East Devon Eagles travelled to Barnstaple to play newcomers North Devon Raiders in a “double header” following the cancellation by Raiders of the scheduled game at the beginning of May.

 

Prior to the start of the match, referee Ian Allison led both teams out onto the pitch for a minutes silence to mark the games sympathy and condolences to the family of fellow Rugby League player Garry Purdham and the wider West Cumbrian community following last Wednesdays tragic events.

 

From the start of the game North Devon Raiders showed their intention and scored 2 quick tries, one of which was converted before the Eagles settled down. However, on 12 minutes Eagles replied when Paul Flower was held up just short of the line and player coach Tony Emmins span the ball wide out for Graham Price to touchdown by the corner flag for his first Eagles try, but the difficult conversion failed.

 

Eagles increased their score when they were awarded a penalty which allowed Paul Morgan to dive in by the posts, Brad Perkins adding the conversion.

 

In the last 10 minutes of the half, from play Dan Cuthbertson powered over wide out for an unconverted try and Morgan wove through the Raiders defence to cross over in the corner Perkins striking a superb conversion making the score Raiders 10 Eagles 20 at the break.

 

The first 15 minutes from the re-start saw the Eagles in challenging form when Sean Lovett snaked his way through the Raiders defence to touchdown in the far corner, Perkins adding the extras and then Rich King took the ball across the park for Perkins to break through the Raiders line and score wide out, but the conversion fell short.

 

Raiders added 2 more tries, one converted, due to the Eagles sloppy defence.  This then shook up the Eagles who stepped up a gear and in the last 10 minutes of the game, Darren Bowden and then Mark Wathes went over the line by the corner flag and the last play of the game saw Wathes cut a line off Lovett and weave his way through to touchdown his second try  under the posts, Perkins converting all 3 tries, giving the Eagles a 48 – 20 victory.

 

In only their second game of the season, all the Eagles squad performed well but took a little time to settle into the game but there was sterling defence from Graham Price, Man of the Match Brad Perkins and Darren Bowden and an all round game performance from Sean Lovett.

 

East Devon Eagles would like to thank this seasons sponsors, Simon Cox Building & Construction,  Number 9 & The Bank, Soft Works.co.uk, 4 Seasons Solutions.co.uk
Get Plastered, The Massage Clinic, League of Gentlemen Barbers Shop, Hukit and Symes Robinson & Lee

 

Next week sees the Eagles in action at the Imperial Ground, Exmouth against Plymouth Titans, kick of 2.30pm.