Sidmouth Colts 24, Weston Hornets 47 Hornets looked like one of the best Colts teams to visit the Blackmore for several seasons, writes Dan Goddard.

Last year, as an Under-17 team, they won national honours and a season later with a team packed with U18 senior colts they were an impressive outfit.

Organised, crafty, confident and with influential players at prop, hooker, number-eight, scrum half and inside centre, this was a great match-up for the Sidmouth team who proved worthy opposition.

After gifting Hornets the perfect start; a training night try off a midfield scrum, Sidmouth regained composure and matched the visitors score for score.

Dan Powell showed class and an eye for space with a mazy run that ended with him scoring.

Luke Wells Burr took a cut-out pass from Goddard, made an outside break and had plenty still to do before scoring and Ed Thomas showed confidence and determination to finish a blindside move from the back of a scrum.

In between these scores Hornets played a mature game. Powerful ball retention disorganized and stretched the Sidmouth defence, and Hornets moved the ball accurately and quickly with their inside centre picking beautiful running lines all afternoon.

Once in front Hornets fought hard to hold their lead and won the second half by three tries to one which was a solo effort by Charlie Cotton who showed commitment and maturity to step straight onto the 1stXV bench for their game.

This group of Hornets Colts would be strong opposition for any Devon team and the Sidmouth squad, which included 14 junior colts, can take genuine encouragement from their performance leading into a run of tough matches starting with Exmouth at home on Saturday and followed by consecutive home game against Tavistock and Ivybridge.