Exmouth 12 - 10 Torquay

A tough and difficult fixture awaited the Cockles this week against a physical and fast moving Torquay side.  From the kick off it was clear the visitors had come to take the game to Exmouth and after a bruising first 5 mins which saw the ball firmly encamped in the Cockles 22 the breakthrough came.

Quick ball from the break down allowed Torquay’s outside half to punch through the Cockles line to put the first score on the board after 6 mins.  The Cockles resilient and confident in their own ability quickly re-grouped and moved the ball into the opponents half.  After a short period of scrappy play the ball was won emphatically by busy looking Cockles pack which produced quick ball to the half backs. Slick and impressive passing from the backs resulted in Elliott Rice diving over for the equalising try after 8 mins.  Bradley Nielsen converted.

 
The pressure was almost constant with the pack controlling every break down and delivering clean and workable ball to the backs that were now hungry and eager to add to the points tally.  It was not long before the pressure and forward momentum of the Cockles produced the second try from a determined run by Simon Hartery after 10 mins.

 
To Torquay’s credit they came out after half time with the bit between their teeth and moved the ball quickly to the Cockles 10 mtr line.  A period of sustained pressure saw Torquay going close on more than one occasion only to thwarted by a dogged and well drilled Exmouth defensive line.  As time clicked on it looked more and more likely that Exmouth would be victorious.

It was in the last throws of the game that Torquay found a way through the Cockles defence to score their second try. Although the conversion was taken twice due to an infringement Torquay were unable to level the scores.  A hard fought but well deserved victory, well done to all.