Sidmouth 3rd Xv 5pts,

Sidmouth Over 35s 44pts

The Sidmouth veterans used their experience to good effect to overpower the 3rd XV in this annual Good Friday fixture. The forwards provided a good supply of possession, which fly half Nick Walrond and Keith Upham at inside centre used to good effect, writes Terry O’Brien.

The Over-35s took the lead after just four minutes, when Vince Bastyan broke through the centre, following a five metre scrum, to touch down under the posts. Jerry Trump added the conversion. Five minutes later, Roger Golding scored try number two. The prop dived over in the right corner on the end of a tap penalty move.

The 3rd XV looked certain to score midway through the half, when Sam Cummins broke clear from his own 22. However, Dave Hargrave brought off a superb cover tackle 10 metres short of the line. Hargrave was then in action at the other end, when he hacked on a loose ball and won the chase to score in the left corner.

Just before halftime, scrum half Jerry Trump scored try number four, following up his own grubber kick to finish off a move down the blindside of a scrum near halfway. The try was unconverted, leaving the halftime score at 22-0.

The 3rd XV started the second half well, putting pressure on the veterans’ line, but they could not break down the determined defence. When the Over-35s broke out, they soon added to their lead. Nick Walrond made the break and found Keith Upham in support to finish off under the post. Jerry Dicks added the conversion.

The 3rd team spirit was not broken, and they deservedly broke their duck when flanker Dan Leger powered his way over from 15 metres out following good approach work by backs and forwards.

Benefiting from the addition of a few fresh legs, the Over-35s finished strongly to score three tries in quick succession. The first two were finished off by Tom Ross, presumably the 20 year old was a permitted under age player! He dashed over in the corner on the end of two excellent handling moves covering half the length of the field. True veteran Vince Bastyan finished as he started, by touching down in the last minute after a loop move from a five metre scrum.