Action from the Cockles win at Old Pats

Old Patesians 31, Exmouth 35

Exmouth achieved their second win on the road of the current league campaign with a narrow victory over Gloucester side Old Patesians, writes Jan McCarthy.

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Exmouth opened the scoring straight from the kick off when Tom Elliott and Jack Westlake set up good ball for the three’s to run and Andrew Powell went over in the corner after a touchline run, kicking his own conversion.

Old Pats brought the game to the Cockles and put them under considerable pressure for the next 20 minutes and from a 5-yard scrum No 8 Paul Scott went over for an unconverted try. Exmouth shook themselves down from this and, after some fine interplay, Mark Wathes made a superb break to offload for flanker Dave Bargent to score under the posts, Powell kicking the easy conversion.

The Cockles continued to build attacks down the hill and on the stroke of half time looked likely to score again, but an interception try by Old Pats winger Will Kane converted by Connor Gwilliam gave Exmouth a slender 14-12 lead at the break.

At the beginning of the second half, Exmouth put pressure on the home team’s line and Jack Downie broke through their defence evading several tackles for a fine try under the posts, again Powell adding the extras.

The Exmouth pack, much lighter than the home team, continued to pressurise the opposing forwards and from a line out 10-metres from the line, Jack Westlake was driven over for a try in the corner, Powell again converting.

Half way through this half, Old Pats mounted several attacks on the Exmouth line with the result that No 8 Scott went over for his second try, Gwilliam converting narrowing the lead to 28-19 to Exmouth.

With 10 minutes left, Exmouth increased their lead when Wathes, running in from the 22, scored a great individual try under the posts, Powell converting.

In the closing minutes of the game Old Pats hit back with two further tries, one of which was converted, but the Cockles were not to be denied another splendid away success.

Saturday sees Exmouth at home to Oxford Harlequins (2.30pm).