Sidmouth Quins edged out by Tiverton

Sidmouth Quins were narrowly beaten 22-19 when they met Tiverton 2nd XV.

With the Blackmore Field waterlogged, the value of the re-laid pitches at Sidford was highlighted as the match took place in what were near perfect conditions.

Quins made a bright start and their early enterprise and endeavours paid off when Tom Osborne dummied his way over in the corner to finish off a slick handling move.

Twenty minutes into the contest the lead was extended when, from a lineout catch-and-drive play routine, Aaron Down peeled off the driving maul to power his way over and Adam Squance added the conversion to give Quins a 12-0 advantage.

As the first half wore on, Tivvy began to impose themselves on the game. As the home side attempted to clear their lines, an attempted clearance kick was charged down by a forward, who followed up to win the chase for the touchdown. The try was converted by the scrum half and Quins trooped off at the break with a 12-7 lead.

Buoyed by their late first-half try, Tivvy began the second half in the ascendency and quickly drew level when, after a period of pressure near the Sidmouth line, the tight head prop burst over from ten metres out on the blindside of a ruck. The Mid Devon men were soon back on the attack and Dan Rugg did well to get his body under a Tiverton player, preventing a touchdown, as he tackled him over the try-line. However, the pressure eventually told when the scrum half finished off a move on the blindside of a ruck inside the 22. He also added the conversion from wide out. He then kicked a penalty to open up a ten-point gap with five minutes to play.

Quins showed good spirit to finish the game strongly and they closed the points gap with a Mark Unsworth try under the posts from a quickly taken tap penalty. Adam Squance converted to set up a tense closing few minutes, but the visitors held on to take the match honours.