Sidmouth Chiefs suffered another defeat, when fellow strugglers Truro managed the conditions better to turn around a half-time deficit on a soggy Blackmore Field before departing with a 23-13 success, writes Terry O’Brien.

Sidmouth started the match in fine style and were unlucky not to be awarded a try in the first minute. They regained possession from their own kick off to launch a move along the backs, taking play deep into the Truro 22.

The forwards carried the ball forward with pick-and-drive play until Will Bright crossed the whitewash. Unfortunately, the referee was unsighted and judged the ball to be held up. However, the Chiefs were soon awarded a penalty and Dan Retter kicked the three-pointer.

A few minutes later, Will Bright was robbed of glory once again at the end of a move from the Sidmouth 22. Johnny Hamill broke from a lineout and Ollie Pyne was in support before Bright had the ball knocked from his grasp as he crossed the try-line.

Truro levelled the score with a well-struck penalty by the fly half but the Chiefs continued to keep play mainly in the opposing half. Eventually the pressure was rewarded with a well-constructed try. Luke Wells-Burr fielded a kick inside his own half and set off to start a handling move. Rory O’Brien and Cameron Grainger carried the ball on before an inside pass found Tom Seward to finish off with a powerful run to the line. Dan Retter added the conversion.

Truro finished the half strongly and reduced the arrears with a second penalty to make the half-time score 10-6.

After the break, Truro adopted the pragmatic tactics for the conditions of kicking for position and grinding out a forward battle. With a dominant scrum and an effective pick-and-drive game, they controlled the game despite losing a player to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on. The Chiefs were not helped by the loss of influential number eight and captain Ollie Pyne with a knee injury before half-time.

Truro soon took the lead when a forward drove over from close range after a series of rucks near the line. The try was unconverted.

The Chiefs regained the lead, when a second Truro player was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on and Dan Retter kicked the resulting penalty.

Truro then took control for the final quarter as their forwards dominated possession. Luke Wells-Burr kept his side in the lead with two try-saving tackles to seal a man-of-the match performance, but he was powerless when the outside centre broke through to create an overlap for the left winger to dive over in the corner for an unconverted try.

However, Wells-Burr was the inspiration for a move, which almost saved the day for his team, when he broke out of his own 22 and Rory O’Brien provided the link to send Ethan Mead sprinting up the touchline. Unfortunately, he was tackled into touch a few metres short of the line. Truro won the resulting lineout and cleared upfield.

The visitors kept control in the final minutes and added a third try, when the hooker dived over from a ruck on the line. The fly half converted to complete the scoring.

On Saturday the Chiefs travel to Burnham-on-Sea, who are just one place above them in the league.

At the Blackmore Field, the Quins entertain Bideford 3rds kicking off at 3pm.

The Colts play Newton Abbot Colts at Sidford, also kicking off at 3pm.