The season of two halves continues. A much changed and very young Quins’ team made the journey to Brixham - half the Quins’ side being under 20 years old. As a result Sidmouth found life hard against a well organised Brixham outfit, writes Bryn Thomas.

The Brixham backline were clinical with their finishing, using their pace and power to full effect. The home team also off-loaded well out of the tackle and, at times, their support play was very good. This caused Sidmouth problems throughout the game.

Brixham raced away with three early converted tries. The Quins did rally and became more positive as the opening quarter came to a close, but still struggled to gain territory. Brixham took full advantage adding two more converted tries by the half-hour mark.

The Quins rallied again and produced some of their best rugby in a long time. The Quins’ set up camp in the Brixham 22 following breaks from centre Josh Reed and wing Adam Howe. It was then left to the Quins’ pack who did not back down, taking the game to their hosts. That being said, for all their controlled forward pressure and a man advantage (Brixham had a player sin-binned) Sidmouth could not cross the white wash. In the end they settled for a Jerry Trump penalty attempt which drifted wide. In hindsight maybe a scrum or line-out would have been a better option.

Straight from the restart Brixham scored wide making the half time score-line 40-0.

The Quins’ had to make a couple of changes at the break, both through injury, No.8 Mike Kitchin and full back Ben Salter departing. This did not help the Quins’ cause. Brixham back to their full contingent, capitalised with a couple of unconverted tries.

Open-side flanker/inside centre Charlie Davies was rewarded for a fine display with the Quins’ only try. A solid scrum in the Brixham 22 set the foundation. A jinking run by Davies saw the centre break a couple of tackles, to score just left of the posts. Trump converted. This showed that, with perseverance, the home side’s defence could be breached.

Brixham did have the final say scoring a further three tries, in the last quarter.

Some positives can and will be taken from the game, despite the score-line - Brixham 2nds 69, Sidmouth Quins 7. All the players were committed which is all you can ask. The forwards matched their opposing pack, despite a gap in age and experience. Colts’ Tony Martin and Ross Skinner, making their full senior debuts in the front row deserve praise for holding their own in the scrum and round the field; against an experienced Brixham front row.

The loudest cheer of the day went to Adam Howe who, somehow, managed to break a downstairs window with an up and under!