Sat 18 Dec 2021
Well, I could quite easily copy & paste the match report from the game two years ago and it was great to see such a thrilling game go our way and for the delight to see on the players faces with their first away win of the season! Both teams were affected by last minute changes (Exmouth due to a few sore heads from Chrsitmas works parties & CABs from impending pregnancy and warm-up injury). The CABs changes meant an immediate start for Jon Dawe, returning to the Club since leaving Plymouth and Ben Hawke becoming another player-coach to join the ageless Ryan Westren!
The game didn't really get going until 15 minutes in when some excellent ball retention from the CABs forwards and backs led to the ball finding its way to Ryan, hovering, on the right wing berth. Some decent footwork and little offload gave Shaun Crawford a little opening and he took it to open his account for the season - something that he's been threatening to do for a few weeks now. The CABs were now in full flow with forwards edging the set piece, providing good ball for the backs and with the likes of James Tucker, Ryan & Jon causing heaps of problems for the Exmouth defence it led to the second try.
Brilliant defence, a counter-ruck and then ball whipped away to Jon and Cameron Fogden, at 15, resulted in a stunning line from Dan Pearce that wrong-footed Exmouth full back to score under the posts. The first half finished with the CABs pack demonstrating that growing dominance with a pushover try, for Brandon Rowley, to put the team 22-6 up and Exmouth there for the taking. However, the league position of Exmouth does not lie and they rallied. Some lapses in concentration resulted in Exmouth scoring two tries within the first 12 minutes of the re-start and the game was back on. Excellent defence kept Exmouth at arms length and it was the result of a CABs attack that led to Exmouth taking the lead with 12 minutes to go. A knock-on in the Exmouth 22 was picked up by the Exmouth wing and he ran the distance to score under the posts. The next 5-6 minutes then became the game with the CABs defending for 22 phases to hold Exmouth out. A scrum in the CABs 22 created some narrow Exmouth defence (something that was apparent all game) and James Tucker landed a perfect crossfield into Shawn's arms, a dash up to half way, a quick recycle and the ball reached Dan Pearce he sprinted up to around 25 out and offloaded to Ryan who showed some decent gas to dot down and give the CABs the lead with 4 minutes to go, which the boys managed to hold onto without too much danger and bring about the first win on the travels and bonus try point as well!
The first game of the New Year sees the CABs host unbeaten league leaders, Hornets, at Polson. Hopefully, the weather holds and the Polson faithful will get to see another super tussle!
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