Exmouth 5 Chiefs Dev 40

By Mark Stevens
26/8/2016

Youngsters Alex O’Meara and James McRae both bagged a brace of tries as they helped an Exeter Chiefs Development XV to defeat Exmouth 40-5 at the Imperial Ground.

In what is now an annual pre-season fixture for the two clubs, the Chiefs proved too strong for their National League hosts, outscoring them six tries to one on the night.

Wing O’Meara claimed a first half double, while replacement McRae did likewise late in the second half. Flanker Charlie Wright and hooker Shaun Malton claimed Exeter’s other touchdowns with Laurence May and Bar Bartlett completing the scoring with successful conversions.

In reply, Dave Bargent claimed Exmouth’s solitary score, the flanker sneaking over from close range after the Cockles had driven a line-out to within inches of the visiting line.

Post-match, Exeter skills coach Ricky Pellow was full of praise for his side, saying: “We knew Exmouth would be tough, we watched them against Plymouth and again they really fronted up tonight. It was a good work-out for our guys and for some of the younger players especially, they will have learnt a huge amount from the game.

“I thought the physicality we brought to the game, especially around the breakdown was outstanding, and then once we had tempo in our game and we moved it out wide into the space, we looked really dangerous.”

In what was a decent mix of youth and experience, the Chiefs paraded first team stars including Malton (pictured), Ben White and Tom Johnson, whilst a number of the club’s up-and-coming young guns were also given the chance to shine.

“I thought Charlie Wright and Marcus Street, two guys who are just 17 years old, were outstanding tonight,” added Pellow. “For those guys to step up like they did tonight, working alongside experience players like Malts, TJ and Whitey, that will be a huge learning experience for them.”

Pellow also heralded the link-up the club had in bringing in others on the night from Exeter University, Taunton and the Cornish Pirates.

“You can do all the training in the world, but it’s not until you get guys into match situations that you see how they react,” said Pellow. “It was great to see how a number of those players in particular stepped up and showed what they can do.”

CHIEFS DEVELOPMENT XV v EXMOUTH

15 Taniela Naduva (Guest)

14 Kieran Kelly (Exeter University)

13 Tom Holdsworth (Exeter University)

12 Pete Laverick (Exeter Chiefs/Exeter University)

11 Alex O’Meara (Cornish Pirates)

10 Laurence May (Cornish Pirates)

9 Joe Snow (Exeter College)

1 Tom Rhodes (Exeter University)

2 Shaun Malton (Exeter Chiefs)

3 Jack Owlett (Exeter University)

4 Josh Caulfield (Exeter Chiefs)

5 Sean Lonsdale (Exeter Chiefs)

6 Ben White (Exeter Chiefs)

7 Charlie Wright (Exeter College)

8 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs, capt)

16 Dan Frost (Taunton)

17 Marcus Street (Exeter College)

18 Elliott Roofe (Exeter University)

19 Sam Daily (Apprentice)

20 Dan Swain (Apprentice)

21 James McRae (Exeter University)

22 Matt Marsh (Guest)

23 Bar Bartlett (Cornish Pirates)

24 Jamie George (Exeter University)

25 Jamie Willcock (Exeter University)