PLYMOUTH Albion ended a near four-year long wait for a Devon derby win, with a deserved 23-13 victory over previously unbeaten Championship leaders Exeter Chiefs at Brickfields on Saturday.

Albion were by far the better team throughout and, after outplaying their rivals from Sandy Park, claimed their first derby success in eight attempts.

The hosts went 7-0 ahead on 15 minutes with a penalty try converted by Alex Davies and never looked back to record their first win over Exeter since a 7-0 triumph at the County Ground in December 2005.

Afterwards, Albion's chairman of rugby Graham Dawe praised his side for ending their barren derby run in a game Exeter wanted called off, because they deemed the playing surface unsafe.

"It was a very good result," said Dawe. "The players have always had belief, but I think they had a little bit of confidence with each other and the game.

"I know Exeter said the only thing Plymouth have got is their maul, but I think we had a referee who refereed the game properly and fair play to him.

"I guess Exeter had to lose sometime.

"You have to understand they have done really well to win 13 games on the bounce, so full marks to them for that.

"But like any good run it comes to an end unless you are mentally spot-on and if they came with the attitude that they were more concerned with the pitch than the game, you are going to find it hard work.

"When a team like Exeter comes down with a 13-0 record and even when you have belief in your own team, it is still a big ask to win against a team with that much confidence.

"Now they achieved that, we have just got to keep working hard I guess.

"There are still errors in our game. There were three or four errors second half which we need to address."

Dawe added of Albion's fourth straight league victory: "It is a long season. Exeter can afford to lose; it is how they react to this loss.

"As for us, it is great to have a run of four games.

"It would be even better to have a run of five games, but Pirates is a tough place to go with their crowd."

While Exeter wanted Saturday's game postponed, Dawe said he could see no reason for the game not to go ahead.

"I think the pitch has to be deemed dangerous before we can stop a game of rugby," said Dawe.

"I wasn't involved with any discussions before the game, but as far as I was concerned the pitch was fine.

"However, I did change my boots before the game. I put long studs on."

Saturday's win leaves Albion seventh in the Championship standings.

They are now seven points clear of the relegation play-off places and just six points adrift of London Welsh in third place.

When asked what the reasons for Plymouth's improved form were in the past few weeks, compared to a stuttering start to the season, Dawe said: "It takes a while to mould some guys who are inexperienced at this level in how you want to play the game.

"You have got to play the game from minute one with everyone singing from the same script.

"There were some individual errors, which we would probably get away with in the league below, but not in this league.

"Teams get field position and they use the power game.

"It is like someone has got their hands around your throat, when you get in your 22 and you can't get out."