Barnstaple 8 - 7 Exmouth

This match was always going to be dictated by the gale force wind and it was.  Exmouth had it in the first half and failed to capitalise on the territory and possession. Barnstaple defended well and kept the visitors at bay throughout the first half.

 
The second half was a mirror image with Exmouth doing the defending. Barum took advantage of the wind to put over a classy drop goal early in the second half, but Exmouth responded well with a rare foray into the Barnstaple half for Joe Parkin to score after hard yards were gained by the forwards. Howard Smith converting.
 
Exmouth then lost two players injured and had to reshuffle their defence, which Barum capitalised on late in the game with an unconverted try. If the Cockles had travelled with an experienced full back it could have been a different story, but injuries and unavailability’s is always par for the course at this time of year.