When these two sides last met the match ended in a draw, so a keenly fought battle was expected.

Sidmouth RFC U16s 3, Crediton 20 Devon Cup quarter finalWhen these two sides last met the match ended in a draw, so a keenly fought battle was expected. As it happened, Crediton took most of the possession throughout the game, leaving Sidmouth chasing their visitors. It wasn't a lack of determination and skill that brought about this defeat but more the lack of utilising the possession when it came. Far too often the ball was won by the Sidmouth pack only to be given away to the waiting Crediton forwards before any attack could be made.To Sidmouth's enormous credit, they defended tirelessly and presented an impenetrable defence within their own 22 metre line. Crediton built up wave after wave of attack but Sidmouth held them comfortably away from their try line. When a break came, and the play entered the Crediton half, so unready were their defence that they conceded a penalty for failing to release the ball. Sidmouth's Ben Pratt placed the ball to kick from some 40 yards and put Sidmouth into a three point lead.Crediton continued their pressure for the rest of the half but were unable to make any impression on the Sidmouth defence and could not gain any ground. Their forwards were consistently first to form the ruck and so stole possession time and again. In the scrums, hooker Alex Spurdle did well to win the ball but was unable to prevent Crediton stealing, as it failed to make its way to the rear of the scrum. Two penalties awarded to Crediton were promptly converted, giving the visitors the advantage by half time.The second half followed a similar pattern with Crediton managing to score a try after yet another scrum was won against the head on the Sidmouth five metre line. Sidmouth did get the opportunity to score a try themselves when Jake Sawer burst through with a neat chip over the Crediton defence, only to be blatantly body checked away from the ball. The referee rightly reduced Crediton down to 14 men.Despite Sidmouth matching Crediton for skill, their greater possession meant Crediton were the eventual winners.Team: Patrick Cheyne, Johnny Hamill, Lewis Tollerfield, Gareth Pearson, Stuart Pares, Ben Pratt, Charlie Davies, Robbie Ross, Charlie Clode. Alex Spurdle, Jonathan Pinney, James Bond, Jake Sawer, Barnaby Goss, Sam Brandom, Anthony Martin, Matthew Turner, Mathew Ewing, Dan Farley.