Sidmouth Under-14s travelled to Crediton with a smaller than usual squad of players for their opening game of the new season, writes Craig Morgan.

The Mid Devon hosts seemed in no mod for a gentle introduction to the new campaign as they came charging out of the blocks at a breathless pace to give Sidmouth a shock!

However, the visitors dug deep and, to their credit, they did not concede despite coming under sustained pressure. What they also managed to do was launch counter-attacks which eventually saw them break the deadlock with fleet-footed Josh Golding racing clear to cross for the first try of the term.

Next up it was big Joe Elsworth’s turn to do some damage as he doubled the Sidmouth try count. Young Elsworth is currently being appraised for Devon’s Elite Player Development Group (EPDG) and as such was a ‘marked man’ in the game.

Unfortunately for Crediton, Elsworthy terrorised their defence all game, won all the opposition’s line out ball and snuffed out many of Crediton’s promising attacks. What’s more he also slotted two terrific conversions from the touch line !

Utility man Cole Monaghan gave a faultless display, this time in the scrum half position from which he provided plenty of clean ball for new recruit Owen Tidball, playing at centre, to familiarise himself with the teams favoured running style. As ever unsung hero, Alex Peacock, took control of the hard man duties and mastered the ball on the deck to keep his team in the ascendancy!

In the second half the home side made the most of the slope to run in a couple of tries, but Sidmouth also had control of proceedings and further tries, scored by Elsworth and Josh Roberts completed the scoring.

The Sidmouth Man of the Match award went to Cole Monaghan, but the whole team can be proud of their opening performance of the season.