Sidmouth Under-14s edged their way into the second round of this year’s competition with a terrific all-round display that oozed of character and bravery to see off last year’s county champions 13-12.

Kingsbridge began with the swagger and confidence you would expect of cup winners, but they found a fully focussed Sidmouth side that worked tirelessly and applied constant pressure on the ball in all areas of the pitch.

With the fearless cutting edge of Max Dix and Alex Pocock in the back row, the home team won plenty of ball and attacked hard. Finlay Morgan and Owen Tidball combined well in the threes and as usual Josh Golding’s blistering pace caused Kingsbridge much trouble out wide.

The visitors then rode their luck and capitalised on a fumble to score a converted try against the run of play. Then in a moment of clarity, Louis Stamp, playing out of position at full back, fielded a long defensive kick and galloped in from fully 35-yards out to score a scintillating try. At the turn around the hard working Jack Jenkins had come off due to injury and Seb Stewart entered the ‘engine room’. Ben Scrivens also replaced Jake Jones who continues to learn well in his first season of rugby. With Finlay Jonson stabilising the scrum and Andrew Donovan rampaging in the loose it wasn’t long before Golding again broke free and was brought down three metres from the line.

Not being held means the winger could retain the ball and scramble over the line before the defence could close the door.

At 10-7 the game was there for the winning and, when a kickable penalty presented itself, Joe Elsworth confidently slotted it over from the 10 metre line. In the dying moments Kings managed to score, but the long range conversion failed and Sidmouth were able to celebrate a famous victory and a place in round two of the competition.

Max Dix rightly took the Man of the Match award for leading the hard work up front and all can be proud of their superb effort.