On charity day at Sidmouth Rugby Club, the Chiefs beat Wadebridge Camels by a single point in a thrilling contest, writes Terry O’Brien.

The chosen charity was the Motor Neurone Disease Association, as a family member of prominent club members is suffering from this terrible disease. The amount raised was an amazing £6,700.

The Chiefs kicked off in good conditions, but conceded three penalties in as many minutes, which Wadebridge used to work their up-field for a lineout close to the Sidmouth line. They caught and drove over for an opening unconverted try.

The match was evenly contested for the next 20 minutes until Jake Allen opened the Chiefs account with a penalty.

Two minutes later, the Chiefs turned over possession on halfway and Harry Emmett broke up field before finding Shaun Malton in support. With an open field in front of him, he sprinted clear to touch down near the posts. Allen kicked the conversion. With the Chiefs remaining on top, Allen kicked a second penalty.

Sidmouth were soon back on the attack with a lineout deep inside the 22. They caught and drove to within a few metres of the line where Will Cockayne-Cotterell peeled off and offloaded for Tom Hodge to sprint over for an unconverted try to make the half-time score 18-5.

Fortunes changed dramatically in the second half as the Chiefs began to struggle in the lineouts and Wadebridge gained valuable bonus possession. They closed the gap to just one point with two tries inspired by their fly half. First, an inside pass found a flanker to run clear under the posts, then a grubber kick was followed up by the number eight to win the chase. One was converted to close the margin to one point.

The fly half was in the action again with a penalty to give his side the lead going into the final ten minutes.

Allen soon restored the lead, and the final minutes were nail-biting for the big crowd of Sidmouth supporters as Wadebridge were camped on the Sidmouth line, but the meanest defence in the league held out until they were awarded a penalty to end the game.

On Saturday, the Chiefs travel to Burnham-on-Sea. At the Blackmore Field, the Quins entertain Exeter Athletic, kicking off at 2.30pm.