Brixham’s speedy start is too much for Exmouth to cope with

Brixham blew Exmouth away in the first 15 minutes en route to a 37-26 South West Premier win on the Imperial Ground on Saturday.

Such is the intensity of games between the two that Martin Worthington, the Brixham coach, knew exactly how long it was since his side had won at Exmouth.

It was Brixham’s first win at Exmouth for 13 seasons and it was set up by an opening four-try salvo that put them 24-0 up inside 15 minutes.

“We worked very hard on the start of the game and on our exit strategies, which are always important to get right against an organised team like Exmouth,” said Worthington.

“The game-plan was on point in the first half and good balance between forwards and backs got us some outstanding tries out wide early on.

“When Exmouth tried to get back in the game, and they did dominate at times, we defended well.

“Once we turned over the ball we were dangerous again and scored another good try and managed to see out the second half.”

Jack Fahey, the Exmouth captain and scorer of two of their tries, admitted his side’s woeful start was always going to bite them.

“Once we sorted ourselves out and played our game, it was a great contest,” said Fahey.

“We came back well and showed great determination within the team and picked up a bonus point. It was always going to be tough, coming back from that disappointing start.”

Tom Goodman, Connor Bedwell (two) and Jesse Lowe scored Brixham’s firsthalf tries. Harrison Cully got a try after the break and kicker Mitch Pinkus finished with a dozen points.

Billy Pinkus, brother of Brixham’s Mitch, scored two tries and kicked ten more points in goals as Ivybridge went back up to second place after they defeated Bracknell 35-21.

It was a similar story of early domination by Ivybridge, who went 24-0 up, although Bracknell’s fightback got them within eight points at one stage.

Barnstaple dropped from second to third as they left a bonus point out there in a 29-26 win at lowly Newton Abbot.

Skipper Jake Murphy dropped a goal in stoppage time to give Barum the winning margin.

Jeremy Chugg, Barum’s director of rugby, admitted it was a skin-of-the-teeth job.

“Had it been a draw, I would not have complained ,and why Newton are down at the bottom when they play like that I have no idea,” said Chugg.

Camborne playing chief Liam Chapple was down in the dumps after his side lost 28-20 on University of Exeter’s all-weather surface.

“We threw it away in the last ten minutes,” said Chapple, whose side were 20-14 up.

“Moving the game to the 4G pitch suited them, but we should have done better.”