EXMOUTH 29
OLD PATESIANS 11
LATE withdrawals cost Old Pats dearly with a more clinical and fitter Exmouth rubbing salt in the wounds.
Pats lost two important players on the eve of the game firstly in skipper and loosehead prop James King to injury and then key decision-maker fly-half Connor Gwilliam to work commitments.
The disruptions forced personnel to shuffle around and with new boys Brett Turner and James Butler, it was always going to be tough at National Three South West's second placed side.
The Devon side took the lead in fortuitous circumstances when a high bomb bobbled up perfectly for wing Jack Downie to go over and score the opening try after just two minutes.
Following a long bus road for Pats it was the worst possible start but at least they could take comfort from home fly-half Andrew Powell missing the conversion.
However, things then went from bad to worse when openside James Harris doubled the score with his team's second score after just ten minutes with Powell making no mistake this time.
At 12-0 and 70 minutes left, things looked ominous but debutant Turner began his tenure with a penalty after 28 minutes to stay in touch at 12-3 at the break.
At the start of the second half another fortuitous try for Exmouth full-back Jon Fabian pulled his side clear with Powell pushing them out to 19-3 just minutes into the second period.
Turner did pull another penalty back on 44 minutes before number eight Henry Tapsell went over in the corner four minutes later to make it 19-11 with Turner off target with the extras.
At that point the game was still in the balance and whoever got the next score would go on to win the game but unfortunately for the Everest Road men it was not them.
With the wet weather stopping Pats from training over the festive period, the home team had more running in their legs and pushed ahead with two more tries to seal a bonus point in the final quarter.
Exmouth wing Tom Kill did as his name suggested by killing off the game on 56 minutes with the all-important fourth with Powell unsuccessful. Fresh legs then came on in the shape of Exmouth replacement Dave Bargent who got over for number five on 67 minutes with Powell missing, but the damage had been done.
OLD PATESIANS 11
LATE withdrawals cost Old Pats dearly with a more clinical and fitter Exmouth rubbing salt in the wounds.
Pats lost two important players on the eve of the game firstly in skipper and loosehead prop James King to injury and then key decision-maker fly-half Connor Gwilliam to work commitments.
The disruptions forced personnel to shuffle around and with new boys Brett Turner and James Butler, it was always going to be tough at National Three South West's second placed side.
The Devon side took the lead in fortuitous circumstances when a high bomb bobbled up perfectly for wing Jack Downie to go over and score the opening try after just two minutes.
Following a long bus road for Pats it was the worst possible start but at least they could take comfort from home fly-half Andrew Powell missing the conversion.
However, things then went from bad to worse when openside James Harris doubled the score with his team's second score after just ten minutes with Powell making no mistake this time.
At 12-0 and 70 minutes left, things looked ominous but debutant Turner began his tenure with a penalty after 28 minutes to stay in touch at 12-3 at the break.
At the start of the second half another fortuitous try for Exmouth full-back Jon Fabian pulled his side clear with Powell pushing them out to 19-3 just minutes into the second period.
Turner did pull another penalty back on 44 minutes before number eight Henry Tapsell went over in the corner four minutes later to make it 19-11 with Turner off target with the extras.
At that point the game was still in the balance and whoever got the next score would go on to win the game but unfortunately for the Everest Road men it was not them.
With the wet weather stopping Pats from training over the festive period, the home team had more running in their legs and pushed ahead with two more tries to seal a bonus point in the final quarter.
Exmouth wing Tom Kill did as his name suggested by killing off the game on 56 minutes with the all-important fourth with Powell unsuccessful. Fresh legs then came on in the shape of Exmouth replacement Dave Bargent who got over for number five on 67 minutes with Powell missing, but the damage had been done.
