Sidmouth Under-9s were able to field three teams for matches with Exeter Chiefs.

Playing the first game of the morning Sidmouth were straight into their tackles with Exeter Chiefs winning the toss and opting to start with the ball. Captained by Thomas Grove, some good low tackles were made by all along with straight running. Chiefs scored first with Sidmouth replying soon after. The Chiefs number four put in some excellent tackles and, at half-time, the scores were equal. An exciting second half followed, at the end of which Sidmouth edged victory.

Team two took on a Chiefs side clearly wounded by their earlier defeat!

Alexander Goody rallied his players and set a fine example with his fast and robust running to open the try account. Being exposed to the contact game for only the second match they stuck to their defensive task well, Jack Pugh and Tom Bird making their presence well known to the opposition!

Victory was not to be there’s. However, they all trooped off with heads held high after a promising all-round show.

The third match was played at a fast pace with tackles requiring the turn over of the ball a number of times and neither side giving an inch.

The Sidmouth team improved throughout the match losing the first half, but drawing the second as players such as Laisey Jackson, Ben Brook, Tom Biggers and Ellie Monro Higgs dug deep and stepped up to the mark to produce tackle after tackle.

Newer players such as Toby and William Morris, Ted Jenkins, Will Daniels and Dominic Clapp improved immensely learning to protect the ball so Exeter couldn’t get their hands on it. The Sidmouth try was created by a pass from Imy Bagwell setting up Daisy Grove to run half the length of the pitch outpacing the Exeter players!