Sidmouth bowed out of the Devon 2nd XV Cup in fine style last weekend with a heroic effort against Cullompton.
Whilst league position and previous results would have clearly suggested that the Quins should come out on top, the reality was that a depleted Sidmouth with a squad containing only 4 recognised backs (all of whom comfortably qualify for Vets rugby) travelled to face a Cully side bolstered in quality and quantity by the fact that their 1st XV game had been cancelled on Thursday evening.
Having expected the worst, what followed was one of the Quins best performances of the season, and a completely different approach to the previous weekend’s tame showing against Exeter Engineers.
Indeed Sidmouth found themselves 12-0 up in the first 5 minutes as first Man of the Match Charlie Farrington-Smith blasted his way through two defenders inside his own half before racing 50 metres and skittling the Cully fullback before offloading to Mark Dapling who dived over for the opening score. Shortly afterwards some fine handling and phase play saw Sidmouth progress deep into the Cully half where Liam Turley marked his return to the fold with a calm finish, James Docherty adding the extras.
The Cully resurgence came and their young 1st XV scrum half was running things very effectively whilst always posing a threat around the fringes. Luckily Sidmouth had the experience of Ian Lund-Jones at 9 who kept him on a short leash throughout proceedings. Cully got the next score to narrow the gap but Sidmouth were making the most of the wind behind their backs and Docherty was putting them into some good areas.
Some great work at the breakdown from Ned Coles and Jake Paget saw Sidmouth earn a penalty on the 10m line which Docherty calmly converted to extend the lead.
The Sidmouth pack lost hooker Harry Backway mid-way through the first half but Coles, Yann Tripet and Chris Otway were holding their own with Farrington-Smith and Tom Butler providing the ballast in the second row. Turley and Paget were their usual busy selves at the breakdown and Henry Williams was making some eye-catching carries and hits as Sidmouth kept up the intensity.
It was a nip and tuck stuff but Cully came away with the next two scores to move into a 21-15 lead with 5 minutes to go before half time. But the Quins were not put off, they found good field position and from a scrum Olly Marsh (operating at 12 rather than 8 as usual) carried well before linking with Docherty who fed James Salter (another back row forward let loose in the centres) who somehow managed to carry 3 defenders over the line to score next to the posts. This gave Docherty the easiest of conversions and Sidmouth a 21-22 lead at the break.
Cully emptied their bench shortly after half time and another 3 first XV players entered the fray. From this point Sidmouth were very much backs against the wall, but they never faltered in effort or desire.
Adam Squance and Kyle Baker (playing on the right wing instead of second row) were kept busy at the back as Cully played for territory and the changes in the scrum started to show as the red and black pack started taking ball at will. Josh Coles and Kyle Baker moved into the scrum and Coles did a fine job to marshall things from no.8 on a retreating scrum.
The pressure inevitably told and Cully pressed into the lead with a try and two penalties to take the game away from Sidmouth. A further try from deep in their own half was the final nail in the coffin as the score stretched out to 39-22.
But even in adversity there were huge positives from the Sidmouth players, Dapling made an epic 50 run from inside his own 22m, Turley managed to tackle and strip the Cully captain beyond the try line when a score looked imminent and Squance set in motion the try of the day with a subtle feint and go which caught everyone napping.
Sidmouth deservedly scored the final try after some outstanding play saw the ball pass through numerous pairs of hands before Turley was on hand to score his second try of the day.
Next weekend sees a return to league action where Sidmouth will look to get back to winning ways against New Cross at the Blackmore, 2.30pm kick off.
Sidmouth II: Ned Coles, Harry Backway (Yann Tripet), Chris Otway, Charlie Farrington-Smith, Tom Butler, Henry Williams, Jake Paget (Josh Coles), Liam Turley, Ian Lund-Jones, James Docherty, Mark Dapling, Olly Marsh, James Salter, Kyle Baker, Adam Squance
Scorers: M Dapling (T), L Turley (2T), J Salter (T), J Docherty (P, 3C)
Dukes Man of the Match: Charlie Farrington-Smith
Whilst league position and previous results would have clearly suggested that the Quins should come out on top, the reality was that a depleted Sidmouth with a squad containing only 4 recognised backs (all of whom comfortably qualify for Vets rugby) travelled to face a Cully side bolstered in quality and quantity by the fact that their 1st XV game had been cancelled on Thursday evening.
