Chippenham 27 - 15 Exmouth

Exmouth have found it difficult on their travels this season but with Chippenham just one spot off the bottom this was one fixture that the Cockles could have reasonably expected to come away with a result. As it turned out they will want to forget the first twenty minutes of the game when the home side amassed all of their points without reply. Chippenham had the benefit of the slope and a very strong wind in the first half but when it was their turn in the second half the Cockles were unable to convert a lot of territory and possession into enough points to overhaul the Chippenham score.

 
Exmouth kicked off uphill against the elements and when the wind held the ball up short of the ten metre line the initiative passed back to Chippenham. From the scrum they drove to the Exmouth 22 and with two minutes played they were awarded a penalty. Centre Karl Brant made no mistake with his kick and three minutes later when the Chippenham skipper, James Gaiger, combined with winger James Dazeley to put second row Matt Bye over for their first try he slotted over the conversion. When another penalty went against Exmouth two minutes later he was on song again kicking over from the Exmouth 10 metre line.

With just twelve minutes on the clock Chippenham’s influential player coach Hentie Martens scored the first of his two tries following a break by James Dazeley, again Brant converted taking the score to 20pts-nil. Exmouth started to get their hands on the ball but on twenty minutes a crucial interception on the half way line allowed Martens a free run in under the posts.Brant converted to post a score of 27pts-nil. Minutes later Ben Boswell was yellow carded but the Cockles stepped up to deal with this, stemmed the Chippenham flow and started to put together some good rugby.

Chris Strong was again making his presence felt at No 8 and the front row of Ed Baxter Shane Cooper and John Pinney were certainly up to the task. With still only fourteen players on the field reward came when Seb Phelps intercepted between half way and his own 22 and he outpaced the Chippenham speed men to score.

The Cockles came out for the second half with the challenge of having to overhaul the 27pts – 5 deficit but with the slope and wind now in their favour anything was possible. With the aid of the wind Richard Cadywould slotted a penalty after five minutes and with the pack gaining momentum more scores looked on the cards. Mark Wathes and Jack Downie were seeing more of the ball but it was Richard Cadywould who obliged after eighteen minutes when he received the ball from a lineout, dummied the defence, and scored under the posts. He converted his own try and with the score at 27pts – 15 a positive result was beginning to seem possible.

With fifteen minutes to go to full time, Exmouth still needed two scores to pull things round and a penalty kick on the Chippenham 10m line, which sailed pass the posts, might have been put to better use. Exmouth continued to press for the rest of the game but they were unable to break down a resolute Chippenham defence.

 
Exmouth entertain Oxford Harlequins at the Imperial Ground this Saturday and as the visitors are currently bottom of the League the Cockles will want to take two points from this game.