Second-placed Exmouth closed the gap on leaders Barnstaple to three points thanks to this seven try to one victory over local rivals Newton Abbot.

While Exmouth are battling away at the top, the All Whites are in grave danger of being dragged into the relegation zone, and the difference between the opposite ends of the table was all too evident at the Imperial Ground.

The home side went 12-nil up within five minutes, and although the visitors competed well at times, Exmouth banked their bonus point try with the last move of the first half and went on to add three further tries in the closing quarter to run out the emphatic winners.

The main difference between the two sides was how each made use of the ball. Exmouth were more direct and always posed a threat, while Newton rarely failed to break the gain line.

Better tackling by the visitors would also have kept the score-line in proportion as both Exmouth’s opening tries showed.

The first came from ‘against the head’ ball on halfway, after which quick hands took the ball far right before the kick ahead was regathered for second rower Jack Fahy to crash over.

Exmouth ran the restart straight back, with winger Ollie Rice scoring wide out without Newton touching the ball.

To Newton’s credit they responded well, but had only a 25th minute penalty from fly-half Tom Putt to show for their efforts.

Immediately from the drop-out, Exmouth regained the ball and went wide to put Australian winger James Vidler in for a try.

From this restart Newton were awarded a penalty, which Putt banged over from 40 metres.

With half-time approaching, Newton were under a lot of pressure and when an attempt to run from their own 22 failed, Exmouth were able to score through scrum-half Matt Ryan, who shrugged off several would-be tacklers on his way to the line for the bonus point try and a 22-6 half-time lead.

Newton kept Exmouth quiet during the third quarter with the next score not arriving until the hour mark.

Visiting flanker Luke Mingo picked up a team yellow and from the ensuing penalty Richard Cadywould added three points.

Exmouth took charge from there on in; Vidler scored his second try before centres Mark Wathes and Henry Goldson banked one each.

Cadywould, who had taken over the kicking from George Meadows after his one from four record in the first half, converted all three.

There was late but inconsequential consolation for Newton who scored a try through winger Jack Bond from the last move of the match.

More bad news followed for the All Whites as Old Centralians won 40-10 at home to Cleve.

Newton went into February nine points ahead of Old Centralians, but come out of the month with only a two-point lead over the side who head the relegation trio.

Old Cents have two games in hand over Newton, one of them being the last match of the season (April 30) when the two clubs meet at Rackerhayes.

In the meantime, starting with tomorrow’s visit of Dings, the All Whites will need every point possible.

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