East Devon Eagles maintained their unbeaten position at the top of the league with a
62 – 24 victory over Exeter Centurions.

 

The first 10 minutes saw tit for tat scoring with Eagles Cadywould chasing his kick ahead and touching down under the posts, kicking his own conversion followed by Centurions Brent Ryan going over, Chris Durman converting.

 

The next 10 minutes saw end to end play before Eagles Luke Kent broke through and made distance along the touchline, passing on to Nathan Budd who ran in at pace from 20 metres to score in the far corner, Cadywould kicking the long range conversion.

 

Eagles Jack Westlake was tackled just short of the line and he played the ball on to skipper Dave McCarthy who popped the ball over the line wide out, the conversion failed.  Jack Downie then made a break from halfway, dodged the Centurions defence and scored in the far corner, Cadywould adding the extras. 

 
On the half hour, Paul Morgan kicked ahead, followed the ball through and picked up on the 20 metre line to run in wide out, Cadywould converting.

 

Just before half time, McCarthy was held up on the line.  He played the ball to Cadywould who dummied and passed outside to Shaun Fayter who scored near the posts, again Cadywould kicked the points.

Sloppy Eagles defence and 3 missed tackles allowed Centurions Ryan over, Durman converting, giving a half time score Eagles 34 points Centurions 12 points.

 

The 2nd half started slow with no score for 15 minutes.  Then when Mike Wilson was tackled he played the ball to Kent who passed inside to McCarthy for his 2nd try and from the kick off the ball was taken upfield by Mike Catris who made the hard yards before Wilson broke through to score, Cadywould converting. 

 

10 minutes later Wilson scored his 2nd of the day when he picked up from 20 metres and ran in in the corner, breaking a tackle by Eagles loaned player Olly Turton who kindly offered to make up Centurions numbers, the conversion going wide to give the Eagles their half century.

 

On the half our, good work from Wilson and Darren Bowden with Catris in support saw him receive the inside pass and touchdown under the posts, after fending off several tackles.  Catris stepped up and kicked his own conversion.

 

Centurions came back into the game when the Eagles concentration lapsed and Dave Walter scored under the posts, converted by Ryan. 

 

Eagles replied from the re-start when Sean Lovett made a run up the field from halfway before offloading to Cadywould who sidestepped his way in under the posts for his 2nd converted try of the day.

The last play of the game saw Centurions Walters score, Ryan converting before referee Kenneth Lee blew for time and a final score Eagles 62 Centurions 24.

 

There was solid defence and strong attacking play by Luke Kent, Paul Morgan and Mike Wilson throughout the game and all were contenders for the Man of the Match but it was awarded to Wilson for his great all-round performance.

Eagles Tries:  Cadywould (2); Budd, McCarthy (2); Downie; Morgan; Fayter; Wilson (2) Catris
Conversions:  Cadywould (8) Catris (1)

Centurions Tries:  Ryan (2); Walters (2)
Conversions:  Ryan (2); Durman (2)