Sidmouth took three Under-10 teams to Withycombe for their latest action.

A more perfect crisp November morning is hard to imagine.

With the Withycombe team warmed up by their contest with the Allens’ Allstars, the Sidmouth Oranges stepped forward to toe the line.

The narrow pitch made for a physical game as both teams attempted to break the line; this was to be a contest of the tackle and the ruck and maul.

Scotty Monro Higgs fought typically hard at the breakdown with a trade mark clear out twice during the game, supported well by Gyll Gray while Harry Finch’s tackling and zippy direct running set the standard, and Reece Hext ran his typically sweeping lines. Joshua Priestley and Charley Rowland both showed their mettle and Toby Morris was never far from the mix.

Oranges scored first when Alec Bagwell released Tom Grove who broke several tackles to score in the corner.

However, Withycombe capitalised quickly on a couple of missed tackles to run in a fast try and level it going into half time.

The nail-biter took on a similar shape in the second half, but the Orange pressure was to prove too much. The rush defence speared by Alec Bagwell caused disarray in the Withycombe back line and a sharp interception run home by Tom Grove sealed a 4-1 victory.