Under 16s Match Reports
Devon U16 Shield Final
An impressive Kingsbridge team won the Devon U16 Shield at Sandy Park on Sunday but not before a fantastic game which could have gone either way until well into the second half. Through this age-group Kingsbridge have consistently been the best team with a game is characterized by power, intensity and ball retention. Sidmouth have developed through the junior seasons in contrast to Kingsbridge play a game based on tempo, handling and pace.
Sidmouth opened the scoring after the ball was whipped from one side of Sandy Park to the other to give right winger Faulkner enough space, one-on-one with a defender, to notch up his 30th try of the season. The next two Sidmouth tries were equally impressive with Faulkner bagging his 31st followed by a score for Locke after great distribution by Toomey and an outside break by Cotton. These scores were punctuated by a couple of fairly easy tries to Kingsbridge, the result of intensity and pressure in defensive situations. So by half time the lead had see-sawed and Kingsbridge had the advantage thanks to a try by fly-half Matt Hodgson who ran hard at a stretched Sidmouth defence and the teams turned around with the scores 19-29.
Sidmouth then created the play of the game. From deep in their own 22 the hard running Carlisle side-stepped England International Stu Townsend to initiate a length of the pitch attack involving Goddard, Faulkner, Wells-Burr, Locke, Cotton and Webber. This breathtaking move was held-up a few inches short and the resulting scrum was the turning point in the game. Kingsbridge, with some smart gamesmanship, held-back Sidmouth flanker Gilby and scrum-half Elliot Pound spotted room on the blind side to start a length of the pitch move finished off by the outstanding Townsend to open a three score lead which Sidmouth couldn’t claw back.
Looking forward to next season, 13 of the Sidmouth team have already played Colts rugby and plans are well underway to transition the whole team into what has the potential to be an extremely good Colts side - but not before a well earned break.
Sidmouth 19 - 39 Kingsbridge
Exeter University U16 League Final
Sidmouth Are League Champions
Sidmouth 13 - 0 Exeter Saracens
It was fitting that the two best sides of the fifteen contesting the University League met in the final at Crediton and produced a fast, physical and skillful game of junior rugby. The Sidmouth win was founded on preparation and attitude but relied on an outstanding performance by the forwards who took the initiative, defended every breakdown and produced enough quality ball for the talented Sidmouth backs. This performance was lead by the front row of Down, Welsford and Rutland with Haydon Down superbly controlling the kick-off and from the resulting offensive maul, Toomey boomed the ball cross-field where Faulkner was within inches of opening the scoring - this play stole the initiative and set-up Sidmouth to dominate the opening exchanges. Good field position and tight defence kept pressure on Saracens and Sidmouth started to get half-chances and sniffs of a score. Patience and excellent execution made an opening on the left where accurate handling gave Charlie Cotton a narrow channel to bust through and put Sidmouth into a deserved halftime lead. From the restart they maintained the pressure with Kearn, Gilby, Carlisle and Perchard-Richards closing down space and forcing mistakes. As the half wore on Sidmouth won a long range penalty which Toomey expertly converted to create a two score lead. To their credit Saracens responded with determination and aggression and kept possession through multiple phases in the Sidmouth 22. Lead by their captain Thomson with big contributions from Watts, Wright and Little, Saracens piled pressure on the Sidmouth defence who matched the onslaught with discipline and commitment to eventually force a turnover and an opportunity to break out and build another series of attacks in the Saracens half. Having started the better side, Sidmouth finished in style when Jack Faulkner attacked the blindside then cut across to link with Harry Thomas who was able to glide-in to score.
In 24 games this season the U16s have now scored over 1000 points and conceded under 280. The squad of 25 have developed, improved and matured and are all capable of stepping-up to play Colts and Senior rugby. This league win and trophy is nothing more than they deserve and an outstanding season now concludes on Sunday May 6th at Sandy Park in the Devon Shield Final against Kingsbridge.
Sidmouth U16's Tour
Sidmouth U16s 53 - 12 Lansdown Sidmouth U16s 57 - 19 Barnhall [Dublin] The Sidmouth U16 tour to Dublin was great fun with the 22 young men behaving impeccably, being a credit to themselves and ambassadors for Sidmouth Rugby Club. The tour would not have been possible without generous sponsorship from a senior clubman and Michelmores Solicitors. Their contributions were carefully invested on a cultural exchange at the Irish House Party in Merchants Arch. The tour was also fortunate to receive generous support in the form of bespoke polo shirts from Allwood, one of the UK’s most progressive exponents of timber frame construction. Allwood were delighted to sponsor Sidmouth Rugby Club, and together made a winning team. Sidmouth achieved two outstanding wins; one in the shadow of the Aviva Stadium, against Lansdown, and the other on the outskirts of Dublin at Barnhall. Playing highlights were a Jenkins drop-goal, the outstanding Gosling try, the acceleration of Parnell, the tackling of Toomey and Faulkner, the excellence of Perchard-Richards and Kearns, the running of Malec and the length-of-the-pitch team try touched-down by Thomas. Off the field highlights included two beautiful air hostesses Sian and Jade, Mumfords Little Lion Man, young men in drag, an encore inducing rendition of I’m Yours in Temple Bar, Molly Malone, short hair, a beautiful coy dancer called Nadia, Griffiths leading the way, gobsmacked American tourists and a lime green mankini. The U16s will be at the Blackmore to entertain you at 11am on Easter Sunday.Sidmouth U16 v Barkers’ Butts
The U16s were in top form against a classy and confident team from one of the strongest junior rugby clubs in the Midlands. When the teams met last season there was just two points in a win for Sidmouth and Barkers’ were on a mission to claim a scalp at The Blackmore. Sidmouth were organised and committed in defence and withheld a strong start from the tourists, opening the scoring from a well executed play off a scrum in their own 22. Sidmouth gathered momentum through the rest of the game, leaking just one try, to play some of the best rugby of the season, matching the pre-Christmas quality against the Devon President’s team. Sidmouth made use of all 23 available players and scoring a further six tries to round off a great game.
Sidmouth U16 43 v 10 Barkers’ Butts
Sidmouth U16's v Okehampton U16's
U16 Exeter University North v East Devon League Play-Off
Sidmouth 21 v 19 Okehampton
The drama at the Blackmore went right to the wire as the U16s won with the last play of the game to clinch a place in the North & East Devon league final on Thursday 12 April.
Since U8s these sides from Okehampton and Sidmouth have had high quality, high scoring games, and with nine county players on show there was quality and pace across both teams. In the hot dry conditions Sidmouth took the initiative and after a good period of pressure Charlie Cotton found enough space to line-up his defender, and one-on-one jinked in to open the scoring. Okehampton struck back with a classy try of their own and their clever defence and marking in the midfield caused Sidmouth all kinds of problems.
Cotton struck a penalty to edge the home side in front and then Okehampton showed their class with a text book score down the right side of a scrum when their winger was given space and time to beat the Sidmouth defence. Another cool Cotton penalty and a very well finished try by Jack Webber put Sidmouth back in the lead. With 20 minutes to play Okehampton opted to run a couple of penalties and their confidence was rewarded with another excellent try on the left to put them in front 16-19. Sidmouth kept their heads and as Okehampton skillfully ran-down the clock the game came down to one last scrum.The Sidmouth set-piece was looking as good as it had all season, so there was still a chance and with the Okehampton back row tied down Toomey took a pass on the short side and forced his way over after good off-the ball runs by Thomas and Cotton.
Thanks to Okehampton for an excellent game which either side deserved to win.The U16s tour Dublin this weekend and are back in action at The Blackmore against Barker Butts on Easter Sunday at 11am.
