EXILES produced their best performance of the season to beat Copsewood 24-3 on Saturday.
The Exiles forwards more than held their own against the visiting eight and provided the backs with the quality ball they that used to good effect record an emphatic win.
The hosts spent most of the opening quarter in the visitors’ half where two attacks failed by forward passes and an attempted penalty goal attempt was missed.
But the breakthrough finally came when a clearance kick from the visitors’ defence was fielded by Higgins who set a move going that saw winger Dan Williams stride down the flank to beat his opposite number by sheer pace and cross for a try in the corner, which scrum half Nick Strong converted.
Exiles were now playing with great assurance and extended their lead when stand-off James Shackleton burst through the Copsewood defence to touch down for a try that gave Strong a straightforward conversion.
Copsewood were held up at the line just before half-time but a subsequent penalty was awarded which Sam Piggott landed for three points.
After the break the hosts needed a score to re-establish their dominance and it came when centre Leckie strode imperiously through the visitors’ defence before passing to left winger Ryan Phelan who went over in the corner.
Soon after Exiles edged 21 points in front as hooker Luke McCluskey scored one for the forwards after going over in the right corner.
Copsewood stuck to their task and with the hosts starting to concede penalties in defence, it seemed certain that the home line would be breached.
But they were equally determined to keep it intact and held out for a victory that earned them a bonus point for their four tries.
