Perfect start continues for Ilfracombe RFC

Ilfracombe Rugby Club maintained their perfect start to the season with a pulsating 43-36 victory at Exeter Engineers 2nds in the Devon Merit NE division.

Max Davies scored a superb hat-trick for the Combe and there were further tries from Jay O’Beirne, Pita Raiqeu, Adam yates and Lee Rulton. Liam Rendell also slotted four conversions.

In the same division, Bideford Quins lead the way after an impressive 34-17 victory over Exeter Saracens and Barnstaple Buccaneers are in third following their 53-0 trouncing of Exmouth 3rds.

It was not such a happy outcome for Barnstaple Chiefs at Exmouth first-team, with Barum going down to a 32-22 defeat. It was a first defeat of the campaign for the Chiefs, leaving them fifth in a table led by Exmouth.

Barnstaple Athletic thrashed St Ives 56-3 to move into fourth position in the Counties 1 Tribute SW division.

South Molton suffered a painful 12-79 defeat at Honiton but there was better news for the 2nds, who defeated Tiverton 3rds 47-29.

On the professional scene, A brace of tries from Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was not quite enough to prevent Exeter Chiefs from slipping to defeat at reigning champions Northampton Saints in the Gallagher Premiership.

The final score of 30-24 was, in truth, a little flattering on the Chiefs, who had a tough ask in stifling a Northampton side determined to make amends for a surprising heavy loss at Bath on the opening weekend.

It means two successive defeats to start the league campaign for Exeter, although they will take some comfort from a losing bonus point in both those outings.

Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter told BBC Radio Devon: "We couldn't have talked more about taking something from away games and we have to play in a way that gives us the best opportunity to do that.

"I think we got large parts of that right. We spent a lot of time in the right areas of the field but we're still patchy on our individual error count. I think collectively, as a team, we took a step forward today."

Olly Woodburn dotted down in the first half for the Chiefs but Northampton took control with scores from Alex Coles, Chunya Munga, Rory Hutchinson, along with the ruthless kicking of Fin Smith.

The pace and precision of Feyi-Waboso prompted a spirited late rally from Exeter, who must take that momentum into the tricky trip to Saracens on Sunday, with the Sarries leading the league table, one point ahead of Bath, after the first two fixtures.