Exmouth laid their Newton Abbot bogey to rest with a 21-12 win over their arch-rivals to keep the pressure on Redingensians at the top of National Three South West.
On a day when bad weather dictated how the game was played, all Exmouth were concerned about was grinding out a win.
There was no bonus point, but that didn't really matter to Exmouth's director of rugby Chris Wright.
"It was a dour match with very few highlights from either side," said Wright. "Both sides soon learned that trying to do anything like a long pass or a kick over the top was fraught with danger. There were knock-ons galore, forward passes and passes that just didn't get where they were supposed to be going."
Wright said it was hard to be sure where the game was won and lost, but it came down to percentages.
"We dominated in the scrums and looked after the ball in the forwards a bit better than they did," said Wright.
"We also know Newton have dangerous players from broken play – Martin Browne, Josh Smith and Kevin Dennis – so we tried hard to avoid letting them run at us.
"There was not a lot in it, but I think we wanted it a bit more than they did as we have a lot more to play for. We are in a position where we have six more games to win and see where that leaves us and Redingensians at the end of the season."
Jon Hill, Exmouth's head coach, agreed it wasn't a great game and improvements are needed to keep the heat on Redingensians.
"Without being disrespectful to Newton, I honestly thought that we were awful and the margin of victory is somewhat flattering to us," said Hill. "Newton were also off their usual form against us, and wasted a number of chances that they created.
"As far as a Devon derby goes, it did not live up to the hype, and the usual tense and confrontational affair that has typified such games in the past.
"We will certainly need to improve our performance level in the coming weeks with six massive games ahead."
Exmouth went ahead after two minutes when wing Dave Bargent squeezed over on the left. George Meadows hit the woodwork with the conversion.
Newton levelled on the half hour when they spun the ball right and full-back Josh Smith looped around as the extra man to score.
The All Whites infringed from the restart and Meadows kicked a penalty for an 8-5 half-time lead.
Fifteen minutes into the second half Matt Ryan put Exmouth further ahead with a try. Richard Cadywould, on for Meadows, curled in a difficult conversion for a 15-5 lead, then stretched it further with a penalty.
Back came Newton with a try by Browne from a line-out drill. Smith converted and Newton were in losing bonus-point territory.
A second Cadywould penalty in the last 10 minutes denied Newton their consolation.
Director of rugby Roy Henderson said Newton Abbot only had themselves to blame for the defeat.
Henderson agreed with opposite number Wright that it was a dour affair and said Hill was right to highlight their missed chances.
"Jordan Anderton had a great game in the centre for us and created three clear-cut try-scoring chances," said Henderson.
"They were all through the middle and had we put them away that was 21 points. It was 21 points that went begging though as we couldn't finish. The worst was the two-on-one we created then knocked on.
"We created many more chances in open play than Exmouth, but if you don't put them away you are not going to win tight games like this one."
