third lead

The enforced cold weather break didn’t put Sidmouth off as they came away with an emphatic win over Exmouth. A storming start saw three early tries from the Sidmouth wings, which were achieved through slick passing and unselfish support play from all the backs, which over-stretched the Exmouth defence. However, the strong Exmouth pack soon started to gain some turnover ball, and with it some territory. Their pressure was rewarded with a push over try from a tap penalty on the Sidmouth line. The visitors regained the momentum and came straight back with two further tries before half time, score 36-7. After the break the Exmouth forwards started to gain the upper hand in the battle up front, but Sidmouth held on, and once again the pace of their backs told as they ran in 5 further tries. Whilst the parents on the side line are no doubt proud of their well mannered offspring, the Sidmouth coaches were urging them to dominate at the set piece, and really ‘boss’ the opposition pack. Against a stronger back line the visitors could have been found wanting. However, a final score line of 62-14 is one for the team to be very pleased with and bodes well for the next fixture. Scorers were Webber (3), Thomas (3), Wells-Burr (2), Kearns, Cotton and Gilby.

Sidmouth U13’s 50 Exmouth U13’s 0

Exmouth were a few players short so a big thank you to the five players who played for Exmouth they were Tom Lowe, Tom Thorne, Connor Woodhouse, Toby Lee and Rory Dyer a different set will be selected next time.

Exmouth bolstered by the Sidmouth players started the game strongly and a lacklustre Sidmouth pack were driven off ruck and maul and Exmouth pressed Sidmouths line but good tackling held them out.

Gradually Sidmouth started to gain parity up front and with the secured ball the Sidmouth backs began to show what they could do. Tom Counsell charged down a clearance kick to open the scoring. Jerome Blackburn finished off the next flowing move following good inter changes between forwards and backs. The last score of the first half went to Angus Eaton although the grounding was questioned by the Exmouth players.

Following a half time drilling by the coaches the Sidmouth pack at last showed their potential with Jack Bevans catching and driving the kick off then being carried on to score by David Chan. The game had now changed with flow after flow of Sidmouth attacks leading to another try each for Tom Counsell and Angus Eaton.

Charlie Norris scored a lovely try following a lovely chinking run. Oliver Aplin finished the scoring by chasing a Jack Bevans kick and flyhacking it on to score in the corner. Tom Counsell scored five excellent conversions.

The referee deserves a mention in his first game the general opinion was a very solid performance well done Chris Aplin.

Sidmouth RFC U12s 43, Exmouth 12

This was literally a game of two halves as 25 boys turned up to play for Sidmouth, so the coaches agreed to play one team for 20 minutes and the rest for the second 20 minutes.

From the outset, Sidmouth’s scrum was completely dominant. Nearly every put in was won by Sidmouth, which gave an excellent platform for the backs to prosper and Will Down soon scored.

Asa Unsworth produced the tackle of the day on Exmouth’s biggest player, which led to a turnover and George Syrhadd passed to Will Counsell who scored. This should have led to more tries, but in spite of the scrum’s dominance, the backs kept running too laterally and then, against the run of play, Exmouth scored just before half time.

With almost a completely different team in the second half the match was perhaps, not surprisingly, different! The Sidmouth pack was slightly smaller, but were still able to dominate. The backs, though, in this half ran straighter and with more purpose. Jonny Dunn scored, Jake Allen snaked over, followed by Counsell. Sidmouth looked in control.

Exmouth managed to score, before Dunn got his second. Sidmouth’s forwards were outstanding for both halfs and Ed Bolton, having ripped the ball from the maul, was able to wrestle the ball to the ground to score

Sidmouth under 11s v Exmouth under 11s.

By Sam Channing.

Squad: Archie Bagwell, Oliver Cosgrove, Joseph Craven, Jacob Fisher, Jasper Fitzhenry, Kade Hayman, Tom Hubble, Joe Lowe, Jamie Malec, Ethan Mead, Gabe Stamp, Will Stokes, Christian Welsford, Charlie Williams, Tom Woodruff.

With only 2 games taking part in the cold weather, the squad were eager to get going and were quick off the mark the forwards took charge and made good ground before Stamp set off on a strong and determined run to score in the corner. With Sidmouth dominating all phases of play it wasn’t long before another opportunity presented itself for Stamp to power over again. With Sid winning so much possession from the scrums it was only a matter of time before it was try time again this time coming from Williams after a strong run from Fisher. Next saw the wingers getting in on the action to show off their skills and Mead, as so often showed his pace by running in the next score, and then Hubble made a strong run down the line for the next to end the first half 35-0.

After a 20 minute break to allow the under 12s to resume their match and a change round in positions Sidmouth lost a little of their momentum although still showing the same level of determination and commitment the opportunities were there but the finishing touch seemed to elude them for a while and spent more time in defence. Exmouth tried very hard to break through but committed tackling and well organised lines meant that there was no way through. Sidmouth had the majority of possession and were almost rewarded with more scores, which would have been just reward for Malec who put in a solid performance all game. Two more scores came towards the end of the game the first came after Sidmouth were short of the line and lost possession but with the Exmouth player in his own in goal area Stokes ripped the ball from him and Williams had the presence of mind to touch it down for a try, the last try also went to Williams to give him a well deserved hat trick. All seven tries were successfully converted by Lowe to give a comprehensive win 49-0. This was a most impressive display of rugby and a remarkable team performance, a real return to form against a strong local rival.