Exmouth 5 - 8 Barnstaple

A narrow loss meant Exmouth Colts met their match this week with an out and out battle against travelling side Barnstaple. This was always going to be a hard encounter, with first place against second in the Merit Table, fighting for the top spot. Exmouth came away with a well deserved try at the end of the day, but Barnstaple capitalised with a try and a penalty kick late into the second half.

Being re-matched to Lympstone Marine Camp, Exmouth were hoping they could take their success with them. The ‘home’ team started well with great physicality at break downs, scrums and lineout’s. On several occasions Exmouth tried to break through the tough Barnstaple defence but fell short at the hands of a strong outfit. The forwards had a good day with the set piece; securing lineout’s and scrums in the loose. Barnstaple fought back with great strong running in the backs, and meeting the challenge Exmouth laid down. With this tight game being shared between halves, neither side could do enough to be ahead at then end of the first half.

Ben Waistell had a powerful game at No.8 scoring Exmouth’s only try, and hitting hard in the contact area. Waistell made the best of a spilled ball by hacking through behind the Barnstaple defence, then diving on the bobbling ball over the try line to put Exmouth ahead in the second half. Shaun Fayter was unlucky not to convert, leaving the score 5-0 to Exmouth.

After the restart, Exmouth were determined to make the most of their lead, to hold Barnstaple to a tight game. However after scrappy play in their 22, Exmouth were driven back over their try line by the visitors to even up the scores. With the scores level, all Exmouth needed was to salvage some more points from anything they could. The game continued with both teams edging each other in every aspect of the game. Some good attacks by Exmouth could not be finished off as Barnstaple stuck with their fearsome tackling in the backline, to keep out the ‘home’ team.

With good discipline throughout the Exmouth were disappointed to give away a late penalty giving Barnstaple the chance to convert territory into points. The travelling side went ahead with a three point lead after landing the penalty kick, ten minutes from the end. With time running out, frustration lost Exmouth the game. In the dying seconds another penalty left Barnstaple the only choice to kick the ball dead, to end the game.