Sidmouth 1st Xv 8, Oldfield Old Boys 1st Xv 33

Thanks to some very determined defensive work, the Chiefs stayed in contention until the final 15 minutes of this very entertaining game. However, Oldfield’s superior fitness and speed to the breakdown proved decisive as they ran in three late tries, writes Terry O’Brien.

With a breeze at their backs, Oldfield showed their intentions to run the ball wide at every opportunity right from the start. The Sidmouth defence was stretched a few times but successfully kept their line intact and Oldfield had to be content with the reward of a penalty for their early pressure.

As the game progressed, the Chiefs produced some promising moves of their own, but they were mostly from long range. When one broke down, the ball was hacked on and a try looked certain until James Powell produced a crunching last-ditch tackle. Minutes later the Chiefs took the lead with an excellent try. From a lineout on their own half the ball was moved along the backline with Barney Goss joining in from the blindside wing. Superb inter-passing down the left wing was finished off by Tom Seward. The try was unconverted.

The lead was short-lived as Oldfield replied with a move down the blindside of a scrum to create a try for the left winger. A second penalty made the halftime score 5-11.

From the restart, Sidmouth were unable to capitalise on the breeze in their favour and were pinned back inside their own half. Oldfield increased their lead with a second unconverted try by the left winger when the Sidmouth defence was outflanked following a five metre scrum.

The Chiefs at last gained some territorial advantage and Tom Whelan reduced the arrears with a penalty.

Further good work raised hopes of a comeback, but any slim hopes disappeared when Barney Goss was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle midway through the half.

Oldfield capitalised on the extra man to score two tries to earn them a bonus point. First the full back joined the line to cut through a gap, then the outside centre was on hand to finish off after the right winger had made the running.

In the closing minutes, the right winger, who had been a threat all game, scored a try of his own following a scrum half break down the blindside of a scrum. The conversion completed the scoring.

?On Saturday the Chiefs entertain Cleve at the Blackmore with a 3pm kick off.

?The Quins travel to play Newton Abbot 2nds.

?At Sidford the Colts take on Torquay Colts kicking off at 3pm.

On Wednesday, April 4, at the Blackmore, the Chiefs play Honiton for the David Turner Cup. The kick off is at 6pm.

The Lacemen are the holders having won it two seasons ago when it was contested by the respective Colts teams. Honiton will arrive in confident mood. They are having a most successful season, having already secured promotion from the Cornwall and Devon League.