Exmouth 13 - 6 Torquay

It was Cup day on Saturday when current holders Torquay Athletic were the visitors at the Imperial Ground for this semi final of the Devon Senior Cup. Exmouth have beaten ‘The Tics’ twice this season in the League but it still rankled the Cockles that Torquay had dumped them out of the competition last season to end their reign as Cup Holders. The prize this time was not only a place in the final but the added benefit of a home final at the Imperial Ground.

Although the rain held off it was a not a good day for rugby. A bitterly cold wind swept in from the Haldon Hills as the Torquay No 10 Matt Jackson kicked into the wind to get the game underway and within minutes he put his side ahead when he slotted a penalty from fifteen metres. For the next ten minutes Torquay were marginally in control but when Richard Cadywould punted a long ball towards the Torquay line their fullback, Paul Clarke, was caught on the wrong foot and he had to touch down to cede Exmouth a five metre scrum. The pack, which was struggling to control things up to this point, produced good ball and when the ball passed to Jack Downie he brushed off the defence to score wide out and give Exmouth a 5pts-3 lead.

The wind took the conversion kick on a course of its own and five minutes later Richard Cadywould had a penalty shot from thirty metres out but again the wind was not kind to him and the ball sailed past the posts. With twenty five minutes on the board Torquay threatened again and their best opportunity was lost when their winger decided to kick ahead rather than keep the ball in hand. The kick was marked by Exmouth and the kick to halfway relieved the pressure that was building up. With thirty minutes played Torquay were having the better of both line outs and scrums and Exmouth did well to contain the halftime score to 5pts-3.

Richard Cadywould kicked off the second half into the wind and Exmouth camped in the Torquay 22 for the next fifteen minutes but they came away with nothing. Torquay got back into the Exmouth half and with thirty minutes played Captain Ben Passenger dropped a goal to give Torquay the lead for the second time. Following the restart Exmouth won a lineout and following a standard catch and drive Dale Sleeman sprinted thirty yards to finish things off with a try.

With ten minutes and some injury time to play the score of 10pts-6 did not seem enough points cushion and a reminder came when Ben Passenger tried his luck again with another drop goal attempt but this time the wind was the winner. Despite playing against the wind Exmouth continued to have the better of this half and with five minutes of injury time played they got no more than they deserved when Richard Cadywould slotted over a penalty to settle the game 13pts-6. In the other semi final Barnstaple gave the hosts Paignton a bit of a mauling and Barum will come to the Imperial Ground on April 5th to decide who will hold the Senior Cup for the next twelve months.

Not to be forgotten the League season has still to run with Exmouth, already in a play off position, still needing two wins from three remaining games to win automatic promotion to South West 1. First up on Saturday is Newton Abbot at the Imperial Ground KO 2.30, followed by Clevedon away in two weeks with the final league game on April 19 th. at home, to already relegated Duchy side Camborne.