Sidmouth 1st Xv 78pts, Chosen Hill FP 18pts

The Chiefs finished their season in style with a 12 try, bonus point win against bottom club Chosen Hill. The result ensures a ninth place finish, one higher than last season.

In the first half, Chosen Hill competed strongly. With the wind and slope in their favour, and a useful pack of forwards, they spent long periods in the Sidmouth half. However, whenever the home backs got the ball with a bit of time and space, the visitors struggled to cope with their pace.

The first try, scored after five minutes, gave notice of the Chiefs’ superiority in the backs. A turnover on their own 22 was moved quickly to Tom Seward on the left wing. He sprinted 50 metres before giving the scoring pass to Barney Goss. Tom Whelan added the conversion.

A period of Chosen Hill pressure was rewarded with a penalty. The response was another long- range try. Sam Richardson joined the backline to make space for Chris Higgs to cut through the middle and run in from his own half.

Chosen Hill dominated the middle of the half. Barney Goss brought off a try-saving tackle on the outside centre before the pressure told and the scrum half dived over at a ruck on the line.

Two tries in quick succession restored the Chiefs’ control and earned them a bonus point. Harry Chesterton dummied his way over for a converted try, then Jack Pyne burst over from close range after Chesterton and Matt Goss had combined well to create the position.

The visitors finished the half strongly to create a try for the tight head prop, which made the half time score 24-13.

The Chiefs took command after the break, scoring tries at regular intervals, as injuries and fatigue took their toll on the visitors. Matt Goss and Harry Chesterton made the running for James Powell to finish off. Tom Whelan converted before gliding his way over following a lineout in the 22. Straight from the restart, Tom Seward got on the score sheet with a 70 metre diagonal run.

Matt Goss capped a man-of-the match performance with an individual effort on the blindside of a scrum just inside the opposing half. Chris Higgs won the chase for a Tom Whelan kick and then completed his hat-trick with an outside break following a strike against the head on the Chosen Hill 22. Straight from the restart, Sam Richardson supported a Ben Turner run to score under the posts.

Chosen Hill showed great fighting spirit, at the end of a difficult season, to score a third try when their forwards drove over following a quick tap penalty.

The Chiefs finished in style when Barney Goss touched down at the end of a splendid handling move started inside the Sidmouth 22.