In local sport on the second Saturday of December Sidmouth Chiefs chalked up another win, but Sidmouth Town were beaten. However the Town second team retain a ‘vice-like’ grip on the Devon Senior Cup and Ottery St Mary won another Macron League Premier Division game.

Sidmouth Chiefs chalked up another victory to maintain their unbeaten season in the Tribute Western Counties (West) with a 34-18 success at Paignton.

It was not all plain-sailing for the table-toppers though as the home side led at the break. However, all was well at the final whistle for the away following who had earlier seen tries from Cameron Grainger, Sam Meadham, Olly Pyne and Hayden Down. The trusty boot of Rory O’Brien accounted for the rest of the Sidmouth points as he slotted four penalties and two conversions.

In football, Sidmouth Town Reserves are clearly in no mood to relinquish their hold on the Devon Senior Cup!

The Vikings’ second string brushed aside the challenge of South Watcombe Wanderers, defeating the South Devon League top flight side 8-1 at Manstone Lane.

Mark Hadley marked his first appearance for the cup holders with a hat-trick and the other Town goals were scored by Scott Hughes, who bagged a brace, Callum Cross, Reuben Raffell and Jake Boyland.

The Town first team were beaten 3-1 at Crediton United in a South West Peninsula League Eastern Division game.

In other local football, Ottery St Mary made it seven straight Maccon League Division Three successes with a 2-0 Washbrook Meadow win over Otterton. The Otters bagged their second clean-sheet win of the campaign thanks to an own goal – an Otterton defender turning a Corey Ringer corner past his own goalkeeper and then Jordan Wilkinson chased a ‘lost cause’ to make sure of the points.

Otters boss Dave Fairweather said: “It’s another win and keeps the run going. It was certainly a tough old game in what were testing conditions. The surface was akin to walking through treacle so I dread to think how it was to actually play on!”

What’s more, with table-topping University suffering only their second defeat of the league season, fourth placed Ottery are now just four points behind the students, and they have played a game fewer!

Otterton’s first team may have lost, but the Otterton second team netted a superb success as they won 8-3 at home to Cheriton Fitzpaine Reserevs. Joe Poulten scored a hat-trick and the other goals were scored by Ryan Tullett, Josh Fuller, Tim Sicklemore, Mark Dobrijevic and an own goal.