The Chiefs' final game of the season was a twelve-try feast of open rugby with both sides displaying excellent handling skills to match their ambition before Sidmouth went down to a 30-40 defeat against Ivybridge.

With both sides scoring six, it was the visitors’ fly half’s goalkicking which decided the outcome of this Devon Senior Shield semi-final.

The Chiefs were first out of the blocks with two tries in the opening 12 minutes. Following a long period of pressure in and around the Ivybridge 22, Joe Herbert won the chase for a Dan Retter kick to touch down for the opening score. Five minutes later, a similar period of pressure led to a try for Sam Heathcote on the overlap.

Ivybridge shook off the coach journey to dominate the second quarter, running in five tries, with their scrum half and inside centre being the main architects. All were converted.

The introduction of Phil Dollman in the second half sparked a Chiefs revival as he had a hand in three of the four tries scored. His break from his own 22 started a move finished off by debutant full back Noah Western. Two minutes later, a Dollman half break drew in defenders to create space for a second try for Sam Heathcote.

Ivybridge responded with their sixth try by the right winger on the end of a multi-phase move. With three minutes to go, Sam Heathcote completed his hat-trick before turning provider for Joe Herbert’s second after chasing a long diagonal kick.

This performance and the second half show at Brixham the previous week will have provided confidence going into the close season after a disappointing finish in the league.

On the professional scene, Exeter Chiefs found themselves on the wrong side of history at Leicester Tigers on the weekend, as home winger Chris Ashton scored a hat-trick, and became the first player to score 100 Gallagher Premiership tries in the process.

The Chiefs were humbled in a 62-19 defeat and a red card for Olly Woodburn was a hammer blow for Exeter, who are now almost certainly out of the play-off race.

Exeter Director of Rugby Rob Baxter told the BBC: "It felt like a game where every individual mistake hit us big. We didn't get away with many little mistakes that didn't become big pressure moments.”