Exmouth started off the brighter, contesting well at the breakdown and moving the ball wide to cross the whitewash, converted well from a difficult angle.

The green machine soon found their rhythm and went through the gears, responding positively to score two unconverted tries through talismanic captain Archie Rowcliffe, crashing over from open play and the ever-passionate Gyll Gray, reaching out to touch down from a well-worked maul.

Both teams endeavoured to contest well in the contact area but Sidmouth showed the greater composure and discipline in the second half to cross twice more, Tom Bird pounced on a wayward infield kick into the opposition 22 and Beau Gill crashed over from a set piece move.

Special mention both to the rampaging machine Tom Bird and the omnipresent man-of-the-match Harry Wood.

A motivating half-time team-talk from Tom Phillips gave the team a big boost. In truth, all players performed well, giving heart and soul in what was a genuine team effort, against quality opposition... Sidmouth edged the Cockles 22-19.