Sidmouth Under-9s entertained Topsham for a series of matches in what can best be described as ‘muddy conditions’.

The Sidmouth Snipers team played three games and as the sleepy dust cleared the tackling and passing improved, finishing with a tense, close final game.

The team consisted of: Jack Pugh, Matthew Thomas, Harry Wood, Toby Sanford, Alex Bagwell, Scott Monro-Higgs, Thomas Grove, Gyll Gray, Alexander Goody, Reece Hext and Charlie Turley.

The first game proved to be a closely contested affair with Sidmouth edging the honours thanks to tries from Charlie Turley, Jack Pugh and Alec Bagwell.

Game two was won by the Tops who displayed good line speed and tackling, producing turnover ball despite ferocious Sidmouth tackling.

The third game was by far the best produced by the Sidmouth team on the day. There were tries from Charlie Turley, Toby Sanford and Gyll Gray.

The try scorers were well supported by good line speed from Scott Monro-Higgs, Matthew Thomas and Alexander Goody. There was also an impressive display of ferocious tackling from Harry Wood who had the added incentive of getting the job done so he could attend a party!

The Sidmouth Saints team were also involved in three matches that produced some exemplary tackling from Zac and Luca Arver, Herbie Isherwood and Toby Mortimer. The first game had Archie Rowcliffe make a comeback and after this warm-up game, which Sidmouth won, Archie confidently ran through tackles in the second game which Sidmouth again edged. The third game again had Lasiey Jackson side step past a number of players and Herbie Isherwood put in some good strong runs.

The final game had all team members on the back foot for the first half with Ben Brook, Ted Jenkins, Laisey Jackson and Sam Hartland having to constantly tackle. Starting the second half a try down, Sidmouth kept Topsham out, but did not manage to convert the pressure to points although they camped a metre from the Topsham try line.

William Allen, who has improved dramatically over the season put in a couple of very good runs, but was brought down before the line.

The Tackling Tigers team got off to a slow start in their first of three matches, failing to live up to their name and making their task harder by persistently fumbling the ball or running into touch!

However, that all changed when Arlow Squires found his anger! In their second game Arlow Squires realised it took four of them to tackle him, and so started to run at Topsham like bulldozer, off-loading to his teammates as the opposition attempted to bring him down!

Ellie Monro-Higgs set the standard for tackling, inspiring Harry McMahon to some fearless and crucial recovery tackles, and Dominic Clapp, Oscar Bruce and the Morris twins to pitch in with determined all round performances. Imy Bagwell ran the wings well, but Ellie Monro Higgs was the chief point scorer as they won the second match and narrowly lost their third.

Coach Dave Munro-Higgs said: “It certainly proved to be a very muddy, but certainly happy and enjoyable Sunday morning of action. As usual it was great rugby against an evenly matched set of teams - thanks to Topsham players and coaches for a great morning.”