Exmouth Colts 24, Sidmouth Colts 3 Merit Table.This was the first merit table league match of the season and Sidmouth Colts started well, being awarded an early penalty which Tom Hodge converted.

This was the first merit table league match of the season and Sidmouth started well, being awarded an early penalty which Tom Hodge converted. However with the bit between their teeth Exmouth piled on the pressure with a good spell of rugby, scoring two tries in succession. Sidmouth made some basic errors with missed tackles and some poor handling and confidence started to dwindle. Ollie Derryman, Matt Farrington and Dan Ledger made some darting runs from some of the set plays but often found themselves isolated but it was this experience and determination from the older Colts that spurred the team on and the last five minutes of the first half saw some better rugby.In the second half the forwards put on a much more solid performance. Rob Jackson and Tom Smith were noticeable in set pieces and started to put Exmouth under some pressure and Tom Hodge led the way in showing how tackling should be done! As the game continued, some poor defending and slow ball allowed Exmouth through to score a further try. It's early days for this side and the signs are there that the team can and will perform much better. "More confidence and belief in yourselves, working together as a team and going forward are what we need to do," were the words of coach Bo Vanstone. "The building blocks are there and, if the team can bring what they do on the training field to each match, the performance and the results will follow," he added. COLTS' RESULTS will follow good performance at training says coach Bo Vanstone.Picture: Alex Walton. ref. 0748-39-08AW.