Game 1: Exmouth 20 - 15 Newton Abbot
Game 2: Exmouth 35 - 20 Newton Abbot
Debutant Toby Gilbody had the pleasure of leading the Cockles out for their first match of the season. Good straight running and safe passing from the onset saw Will Tidbull cross the line unable to ground the ball. Ollie Toomey, effective all over the park, popped the pass for Morgan Wright to score in the corner. Hungry for more Wright weaved his way over for a clinical solo try. Newton Abbott responded with a try just before the break.
The restart saw Newton Abbott score in the first minute before Wright collected his hat-trick finishing off a ferocious team attack. Newton Abbott again replied with a try. Good handling from Tom Cooke fed Ollie Toomey the ball he needed to score out wide, Exmouth victorious 20-15.
The second game, Captained by Sam Verth, was equally as explosive as the first. Ethan Langson-Justice picked up where he left off last season by running in the first two scores for the Cockles. Great team handling and superb support from Laurence Knight put him in a great position to slip over for Exmouth’s third. Again slick passing and awareness allowed Joseph Oates to run in, making it 20 unanswered points at the break.
The second half saw Exmouth start, and after good hands, Hugo Flynn side stepped his way out of his own half and over the line. Newton Abbott now started to play and three consecutive tries saw them back in the game. Knight then collected his second with excellent support play, before Newton Abbott replied with another score. Exmouth’s restart, the ref announced this would be the last play of the game, Langson-Justice received the pass and scored a fine solo effort, and his hat-trick, the young Cockles triumphant 35-20.
A clinical display of mini rugby and a great spectacle for the supporters.