Sidmouth Quins finished a fantastic season as they had started it last Saturday, with a hard fought victory over a big powerful North Tawton side. The home side had the only unbeaten home record in the league but Sidmouth’s solid defence and spirit was just too much on the day and they came away with a 8-14 victory.
North Tawton, who finished second in the league, started quickly with their big forwards making an instant impact with their powerful scrum and hard running putting the Quins on the back foot and they opened the scoring after just 5 minutes with a well taken try out wide.
With the sun shining and the pitch firm under foot, Sidmouth knew that if they could just get enough ball their mobile forwards and speedy backs could make the difference, and so it proved. Having forced the home team backwards into their own 22 Sidmouth stole a lineout 5 metres out and Olly Marsh drove for the line. Having been held up just short Charles Edwards found skipper James Docherty with a wide pass and the fly half drew the last man before putting full back Joe Tandy over in the corner. A successful conversion from Docherty put Sidmouth into a 5-7 lead.
The rest of the half was mainly played out in the Sidmouth half as North Tawton made the most of the strong breeze at their back but despite numerous attacking opportunities from lineout and scrums they were unable to break the Quins defence. The pack in particular were immense in the loose despite being under huge pressure at set piece. The experienced quartet of Nick Mills, Tom Butler, Ryan Davies and Neil Barrett (playing his last game for the Quins after 20 plus years of sterling service ) led from the front with young contingent of Ned Coles, Charlie Farrington-Smith, Alfie Collins and Marsh providing the energy and work rate to keep the home side at bay. At half time the score remained 5-7.
Half time came as a bit of a relief for the Quins and with the wind now at their back they looked forward to securing some more territory and possession to try and push for victory.
Having lost try scorer Tandy towards the end of the first half the versatile Jake Paget did a turn on the wing whilst stalwart prop forward Chris Otway replaced Farrington-Smith and had an immediate impact in shoring the Quins scrum. With a platform to play from the backs started to come into the game and Edwards and Docherty at half back got things moving in the right direction with some excellent tactical kicking.
It was from a Docherty kick that the decisive score was to come as Paget and Jack Hembrow set off in pursuit. With a kind bounce of the Hembrow collected the ball and outpaced the defence to cross for a try. Docherty added the extras and Sidmouth had some breathing space.
North Tawton were starting to lose patience in front a sizeable crowd who had clearly turned up expecting a home win. As Sidmouth continued to push the home side backwards from the boot and under pressure in the wide channels with Scott Henderson making powerful runs through the centre and Adam Squance as solid as ever at full back. Sam Bassnett went close to stretching the lead as he got onto the end of a fast flowing move but wasn’t quite able to get over the line.
As the game went on the Quins rang the changes with Asa Unsworth, Isaac Lidster and Matt Purbrick replacing Davies, Barrett and Mills respectively. All three made a huge impact with Unsworth carrying hard in the loose, Lidster making a nuisance of himself at the breakdown and Purbrick absolutely destroying the home sides lineout ball.
With time running out for the home side they took a penalty kick at goal to narrow the difference to 6 points with 4 minutes to go, and the Quins nerves started to get the better of them first Marsh saw yellow for a technical infringement and then with the penultimate play of the game Paget was unfortunate to also see yellow with the referee losing patience with the Quins defence.
And so it came down to the last play and a lineout on the Quins 22. But yet again it was Purbrick who rose highest to steal the ball that Farrington-Smith (back on for Butler) collected and in the chaos of desperately trying to win the ball back North Tawton gave away the penalty and Docherty was able to thump the ball into touch to seal the win.
Sidmouth finish in 4th place on 58 points and can be extremely proud of their efforts this season. The number of young players who have come through this season means that the side can look forward to a real promotion push next season.
Sidmouth II: Ned Coles, Neil Barrett (Isaac Lidster), Charlie Farrington-Smith (Chris Otway), Tom Butler, Nick Mills (Matt Purbrick), Alfie Collins, Olly Marsh, Ryan Davies (Asa Unsworth), Charles Edwards, James Docherty, Sam Basnett, Jack Hembrow, Scott Henderson, Adam Squance, Joe Tandy (Jake Paget).
