Exe go down fighting in loss against Sharks
A WEAKENED Exeter Centurions put in a hard-working display against Devon Sharks on Saturday but ultimately could not match the class of the Torquay side, going down 60-20.
Missing more than a dozen players, Centurions gave first starts of the season to Ian Bond and Duncan Smart, with second row Wayne Broomfield shifting to fly-half and Ben Cowley moving to full-back.
Sharks, looking for a first victory of the campaign, opened the scoring within five minutes, only for Centurions' Cowley to crash over the line under the posts, with Broomfield adding the goal to level the scores.
Another Sharks try again saw Centurions hit back as captain Matt Coldrey twisted in the tackle to ground the ball. The conversion was missed and Sharks held a slender 12-10 lead after 16 minutes.
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As the half rolled on, the visitors' powerful pack took its toll on the Exeter midfield, and gaps started to appear in the inexperienced defensive line, allowing Sharks to claim three quick tries to lead 34-10 at the break.
Exeter came out fighting in the second half, with Coldrey's smart break ending in his second score, which the Centurions captain converted. Andy Griffiths was lively and Steve Brown made good yards, but the home team could not contain the sharks in possession, and the visitors ran in further tries.
Centurions, beaten but refusing to give up the fight, saw Cowley go over for his second try after good work from debutant Dom Cant.
Bond put in some big hits and Andy Turner was solid, but it was not enough for Centurions, who can still take encouragement ahead of this weekend's clash at Plymouth.
"Every player, to a man, gave their best effort," said coach Gerry Irwin. "You can't ask for more, but in the end Sharks had too much class for us to compete."
The newly named Exmouth Saints kept to the winning ways of predecessors East Devon Eagles as they snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat against Plymouth Titans, winning 26-22.
Exmouth had the edge in the opening exchanges, but it was the home team who scored first with a converted try.
Exmouth came straight back with a converted try by Nico Flanagan, before Titans again took the lead only for Exmouth to level on 27 minutes after a superb break by second row Marcus Phillips was brilliantly finished by his Bicton College teammate Tom Male.
Plymouth scored to take a 16-12 lead at the break, and they notched another just after the restart to edge further ahead.
But that only spurred on the young Saints, as some strong runs into the opposition half by Chris Courtier, Mark Goulder and Ben Sharples began to pile the pressure on the stubborn Titans defence.
The fitness and footwork of the Exmouth youngsters began to tell, and hooker Josh Jones revelled in the open space to cross for two tries that brought the visitors back to within two points.
Titans looked likely to hang on but for a moment of inspiration from the Honiton and Bicton Academy coach Glen Channing, who marshalled his players well all afternoon, but the icing on the cake for his personal performance was a superb match-winning try in the final minute.
Exmouth now have a week's break to recover before travelling to Devon Sharks on Saturday, June 23.
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