The first-ever Exmouth girls under 18's team shone brightly as the rain subsided, making their debut at the home of Exmouth Rugby on Sunday, September 22.

The girls were buoyed by the unexpected arrival of the sun and the sparkling new kit provided by the sponsors: Jurassic Kitchens and Renovations, Woodbury Car Breakers, Lovin' The Hair, Copyrite and Knowle Garage.

The girls donned purple ribbons in their hair, and matching purple tape around their legs, presenting a picture that proved rugby can be stylish.

The much-anticipated match kicked off at 2 pm, with Newton Abbot starting the proceedings.

A low kick was promptly snapped up by Annabelle, whose exceptional run laid the groundwork for a smooth pass through Rose and Bonnie.

This led to Sophie P subduing the defenders and celebrating the first try of the breathless game in just 33 seconds.

As the match progressed, Shayla's nifty pass led Annabelle to a remarkable carry, which was halted after some significant effort.

Bonnie recaptured the momentum, with Shayla outsmarting multiple defenders and scoring between the posts while Delilah nailed the successful conversion, extending the lead to 12-0.

Contingents minutes later, Maddy's strong run and productive passing saw Rose overcoming the final defenders to score her first try of the game.

This raised the Exmouth tide with a compelling 17-0 lead.

An observant and swift Bea initiated further success for Exmouth with crucial yards secured off the restart.

Shayla's evasive manoeuvres and a brilliant pass from Rose culminated in her second.

Exmouth enjoyed a comfortable lead of 22-0.

Exmouth's domination ended briefly when Newton Abbot displayed enhanced spirit and determination with several intensive carries.

Although Exmouth lost possession, Newton Abbot managed to gain a scrum and a penalty which facilitated their victory for their sole try of the game to be 22-5.

In the subsequent stages, Megan and Shayla combined for a strong Exmouth push.

Sophia was also able to score after the three-phase play, leading to an extensive lead at the half-time break, 27-5.

The second half of the match saw Tilly and Megan display commendable performances.

Although Newton Abbot valiantly attempted to hold their grounds, Exmouth cemented their superiority with a definitive final score of 44-5.

Despite a high tackle and frequent change in possession due to a slippery ball, Exmouth's command on the field remained unscathed with Maddy and Shayla consistently shining.

Maddy's agility allowed a quick dive over the line before Newton Abbot could react, extending the lead to an unreachable 39-5.

A final powerful run by Maddy of impressive 70 metres saw the end of the debut game for the Exmouth girls under 18's team with an authoritative win over Newton Abbot, 44-5.

A new era of girl's rugby has begun in Exmouth, and this victory marks a spectacular start.