Sidmouth Rugby Club Colts have won the Devon Colts Cup outright for the first time in the club’s history to complete a historic league and cup double, writes Ben Marsh.

After already topping the Devon Colts Merit League and winning a thrilling semi-final against Topsham RFC last month, the Sidmouth Colts team, accompanied by dozens of supporters, headed to Newton Abbot for the Devon Cup final against defending champions Ivybridge.

This was just the fourth time Sidmouth have reached this stage, with losses in finals of 1978 and 2003 and a draw in 2013.

On a beautiful sunny day, in front of a lively, at times raucous, crowd of all ages, Sidmouth got off to a cracking start against a talented Ivybridge side. Following great interplay between forwards and backs, Charles Edwards crossed for a try on right hand side.

The next ten minutes involved frantic rugby between the 22s, before sustained pressure yielded a try and conversion for Ivybridge and a 7-5 lead. But Sidmouth came back hard straight away, setting up a sensational solo try for fly half Alexander Clemo-Crosby, Charley Turley grabbed the conversion to retake the lead.

That lead only lasted five minutes, as this exhilarating end-to-end contest produced a fine try and conversion for Ivybridge. Applying pressure from the kick off, a lovely move off the scrum and they’d cut through, regaining a 14-12 lead.

The last 15 minutes of the half were largely spent in Ivybridge’s half, as Sidmouth applied relentless pressure across the pitch. Committed Ivybridge defence, having repeatedly repelled attacks, was finally breached by Scott Henderson wide on the right.

A brilliant Harry Guy conversion from wide meant Sidmouth took a 19-14 lead into half time. A rest needed by supporters as much as the players after a breathless first 35 minutes.

The second half began at a ferocious pace, Ivybridge kicking a penalty to narrow the deficit to 19-17. With Sidmouth also losing a player to a yellow card, the pressure was on. 

Sidmouth bounced back almost immediately, a surprising tap and go penalty on the 22, led to a phase of forwards and backs interplay, from one side to the other, creating space for Archie Rowcliffe to crash over wide on the left and stretch Sidmouth’s lead again to 24-17.

The next 20 minutes was largely spent in the Sidmouth half as this enthralling, high quality final continued apace. It was Sidmouth’s turn to defend bravely, repelling slick Ivybridge attacks, before briefly escaping with blistering Tom Bird runs down the left wing only to be back under pressure. Harry Wood was a constant thorn in Ivybridge’s side at the lineout, stealing an astonishing five of their throws! Sidmouth hung onto their lead.

By the last ten minutes, Sidmouth weren’t just hanging on, but striving for a decisive winner down the right side. It just didn’t come though and there was time enough for one last breathtaking Ivybridge attack down the left wing, stopped by heroic Sidmouth defending.

The final whistle finally came, greeted by joy, relief, a pitch invasion by members of the wider Sidmouth squad and supporters, as well as mutual respect between two fine young sides who had played out a fabulous, thrilling game worthy of the occasion.

Celebrations and photographs continued long after captain Oliver Marsh had lifted the Devon Colts Cup, the first Sidmouth Colts to do so as outright winners. Once sore bodies have rested, thoughts will turn to a game versus the champions of Cornwall on May 4, but this is a historic occasion and a day never to be forgotten by all lucky enough to be there!

Sidmouth RFC Colts squad: 1 Ned Coles 2 Keiran Docherty 3 Harvey Hannay 4 Harry Wood 5 Oliver Marsh (captain) 6 Scott Henderson 7 Alec Bagwell 8 Archie Rowcliffe 9 Charles Edwards 10 Alexander Clemo-Crosby 11 Alex Goody 12 Jack Hembrow 13 Fin Lashbrook 14 Charley Turley 15 Harry Guy 16 Danny Al-Sedani 17 Jake Paget 18 Tom Bird 19 Henry Benke-Smith 20 Charlie Farrington-Smith.

Coaches: Glen Channing, Stu Cavin, Ben Marsh, Ray Hennessy. Physio: Lydia 
Player of the match: Scott Henderson
Tries: Charles Edwards, Alexander Clemo-Crosby, Scott Henderson, Archie Rowcliffe
Conversions: Charley Turley, Harry Guy