Having expected the worst, what followed was one of the Quins best performances of the season, and a completely different approach to the previous weekend’s tame showing against Exeter Engineers.
Indeed Sidmouth found themselves 12-0 up in the first 5 minutes as first Man of the Match Charlie Farrington-Smith blasted his way through two defenders inside his own half before racing 50 metres and skittling the Cully fullback before offloading to Mark Dapling who dived over for the opening score. Shortly afterwards some fine handling and phase play saw Sidmouth progress deep into the Cully half where Liam Turley marked his return to the fold with a calm finish, James Docherty adding the extras.
The Cully resurgence came and their young 1st XV scrum half was running things very effectively whilst always posing a threat around the fringes. Luckily Sidmouth had the experience of Ian Lund-Jones at 9 who kept him on a short leash throughout proceedings. Cully got the next score to narrow the gap but Sidmouth were making the most of the wind behind their backs and Docherty was putting them into some good areas.
Some great work at the breakdown from Ned Coles and Jake Paget saw Sidmouth earn a penalty on the 10m line which Docherty calmly converted to extend the lead.
The Sidmouth pack lost hooker Harry Backway mid-way through the first half but Coles, Yann Tripet and Chris Otway were holding their own with Farrington-Smith and Tom Butler providing the ballast in the second row. Turley and Paget were their usual busy selves at the breakdown and Henry Williams was making some eye-catching carries and hits as Sidmouth kept up the intensity.
It was a nip and tuck stuff but Cully came away with the next two scores to move into a 21-15 lead with 5 minutes to go before half time. But the Quins were not put off, they found good field position and from a scrum Olly Marsh (operating at 12 rather than 8 as usual) carried well before linking with Docherty who fed James Salter (another back row forward let loose in the centres) who somehow managed to carry 3 defenders over the line to score next to the posts. This gave Docherty the easiest of conversions and Sidmouth a 21-22 lead at the break.
Cully emptied their bench shortly after half time and another 3 first XV players entered the fray. From this point Sidmouth were very much backs against the wall, but they never faltered in effort or desire.
Adam Squance and Kyle Baker (playing on the right wing instead of second row) were kept busy at the back as Cully played for territory and the changes in the scrum started to show as the red and black pack started taking ball at will. Josh Coles and Kyle Baker moved into the scrum and Coles did a fine job to marshall things from no.8 on a retreating scrum.
The pressure inevitably told and Cully pressed into the lead with a try and two penalties to take the game away from Sidmouth. A further try from deep in their own half was the final nail in the coffin as the score stretched out to 39-22.
But even in adversity there were huge positives from the Sidmouth players, Dapling made an epic 50 run from inside his own 22m, Turley managed to tackle and strip the Cully captain beyond the try line when a score looked imminent and Squance set in motion the try of the day with a subtle feint and go which caught everyone napping.
Sidmouth deservedly scored the final try after some outstanding play saw the ball pass through numerous pairs of hands before Turley was on hand to score his second try of the day.
Next weekend sees a return to league action where Sidmouth will look to get back to winning ways against New Cross at the Blackmore, 2.30pm kick off.
Sidmouth II: Ned Coles, Harry Backway (Yann Tripet), Chris Otway, Charlie Farrington-Smith, Tom Butler, Henry Williams, Jake Paget (Josh Coles), Liam Turley, Ian Lund-Jones, James Docherty, Mark Dapling, Olly Marsh, James Salter, Kyle Baker, Adam Squance
Scorers: M Dapling (T), L Turley (2T), J Salter (T), J Docherty (P, 3C)
Dukes Man of the Match: Charlie Farrington-Smith
