Exmouth Rugby U16 Girls started their first ever National Cup campaign with an outstanding win against a very physical North Petherton team.   

The RFU National Cup Competition involves 64 teams from across the country and Exmouth are placed in South West Pool 3 with North Petherton, Winscombe and Hornets. 

The Cockles possibly had last week's surprise defeat at home to Crediton in mind, as they were very quick out of the blocks, returning to the type of rugby that they excel at - keeping the ball with the forwards, playing up the middle, and keeping possession.   

Shayla Tynan benefitted from several phases of crunching forwards play, she was in the right place once the ball was spun wide for the first score.  

Within 10 minutes, Exmouth scored again - this time Marnie Wright seeing the space she needed and picking the ball from a ruck within the five-metre line.  Milly Fisher was able to bag her first points of the game with a successful conversion.   

Despite losing a player to the sin bin, the Exmouth Girls dug in to defend repeated attacks - from her own 10 metre line, Bonnie Purchall was able to rip the ball from nowhere and sent a pass to Sophie Piper who was able to weave through the surprised visitors to score.   

The fourth Exmouth try followed sustained pressure on the line, again and again the visitors held out, until finally Sophie Piper found the space to score her second.  From the restart, Rose Hooper was able to dance through the North Petherton defence, handing off tackles on the way to the line. 

After the break, Bonnie Purchall and Rianna Boere scored the 6th and 7th tries, both of these were the result of the forwards trucking the ball on through several phases, sucking in the defending players through sustained pressure. Final score: 39 - 0. 

The next National Cup game is a very tricky visit to Winscombe on Sunday, November 20. 

 If you like further information on Girls Rugby (U12, U14, U16 & U18) at Exmouth Rugby, please call Darren Fisher on 07876 788724. 

Cockles Girls U18s Rugby is running in partnership with Exeter Saracens Girls U18s. For more detail, please call Mike Sprague on 07860 330143