Sidmouth Under-13 girls’ played in a tournament with Exeter Saracens, Plymouth and Winscombe, writes Simon Dunstan.

With 15 girls itching to play it meant that Sidmouth had one of the few full teams at the tournament and some of the girls helped make up the numbers for other teams!

The opening game paired Sidmouth with Exeter who were beaten thanks to some terrific tackling, particularly by Zoe Allen and Abbey French. Next up the spoils were shared with Plymouth and, in this contest, the notable individual performances were served up by Jessica Perry, Annabelle Emmott and Martha Goodall.

For the final game, Sidmouth were faced with a strong opposition in the form of Winscombe.

Given that the Sidmouth team had to go into the contest off the back off a tough encounter with Plymouth, there were some tired legs on show! Winscombe scored a couple of early tries via a combination of their greater physical size and the fleet-footed winger in their ranks.

At half-time Sidmouth trailed and clearly needed some inspiration!

That necessary inspiration duly arrived in the shape of Ellie Monro Higgs and Esme Bagwell who set the tone for a superb comeback by leading an early charge straight from the restart.

It was a Munro Higgs and Bagwell charge that set up Araminta May to dash past three defenders before scoring in the corner.

Lily Baker battled hard to hold onto the ball and make progress, despite the close attentions from three Winscombe players. Ellie Wood and Amy Scott made some crunching tackles and, with Lucy Tanner dominating the back of the scrum, the game began to turn!

However, the physical nature of the contest became to tell on the Sidmouth girls’. Coach Phil Grove looked to make changes – but such was the clear spirit in the team that no one wanted to miss out on the action! Indeed, there was outright refusal from Daisy Grove and Immy Bagwell and with Annabel Bird making sure she got action, the team ended on the front foot and were richly deserving of the draw they secured in their third and final game.

Without doubt, the Sidmouth girls had saved their best for last!

Thanks must go to Exeter Saracens for putting on a great mini-tournament and well done, to all the Sidmouth Under-13 girls’ for putting on such a gutsy and successful performance.