East Devon Eagles took to the field against Devon Sharks for their first league game this season, having already had 2 games postponed when  opposition Plymouth Titans and then North Devon Raiders could not raise a side.

 

Both Eagles and Sharks  put on an entertaining display of rugby league  on a dry and dusty pitch but the Eagles were unable to contain their opponents.

 

5 minutes in, Sharks Ryan Chivers scored in the far corner, converted by Matt Jackson who followed this with a try 5 minutes later running almost the full length of the pitch, kicking his own conversion.

On the quarter hour, on the 4th tackle, Eagles Jon Bird passed the ball to Mark Wathes who broke through the Sharks defence to weave his way over the line wide out, the conversion failed.

 

Sharks Jackson scored again under the posts and added  the extras but Eagles replied when Shaun Fayter beat the Sharks back line and  scored in the corner, again the conversion went wide.

 

On the half hour, Eagles Brad Perkins  made the break but was stopped 5 metres short of the line.  Olly Turton took on the ball at pace and touched down near the posts, Shaun Fayter converting, reducing the margin to Eagles 14 Sharks 18. 

 

However, just before half time, Sharks Jackson scored his hat trick try which he converted to give a half time score Eagles 14 Sharks 24.

 

From the re-start Sharks Dave Southcombe scored under the posts, Jackson converting and the Eagles were now under pressure.

 

On 20 minutes, Eagles Jack Westlake made the break with Wathes on hand to receive the ball.  He then made a darting run, broke through the Sharks defence and jinked his way up the touchline to go over in the corner, but the difficult conversion failed.

 

With the end of the game in sight, it was Wathes who increased the score and from 40 metres out dummied his way to go over the line under the posts for his hat trick try, Fayter converting.

 

Just one more score from the Eagles would have left the game a draw but this was not to be and on the final whistle Sharks came out winners.

 

Eagles next game is on Sunday 6th June against North Devon Raiders.

   

Eagles Squad:  Brad Perkins, Nathan Budd, Dougie Wright, Sean Lovett, Adam Morris, Shaun Fayter, Mark Wathes, Tony Emmins, Richie Guy, Paul Flower, Jack Westlake, Jon Bird, Ollie Turton, Dan Cuthbertson, Darren Bowden, Tom Mason, Martin Westaway, Neil Hooper, Graham Price, Nick Smith