Action between Exmouth and Taunton at the Imperial ground on Saturday. Photo by Simon Horn. Ref exsp 6485-05-13SH To order your copy of this photograph go to www.exmouthjournal.co.uk and click on MyPhotos24.

Ivybridge 3, Exmouth Quins 36

Exmouth Quins were excellent value for this Devon Merit Table 1 game, writes Graham Price.

Playing their first game since January 19 owing to a combination of weather and late cancellations by the opposing teams, Exmouth were just delighted to get some action, especially with a big game against Barnstaple next on the agenda.

They welcomed back captain Phil Kay after a long lay off through injury and also saw colt player Simon Hartery start in the front row. The blistering pace of Lewis Edwards was added to the left wing while Cat Stevens made his debut for the club on the other wing in place of the injured Richard Small.

Exmouth began the match playing down the hill and were soon off to a great start when Will Hodgetts charged down the attempted clearance from the Ivybridge Fly Half and managed to gather the rebound to trot in for the opening score. Adam Higgins added the conversion and Exmouth never looked back! Soon after Hodgetts touched down again, this time from a pushover scrum following great work from the front row of Andrew Lendon, Lloyd Morgan and Hartery. Higgins again kicked the extra two points and Exmouth were already 14 points up within the first 10 minutes.

Two minutes later Morgan bounded under the posts like a hippo to a watering hole, having bounced off a number of defenders en route. Again Higgins shocked his team mates by kicking the conversion and the score line continued to increase. Following sustained pressure by the Exmouth forwards the ball then came out to Edwards who scorched around his opposite number and outpaced the fullback to score in the corner. Paul Bright sliced into the back line from full back like a paddle through treacle to go over for his try bringing the scored to 31-0, before Edwards again scampered in for the final try of the half as the referee brought the first half to a close 10 minutes early.

The second half was a dour affair with Ivybridge suddenly realising that, with the aid of the slope, they could allow their larger players to waddle downhill and make ground. Exmouth held them out until centre, and tackling coach, Max Hansford was adjudged to have tackled too high and Ivybridge gratefully avoided the whitewash by kicking the three points.

The remainder of the game petered out without any score until the referee put everyone out of their misery by blowing up another ten minutes early in order to get in the showers first!