The rugby weekend was all about bragging rights at Raleigh Park and a sweet success for Exmouth Quins, who avoided a losing double against Withycombe after an impressive 27-5 victory.

Withy started the game well, keeping much of the play inside Exmouth’s half. The boys in green and black also managed the closest scoring opportunity of the opening quarter with Liam Daniels and Joe Graham exchanging passes down the left wing, unfortunately a last-ditch tackle was enough to stop the movement and eventually turn the ball over back into Exmouth’s possession. 

The second quarter was all about Exmouth capitalising on some poor Withy discipline, going on to score 15 unanswered points before the half time whistle, with tries from Adam Watts, following a checky chip and chase and Tom Richardson. Sam Whitehead added a penalty and conversion. 

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Withycombe showing real promise and some exciting rugby inside the Exmouth 22’, but with the ball being lost at a crucial place, the threat was extinguished, and the ball headed back up the field. 

As Withy lost a player to the sin bin, Exmouth once again took advantage of the situation to regain the upper hand and score another two tries. Hooker Richardson doubled his tally, followed by Charlie Parr, with Whitehead adding the extras, 0-27. The final try coming from a huge 25-metre trundle from Ollie Turner, the forwards recycled the ball quickly for Parr to cross the line.

The dynamic of the game changed again though after a dangerous tackle by Exmouth’s Loosehead Prop saw him dismissed from the field with a straight red card.  This time; it was Withy’s turn to capitalise and, with another flurry of activity inside the Exmouth 22’, Luke Crompton spotted a gap in the Exmouth defence to sneak a score from the ruck.

Unfortunately, time was just too limited for Withy who were unable to make any sort of comeback with the final score ending Withycombe 5, Exmouth Quins 27.

A disappointing result for Withy, who travel down to Plymouth next weekend in our rearranged fixture against OPM. Exmouth, meanwhile, made the short trip home with five points in Counties 2 Devon League.