Sidmouth Colts 37, Barnstaple Colts 49 Sidmouth Colts will not be lifting the trophy that was claimed by last year’s Blackmore Colts as they went out of this year’s competition, beaten by Barum in a high scoring game.

Without doubt the Sidmouth performance was one of their collective best of the term to date! However, they came up against a very slick Barum side that were already eleven points ahead from the first leg meeting in North Devon.

After trading tries in the opening minutes Sidmouth had reduced the lead to nine points and this exchange of attacking rugby set the scene for the game which, after 50 minutes was just 32-34 in favour of the visitors.

Had Sidmouth scored next the crowd were in for a roller-coaster final quarter. As it turned out Barnstaple held onto their lead thanks to a couple of well executed line-out catch and drives.

In many ways the absence of a few key players empowered the Colts. James Thomas had his best game of the season and shows potential as a young player who could mature through colts and into senior club rugby. The same is true of Harry West who is confident in possession and has an appetite to defend and Dan Powell is consistently exciting and skillful. Lewis Horne, Harry Rumsden and Reid Mawdsley also had impressive games and all have an exciting season in front of them.

Of the senior Colts Haydon Down gave a Captain’s performance and plays like a ‘modern-day prop’.

John Pares and James Perchard-Richards both put-in big shifts and it was good to see Xenon Kearn back.

Off the bench Sam Dix, James Maskill, Harrison Astley-Jones, Ed Thomas and Jake Tansley all made good contributions, but it was the elusive Sam Smith who made the biggest impact. If he can match his potential with commitment then he too could go far in club rugby.

The outstanding players on the day were Luke Wells Burr and Charlie Cotton who scored five tries between them against a very good defence and both look class acts.