Exmouth 25 - 21 Old Patesians

Following last weeks disappointing start at Coney Hill Exmouth needed to bounce back with the visit of Cheltenham side Old Patesians RFC. Although the Old Pats name might not roll off the tongue of many rugby followers they are in fact one of the strongest sides in Gloucestershire having played National 3 rugby as recently as 2005. Hot from a thumping victory over Oxford Harlequins the previous week, their first visit to the Imperial Ground was without doubt the biggest challenge the Cockles had faced since the inception of League rugby.

Played in warm sunny conditions, the game that the players of both sides served up deserved a larger audience but for the privileged that were there the last five minutes of play will be talked about long after many of the players have hung up their boots. Exmouth’s victory by 25pts-21 was all the more remarkable considering that with one red card and two yellow cards the Exmouth pack was a man short for at least forty minutes of the game.

Richard Cadywould kicked the game off with the crowd in shirt sleeve order and the full backs traded kicks and that of Mark Wathes pushed play back to the Old Pats 22. The visitors infringed following the lineout and Cadywould kicked the penalty to give the Cockles an early five minute lead.  This did not last for long as the referee penalised the Cockles for the first of a number of infringements. Visiting No 10 Andy Seager slotted over from the home 10 metre line to level the score at three points each.

Referee Richard Bennett of the Bucks RRS continued to show that he would not tolerate infringements around the scrum area and Exmouth No 8, Chris Strong who had been putting in some good work, was sin binned with just fifteen minutes on the clock. The Old Pats punished Exmouth immediately with a kick to the 5 metre line, a standard catch and drive and tight head Chris Downes barged over the line. Andy Seager added the conversion to take the score to 10pts-3 in their favour.

Exmouth dealt with the yellow card period very well with new boy Ashley Stevens showing up well and with Chris Strong back on the pitch Cadywould could have reduced the arrears but his penalty kick from the visitors’ 10 metre line narrowly missed the post. With thirty minutes played Gary Hooper put in one of his darting runs but became isolated and was penalised for holding. Old Pats kicked the penalty to the Cockles 22 and from the lineout only a forward pass prevented them scoring a certain try. Almost immediately Stuart Lowe received a yellow card and Seager kicked his second penalty.

Trailing by ten points and with one man short the pressure was really on and another score looked inevitable when the Old Pats broke the Exmouth defensive line but a truly try saving tackle by Tom Elliot, aided by Gary Hooper stopped it in its tracks. This seemed to lift the Cockles and although Cadywould should have reduced the arrears with a penalty from the 22 all was forgiven when minutes later a clever break by the Exmouth No 10 put Jack Downie in for a try wide out. The half closed at 13pts- 8 to the visitors with everything to play for.

Old Pats kicked off the second half and within five minutes Richard Cadywould closed the points difference to two points with a well struck penalty from the visitors 22. Andy Seager restored his side’s lead with a penalty after ten minutes and with the third quarter almost played the wheels started to fall off for the Cockles. Stuart Lowe received his marching orders following his second yellow card and without his considerable presence the Exmouth pack could not stop the visitors drive and captain James Pettigrew touched down to score. Seager missed the conversion but at 21pts-11 with one man down for the remaining twenty minutes the prospects for Exmouth did not look good.

The Cockles withstood the pressure and as the forty minutes came closer it was probably superior fitness that kicked in but Exmouth had a new lease of life. Chris Strong finished off a move driving over for a try converted by Richard Cadywould and with most supporters not realising that there was at least five minutes of injury time left they thought the  21pts-18 score line would be the final act.

With the clock ticking away and with five minutes of injury time played the Cockles seemed to be stuck in their own 22 but Richard Cadywould flicked the ball to John Bird to set in motion one of the most exciting tries seen at the Imperial Ground for some years. Replacement Adam Garner, on the pitch for only ten minutes, carried it on, Jack Downie took it forward until he stumbled, Garner was on his shoulder for the return and it was Mark Wathes who took the young player’s pass and sprint from halfway to score under the posts.

Richard Cadywould converted and the Cockles first League points in South West 1 were in the bag.