EXETER CENTURIONS 16-42 PLYMOUTH TITANS

Right from the start Plymouth dominated but it was the Centurions who posted the first try of the day after the Titans fumbled a high kick inside their own 20 metre area. From the resulting scrum Exeter pressured the Plymouth line and following some clever footwork by Exeter's half back Alex Stevens, the hosts sneaked in to score under the posts.

This score prompted Plymouth into action, their big forwards starting to dominate and make the required yards putting Exeter on the back foot. On the back of this pressure, the Titans moved the ball from right to left and sent fullback Ian McCormack in at the left hand corner to equalise.

Again and again Plymouth attacked the Exeter forwards with surging runs from Martin Browne, Jack Martin, Mark Molynuex and Dave Shepherd causing the Centurions all sorts of problems. It wasn’t long before Kyle Browne notched his first try after another well worked move, this time down the right to take the lead.

The Titans were looking stronger as the game wore on, with another scything run from Martin Browne resulting in a score to open up a 12-6 lead.

Exeter didn’t seem to have any ideas in attack and were pounded again and again by the Titans forwards but Plymouth were having difficulty getting any cohesion due to the regular stoppages for Exeter players to get treatment as the size difference began to take it's toll on the home side.

Frustratingly the Titans could have added to their tally but the try was disallowed and the ball brought back to the last tackle to allow an injured Exeter player time to be treated. In the five minutes before half time, two quick tries from Matt Anstis and Kyle Browne saw Plymouth 26 points to 6 in front at the break.

The second half began in much the same way as the first half had ended, with Plymouth's forwards charging at their Exeter counterparts, again causing stoppages for injury to Exeter's players. However, as in the first half, it was Exeter who opened the scoring as they managed to squeeze over the line to score when the half back dummied the pass and found a hole in the Titans defensive wall.

Plymouth again rallied and responded with a Gareth Williams try, quickly followed by another unusual decision by the referee following the restart as Plymouth again roared into the Exeter defence. Jack Martin thought he had scored just to the right of the posts but, for the second time in the game, the ball was brought back to allow the physio to attend to an injured Centurion. The stoppage merely delayed the inevitable as the resulting play saw Jamie Lavell-Harris score on his debut wide out on the right wing.

Dave Hall was denied a try when he supported Martin Browne on one of his roving runs, being judged to have made a double movement and the score was chalked off. This reprieve seemed to spark Exeter into life and they attacked the Plymouth forwards then moved the ball to their right flank, their centre stepping through a gap and racing in to score their last points of the day.

Matt Anstis added a second try to his five goals to extend the Titans lead to 42-16 right on the final whistle .It wasn't the greatest display of Rugby League, due mainly to the many injury stoppages but Plymouth were happy to avoid a potential banana skin and get back to winning ways.

Plymouth Titans: Ian McCormack, Jamie Lavill - Harris, Kyle Browne, Carl Ranscombe, Ben Kirby, Matt Anstis, James Hannaford, Declan Sexton, Billy Stockwell, Dave Shepherd, Gareth Williams, Mark Molyneux, Martin Browne, Paul Ansell, Mickey Ferguson, Jack martin, Jamie Miles, Dan Shepherd, Tom West, Dave Hall

Tries: Kyle Browne (2), Anstis (2), Martin Browne, Williams, Harris, McCormack

Goals Anstis (5)