Tiverton 2nds 44, Sidmouth 2nds 20 It takes two teams to make a game possible, so with Sidmouth Quins arriving three players light the hosts club kindly made up the shortfall to allow a competitive friendly fixture to go ahead, writes Robert Baugh.

Whilst still getting organised, the Quins went two tries down, but, on 15 minutes, hands in the ruck saw Adam Squance put three points on the board.

The loss of flanker Ryan Davies midway through the first half to injury, allowed the home side to use the extra forward to good advantage keeping the Quins penned in their own half.

However, stout defence, especially from centres Giles Dixon, Ben Pratt and flanker Martin Osborne restricted the Mid Devon side to just three further first half tries.

After the break, on a heavy surface, the contest was a much more even affair. Mark Unsworth, Tony Martin and Tom Reed were tireless in the loose whilst Chris Otway, once again the line out jumper of choice, provided some good first phase ball.

The Quins matched the home side in the try count. Ben Pratt getting the first, Tony Martin the second, converted by Adam Squance and the third came from scrum half Josh Ledger.

All three tries came from quickly taken penalties with Unsworth being the first receiver and always making ground. That, coupled with good support produced the quality second phase ball for the backs to use. The versatile Roger Goulding, who skippered the side, found himself at No 8 and he quietly kept the team together and positive and he subsequently awarded the Man of the Match pink T-shirt to Tony Martin for his dynamic display.

Wing Jamie Balloch, an ever present this term, played his final game before departing on his travels. It goes without saying that all at the club trust he ahs a good atlas or he may never leave the county!

On Saturday the Quins are at Crediton in the Merit Table.