Scorers: J Tandy (T), J Hembrow (T), J Docherty (2C)
Dukes Man of the Match: James Docherty
North Tawton, who finished second in the league, started quickly with their big forwards making an instant impact with their powerful scrum and hard running putting the Quins on the back foot and they opened the scoring after just 5 minutes with a well taken try out wide.
With the sun shining and the pitch firm under foot, Sidmouth knew that if they could just get enough ball their mobile forwards and speedy backs could make the difference, and so it proved. Having forced the home team backwards into their own 22 Sidmouth stole a lineout 5 metres out and Olly Marsh drove for the line. Having been held up just short Charles Edwards found skipper James Docherty with a wide pass and the fly half drew the last man before putting full back Joe Tandy over in the corner. A successful conversion from Docherty put Sidmouth into a 5-7 lead.
The rest of the half was mainly played out in the Sidmouth half as North Tawton made the most of the strong breeze at their back but despite numerous attacking opportunities from lineout and scrums they were unable to break the Quins defence. The pack in particular were immense in the loose despite being under huge pressure at set piece. The experienced quartet of Nick Mills, Tom Butler, Ryan Davies and Neil Barrett (playing his last game for the Quins after 20 plus years of sterling service ) led from the front with young contingent of Ned Coles, Charlie Farrington-Smith, Alfie Collins and Marsh providing the energy and work rate to keep the home side at bay. At half time the score remained 5-7.
Half time came as a bit of a relief for the Quins and with the wind now at their back they looked forward to securing some more territory and possession to try and push for victory.
Having lost try scorer Tandy towards the end of the first half the versatile Jake Paget did a turn on the wing whilst stalwart prop forward Chris Otway replaced Farrington-Smith and had an immediate impact in shoring the Quins scrum. With a platform to play from the backs started to come into the game and Edwards and Docherty at half back got things moving in the right direction with some excellent tactical kicking.
It was from a Docherty kick that the decisive score was to come as Paget and Jack Hembrow set off in pursuit. With a kind bounce of the Hembrow collected the ball and outpaced the defence to cross for a try. Docherty added the extras and Sidmouth had some breathing space.
North Tawton were starting to lose patience in front a sizeable crowd who had clearly turned up expecting a home win. As Sidmouth continued to push the home side backwards from the boot and under pressure in the wide channels with Scott Henderson making powerful runs through the centre and Adam Squance as solid as ever at full back. Sam Bassnett went close to stretching the lead as he got onto the end of a fast flowing move but wasn’t quite able to get over the line.
As the game went on the Quins rang the changes with Asa Unsworth, Isaac Lidster and Matt Purbrick replacing Davies, Barrett and Mills respectively. All three made a huge impact with Unsworth carrying hard in the loose, Lidster making a nuisance of himself at the breakdown and Purbrick absolutely destroying the home sides lineout ball.
With time running out for the home side they took a penalty kick at goal to narrow the difference to 6 points with 4 minutes to go, and the Quins nerves started to get the better of them first Marsh saw yellow for a technical infringement and then with the penultimate play of the game Paget was unfortunate to also see yellow with the referee losing patience with the Quins defence.
And so it came down to the last play and a lineout on the Quins 22. But yet again it was Purbrick who rose highest to steal the ball that Farrington-Smith (back on for Butler) collected and in the chaos of desperately trying to win the ball back North Tawton gave away the penalty and Docherty was able to thump the ball into touch to seal the win.
Sidmouth finish in 4th place on 58 points and can be extremely proud of their efforts this season. The number of young players who have come through this season means that the side can look forward to a real promotion push next season.
Sidmouth II: Ned Coles, Neil Barrett (Isaac Lidster), Charlie Farrington-Smith (Chris Otway), Tom Butler, Nick Mills (Matt Purbrick), Alfie Collins, Olly Marsh, Ryan Davies (Asa Unsworth), Charles Edwards, James Docherty, Sam Basnett, Jack Hembrow, Scott Henderson, Adam Squance, Joe Tandy (Jake Paget).
Scorers: J Tandy (T), J Hembrow (T), J Docherty (2C)
Dukes Man of the Match: James Docherty
