This game was a thrilling encounter between two sides who delighted a sizeable crowd with a splendid display of open rugby.

The All Whites ultimately out-fought and out-thought the Cockles and thoroughly deserved their win.

With parity in all departments during a whirlwind first half the visitors began to turn the screw on the division above side.

It was league-above Exmouth who took the lead with ten minutes of the first half played, capitalising on a missed tackle for their centre to score under the posts; try converted.

Within minutes the All Whites had made their way up field, using the pick and drive to good effect. Scrum half Cane fed Birkett who shipped on to Alex Lloyd in the centre. Lloyd danced his way round the would-be tacklers before offloading to number eight Ben Rowntree who had an easy run in behind the posts for the try; Viskoper nailed the conversion from in front of the posts.

Exmouth launched another attack and, on the 15 minute mark, were awarded a penalty in front of the sticks for handling in the ruck. Easily kickable, this took the score to 10-7.

The All Whites were awarded a penalty at the other end and Viskoper made it count to bring the score back to ten apiece.

Five minutes before the break Exmouth again broke out and used the blind side well, the full back eluding a desperate tap tackle attempt by Rowntree to score in the corner. The conversion was missed and it looked like the home side would go into the break 15-10 up, but the All Whites had different ideas.

With the back row of Head, Keenan and Rowntree beginning to cause havoc at the breakdown, the away side found themselves in the Exmouth 22. Cane intelligently drew the tacklers by marshalling his forwards into the pick-and-go around the fringe, then he released Birkett who fired out a wide pass to Viskoper to get in at the corner. Birkett then kicked an amazing conversion from way out on the touchline to make the score at the break 15-17 to the All Whites.

The Newton Abbot side could smell blood and were in no mood to be pushed around, as Exmouth began to change players in an attempt to stay in the game.

They won a kickable penalty early in the second half which they slotted over to make the score 18-17.

All Whites' winger Alex Moore then drove a full 30 yards with defenders hanging off him before unloading out of the tackle to Lloyd who himself tip toed around defenders to go over in the far corner for an unlikely score which took the score to 18-22.

Exmouth then slotted over another penalty and the neutrals may have thought that the South West One side would steam away with it at this stage, but with 20 minutes still to play it was the All Whites who upped the ante.

The rush defence employed in the first half gave way to 'sit and wait for the mistake', and it soon came.

Lazy play by the Exmouth midfield saw Lloyd intercept a stray pass and streak away in under the posts to break Cockle hearts; Viskoper converted it to make the score 21-29 and a near unassailable lead.

To make doubly sure the All Whites caught the restart and tore forward deep into the Exmouth half, where the hosts conceded a penalty. Birkett's attempt got caught by the wind, but ended up hanging for so long that the All Whites' chasers got underneath it and continued to play.

Exmouth were forced to kill the ball and his this time the penalty was bang in front of the posts and Viskoper stepped up to take the score to 21-32.

Exmouth, needing two converted tries to win the game, flung everything they had at the All Whites, but they were done in, outplayed by the better side on the day.

On this showing the All Whites delivered notice that should they be fortunate enough to find themselves in the division above next term, then they could hold their own.

Coach Phil Burford remarked after the game that this was a good bench mark for his side and showed how far they have come in the last two seasons.

The All Whites will now meet Barnstaple in the semi-final of the Devon Cup, the match is to be played at Rackerhayes on March 21.

Tomorrow sees them back in action at Rackerhayes entertaining neighbours Torquay, kick-off 2.30pm.