Exmouth 22 - 16 Hornets
Back in October when Exmouth were new to the idea of being League leaders they travelled to Weston Super Mare and beat the Hornets convincingly by thirty odd points. On Saturday, leading the nearest chaser Taunton by five points, it was the return fixture and with Hornets in the drop zone this should have been an easy day at the office for the Cockles. Captain Mark Wathes was back from injury and on the bench, Stuart Lowe and brothers Adam and Neil Hooper, totalling 900 games between the three of them, suggested the Exmouth squad had strength in depth.
Following the kick off by Exmouth any thoughts of any easy trip were dispelled within three minutes when the Hornets centre John Gallagher finished off a move which had torn the Cockles defence apart. They duffed the conversion but with five points on the board the visitors continued to control the game and after twenty five minutes they went further ahead when No 10 James Biddle slotted a penalty from the Exmouth 22.
This second score stung the Cockles into action and when Jack Downie sliced through the Hornets defence and powered over the line the referee decided that he had not grounded the ball. Hornets were still in control and with only minutes on the clock to the break they decided to take a penalty scrum on the Exmouth 5 metre line but the Exmouth pack responded by winning the Hornets ball.
Stuart Lowe joined the fray for the second half 
and within minutes a scrum on halfway allowed the backs some space. Brad Perkins made the running, supported by Olly Turton, but it was Mark Wathes who was on hand to make the touchdown. Richard Cadywould kicked the conversion and Exmouth took the lead for the first time at 10pts-8. As if to remind Hornets that they were League leaders Exmouth sprung into action and it was no real surprise when Jack Downie, receiving a ball from an Exmouth scrum, powered thirty metres up field and scored close in. Richard Cadywould added the points and at 15pts -8 the Cockles had rested the game from Hornets.
Within five minutes Hornets should have closed the gap but the penalty shot was off target but with twenty minutes played Gallagher reduced the arrears by slotting over a penalty from halfway. With the score at 15pts-11 it was still anyone’s game but when Richard Cadywould dummied in mid field and passed to Mark Wathes a scoring opportunity opened up. Wathes took the ball forward and it was Olly Turton who touched down close to the posts. Richard Cadywould kicked the two points and at 22pts -11 Exmouth looked more comfortable than they had been all afternoon. For Hornets the game was not over and they chased the game right to the end. With five minutes of injury time about to be played the Exmouth defence seemed to be all over the place and it was Hornets who pulled one score back when Stuart Vinnicombe scored an unconverted try.