes later but it took them another fifteen minutes to get into a scoring position.

As the game entered the second quarter a Garry Hooper run took play into the Bromley 22 and when he was held up Bromley kicked to give Exmouth a lineout on the home 10 metre line. Chris Strong provided the initial surge; Ed Baxter took the ball to the line and a pass out of the tackle found Shane Cooper in support and the tight head scored wide out. Cadywould narrowly missed the conversion but Exmouth were ahead 8pts-7. Exmouth continued to play in the Bromley half but despite ample territory and possession the score remained the same up to the half time whistle.

Bromley kicked off the second half with both the elements and slope favouring Exmouth but it was the home side who posted the first score when after eight minutes play an Exmouth kick was charged down and fly half James Marshall scored under the posts. Leeper converted and Bromley were back in the lead at 14pts-8. A Richard Cadywould penalty five minutes later narrowed the gap and with Exmouth now stepping up the tempo more scores looked on the cards. Murray Daniel, now on the field for Shane Cooper, obliged ten minutes later when he finished off a superb drive by the Cockles pack.

Now leading by 16pts-14 Exmouth started to control the game and over the last quarter added a further three tries. With fifteen minutes to go a break by Mark Wathes, supported by Man of the Match Ed Baxter, put Chris Strong over and two minutes later Wathes was again involved when he combined with Richard Cadywould and Seb Phelps to put Adam Garner in for a try. Richard Cadywould finished things off when he scored a fine individual try jinking through the Bromley defence from the 22 to score under the posts. He kicked the conversion to record a well earned 35pts-14 victory.

 
The draw for the second round took place earlier this week and the Cockles will travel to Kent again; this time National 3 mid table side Canterbury.

 
League rugby returns to the Imperial Ground this weekend with the visit of Bristol side Cleve. KO 2.30