Exmouth were on the end of a heavy defeat when they travelled to table-topping Dings Crusaders.

A number of factors made the Cockles’ visit even tougher than it might otherwise have been against arguably the best side in the division this season.

Not only were they hampered by the loss of a number of key players through injury, but they also found themselves playing what the hosts expected to be the final game at their Landseer Avenue home.

With Dings set to make a move to a new home at Shaftesbury Park, they clearly wanted to depart in style and they did just that, running in five tries in each half.

The Cockles had their moments in the contest, particularly in the second half when, trailing 33-0, they got a try of their own through prop Paul Flower that was converted by the boot of George Meadows.

The visitors also threatened to secure a bonus point, but just fell short, despite a second try, scored by Pete Ingoldsby, who crossed under the posts after some impressive approach play from Jack Downie.

However, having reduced the deficit to one of 19 points, the Cockles were then on the back foot for the latter stages of the game as the home side ran in a number of late tries.

On Saturday (December 9), the Cockles are in home action when they host a Newbury Blues side that sits ninth in the South West Premier table, two places below the Cockles.

Since winning their first away game of the campaign – a September 2, 27-21 success at Bournemouth – Newbury Blues have lost all five away matches they have played going down at Bracknell (16-15), Weston-super-Mare (23-11), Camborne (11-7), Cleve (26-22) and Dings Crusaders (42-10), the last one being their most recent away game, played on November 25.