Sidmouth Under-8s were down to just six in number for their latest matches which involved a visit by a large contingent of 22 from Topsham.

Many of the absences were ‘half-term related’, but the ‘super six’ put on a tremendous individual and collective display.

The opening game saw 13 tries scored with Luca and Zac Arver both bagging a number each and the decisive one, to give Sidmouth a 7-6 victory, came via turnover ball with Scott Monro Higgs, after a brief struggle with a Topsham player, crossing the whitewash.

The second meeting was an even closer affair with the final score being 6-all. In this Jude Sykes and Leon Rowley both tagged well throughout.

The meeting with the third of the Topsham teams was however, a very different tale! The Tops worked well together, took good ball at speed and broke the Sidmouth line a number of times.

The home side rallied with scores of their own, but slowly the pressure built until a couple of errors put Sidmouth on the back foot and allowed Topsham to secure an 8-6 success.

The fourth and final game produced some terrific Sidmouth play!

There were a number of diving tackles from Harry Wood that bundled the opposition into touch. One such moved enabled Tom Bird to score in the corner. The momentum slowly turned in favour of the home side and further tries followed from Scott Monro Higgs and both Luca and Zac Arver and there was a constant supply of turnover ball from constant tagging.

The Sidmouth six can be very satisfied with their morning’s work. However, Topsham showed plenty and that suggests they will certainly be a force to be reckoned with when they attend the Sidmouth Under-8 festival this coming weekend.