EXMOUTH scored three tries in four minutes before half time to dash Barnstaple's hopes of beating their Devon rivals to fourth place in National Three south west.

Barum needed a bonus-point win – and to deny Exmouth a bonus point – to climb above them in the final table.

But the home side made a strong start to the derby and despite Barnstaple having the better of the second half they were well beaten.

The visitors made a less than ideal start as Exmouth scrum half Matt Garner found a way through their defence to score the first try and Andrew Powell converted.

Barnstaple responded well and Winston James scored from a catch and drive on 17 minutes, only for Exmouth No 8 Dave Kimberley to touch down a similar try nine minutes later.

Again James forced his way over to cut Exmouth's lead to 12-10 but the home side took control with a burst of scores that gave them the bonus point they needed to secure fourth place.

Garner scored his second, flanker Ross Morshead went over by the posts and Mark Wathes won the race to get the final touch after a kick was charged down. Two Powell conversions gave them a 31-10 half-time lead.

James completed his hat-trick on the hour and Luke Berry and Toby Williamson linked up well for Berry to score wide on the left to make it 31-20.

Exmouth added another try through George Savage, converted by Powell, to cap their win and leave Barum in fifth place.

Report courtesy of http://www.thisisnorthdevon.co.uk/