Exmouth 53 - 13 Chippenham

When Exmouth travelled to Wiltshire back in November they allowed the Chippenham playmaker, Hentie Martens, to dictate the game and with twenty odd points piled up in as many minutes they never recovered and came away well beaten. Having not played a League game for five weeks, how sweet revenge must be with this result, when Captain Gary Hooper and his back row, didn’t allow Martens into the game and the Exmouth backs took the visitors apart.

Nick Grant was back at outside half after a long lay off and he set the scene with Dale Sleeman teaming up with Ben Hough in the centre. New boy John Bordiss looked the part at full back and wingers Jack Downie and Matt Ryan always looked sharp. Second row James Finnegan, who has had limited rugby this season, really stood out and his partner Stu Lowe really stepped up for this one.

 
Exmouth kicked off the proceedings and within minutes a forward pass in the visitors 22 denied Jack Downie a clear run to score. A couple more forward passes thwarted scoring chances but with fifteen minutes played a run by Nick Grant put Ben Hough in space to provide Jack Downie. The winger followed up his own kick ahead and scored wide out. Chippenham stepped up their game and only a big effort by the Exmouth pack on their own line prevented a score. The pressure was still on and with twenty minutes played Chippenham’s efforts produced a penalty which was slotted over by centre Karl Brant.

Exmouth were not prepared to pass the initiative to the visitors and with the half hour approaching a charge by Chris Strong was held up on the line and Chippenham scrambled the ball to touch five metres out. Clean quick ball from the lineout found Dale Sleeman in space and he brushed away the defence to score a fine individual try. Nick Grant slotted the kick and at 12pts – 3 Exmouth were starting to look good and when four minutes later another break from halfway by Chris Strong put Gary Hooper in for a try the Cockles were in the driving seat.

A wayward forward pass denied Jack Downie a score minutes later and just to remind the home side that Chippenham were not quite out of the game the visitors quickly responded with a Peter Kirby catch and drive try. With just minutes to half time Exmouth were back in the Chippenham 22 and with the ball passing through many hands James Finnegan was on hand to score close in. Nick Grant converted and with the score at 24pts-8 Exmouth could be well pleased with their efforts.

 
From the restart Matt Ryan came close on two occasions but it took Exmouth just six minutes to put the game beyond the visitors when Gary Hooper crossed over for Nick Grant to convert. Andrew Smith came off the bench and quickly put in a strong run which produced a yellow card for Chippenham and a penalty for Exmouth. Nick Grant obliged and with score at 34pts-8 it was now a question of how many the Cockles would score.

Dale Sleeman started things rolling when he finished off following a break by John Bordiss running from deep with support from Jack Downie and the same duo were again involved to provide Chris Strong with a try minutes later. Nick Grant converted both tries and with the score at 48pts-8 the job was done. Chippenham responded with a try but Jack Downie had the last say when he finished off with an unconverted try.

 
This win lifts Exmouth above both Chippenham and Cleve in the league and with the Cockles visiting Bristol side Cleve this weekend the opportunity is there to consolidate even further.