Sidmouth travelled up to Chard for the final pre season fixture. It was a great opportunity for both teams to practice playing in swirling winds and torrential rain, in preparation for the winter months. The weather conditions proved very challenging for both team to gain momentum.
Sidmouth opened up the scoring after some extensive pressure on the home sides try line, Fin Keywood finished off after the forwards strong power game, new recruit Lewis Tose added the extras (0-7)
Sidmouth continued to dominate possession, but conceding possession with their own mistakes, against a very physical Chard side who defended well, which summed up the opening half, with Sidmouth taking a slight advantage into the break. Sidmouth made a few changes in the back line, welcoming back Richie Drewett from his time at Loughborough University, along with the exciting Ben Phillips who was Honiton’s player of the season last year, he has opted to try his hand at level 5 this season. The opening try of the second half came from a quick tap from Drewett followed by some patient phase play from Sidmouth allowed Phillips to feed a perfectly timed pass to Tom Price who still had 2 players to beat, but with his footwork he managed to score a well deserved try in the corner, the kick from Tose just fell short into the wind (0-12)
Centre Jake Smith was making lots of metres through the middle with some strong carries. The game then took an unexpected turn with the referee pulling up with a calf injury, there was still 25 minutes left to play, Sidmouth’s coach, Glenn Channing took on the whistle duties to finish the game in the middle. The third try came from soft hands from Shaun Malton to Martin Keywood who snuck through a little hole in the home sides defence, to then offload to Rabbie Hansford who ran a perfect inside support line to score, Tose put the conversion over (0-19)
Sidmouth found themselves in unfamiliar territory having to defend their own try line, after some strong carries from the home side, Sidmouth defence managed to stay strong and gain a penalty. The last play of the game came from a simple handling move from the backs to feed the ball to winger Cian Warren who still had 60 metres 3 defenders to beat, with his pace and power down the left wing there was only going to be one outcome with a try under the posts, as Tose knocked over the conversion, the final whistle came and it ended 27-0 to Sidmouth.
Special mention to Chard for stepping in last minute to host Sidmouth, after Saltash pulled out mid week.
Sidmouth now prepare for the opening game of the 1st XV league season, away to Devonport Services who came down from National 2 South last season.
The 2nd XV have to wait 3 weeks now for their opening fixture when they entertain Plymstock Albion Oaks in the 2nd XV cup at home.
Sidmouth opened up the scoring after some extensive pressure on the home sides try line, Fin Keywood finished off after the forwards strong power game, new recruit Lewis Tose added the extras (0-7)
Sidmouth continued to dominate possession, but conceding possession with their own mistakes, against a very physical Chard side who defended well, which summed up the opening half, with Sidmouth taking a slight advantage into the break. Sidmouth made a few changes in the back line, welcoming back Richie Drewett from his time at Loughborough University, along with the exciting Ben Phillips who was Honiton’s player of the season last year, he has opted to try his hand at level 5 this season. The opening try of the second half came from a quick tap from Drewett followed by some patient phase play from Sidmouth allowed Phillips to feed a perfectly timed pass to Tom Price who still had 2 players to beat, but with his footwork he managed to score a well deserved try in the corner, the kick from Tose just fell short into the wind (0-12)
Centre Jake Smith was making lots of metres through the middle with some strong carries. The game then took an unexpected turn with the referee pulling up with a calf injury, there was still 25 minutes left to play, Sidmouth’s coach, Glenn Channing took on the whistle duties to finish the game in the middle. The third try came from soft hands from Shaun Malton to Martin Keywood who snuck through a little hole in the home sides defence, to then offload to Rabbie Hansford who ran a perfect inside support line to score, Tose put the conversion over (0-19)
Sidmouth found themselves in unfamiliar territory having to defend their own try line, after some strong carries from the home side, Sidmouth defence managed to stay strong and gain a penalty. The last play of the game came from a simple handling move from the backs to feed the ball to winger Cian Warren who still had 60 metres 3 defenders to beat, with his pace and power down the left wing there was only going to be one outcome with a try under the posts, as Tose knocked over the conversion, the final whistle came and it ended 27-0 to Sidmouth.
Special mention to Chard for stepping in last minute to host Sidmouth, after Saltash pulled out mid week.
Sidmouth now prepare for the opening game of the 1st XV league season, away to Devonport Services who came down from National 2 South last season.
The 2nd XV have to wait 3 weeks now for their opening fixture when they entertain Plymstock Albion Oaks in the 2nd XV cup at home.
