With Crediton II having lost 20-21 at home to North Tawton in the previous round of fixtures Sidmouth Quins now have their fate back in their own hands if they want to push for the Counties 3 League title, but that means almost certainly having to win every game for the rest of the season.
Those title credentials came under serious scrutiny last weekend as the Quins faced a combative Tiverton II side at home on a heavy Blackmore pitch. And whilst this was a game for the purists Sidmouth showed that they have plenty of grit to go along with the undoubted flair which has seen them at the sharp end of the league this year.
The opening exchanges were cagey, both sides had periods of possession but Tiverton found themselves swamped by the oppressive Quins defence whilst in attack Sidmouth were struggling to get enough clean ball to really open up the game as Tiverton used their big forwards to disrupt the breakdown.
It was Sidmouth who created the first sustained period of pressure, but as is often the way a quick break from Tiverton saw them earn a penalty and a 0-3 lead against the run of play after 15 minutes.
It was in the next 20 minutes that the game was won as Sidmouth clicked into gear and after levelling through the boot of Harry Guy the Quins proceeded to roll of three tries in quick succession.
First Neil Barratt latched on to the back of a maul after Quins had found good field position inside the visitors 22. The set up was perfect and the Quins packed practically trotted their way over the line and Barratt completed the formalities.
The second followed shortly after as Harvey Green chased a long kick and snaffled the Tivvy fullback before he could clear the ball. Rabbie Hansford followed up and fine bit of counter-rucking saw the ball spill out on the Sidmouth side where Guy picked up and scooted off over the whitewash to open up a 13-3 lead.
Olly Marsh completed Sidmouth’s try scoring for the afternoon on the 35 minute mark as yet more aggressive defence put more pressure on the Tiverton players than they were able to handle and Marsh was on hand to rip the ball and skip over form 5m out.
With the front 5 of Ned Coles, Barratt, Chris Otway, Tom Butler and Alfie Collins having the upper hand in both scrum and lineout and back row of Jake Paget, Marsh and Ryan Davies competing hard at the breakdown it appeared that the Tiverton resistance may have been broken. However, on the stroke of halftime a dubious looking clearout on Alex Clemo-Crosby at the back of a ruck in midfield saw the ball end up in the hands of the Tivvy fly-half who kicked through and won the chase to give the visitors hope at the break – 18-8.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half were a stodgy affair as neither side was able to build any meaningful pressure and indiscretions and mistakes meant the referee’s whistle was to the fore. Harry Guy was doing his best to control proceedings and Jack Hembrow and Scott Henderson in the centres were their usual efficient selves in both attack and defence but a mixture of conditions and the stop start nature of the game was stopping them getting into any real flow.
It was Tiverton who got the first score of the half from a penalty, which was one of a worrying number that the Quins had started conceding. Sidmouth responded in kind through Harry Guy and with 15 minutes left they held a 10 point lead, 21-11.
In truth at this stage Sidmouth looked the more comfortable in and out of possession, Kyle Baker, Henry Williams, Charlie Farrington-Smith and Mark Bishop all entered the fray and there were a couple of chances for Sidmouth to extend their lead as they spent long periods in the Tiverton half.
It was maybe slight over confidence that saw Sidmouth try to run the ball from deep in their own half which put the game back in the balance as a turnover in midfield saw the Tiverton prop show impressive speed for a big man and scamper under the posts to make it a 3pt game with 10 minutes to go.
This could have mad for a nervy end to the match, but in truth Sidmouth barely stepped foot in their own half for the rest of the match. Sam Basnett had an opportunity to seal the match but came up just short but aside from the underlying fear that one quick breakaway could undo their hard work, Sidmouth calmly closed out the match to pick up the win.
Next weekend sees 9th placed Newton Abbot visit the Blackmore, and with no first team game there should be a big crowd in as the Quins look to keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Sidmouth II: Ned Coles (Charlie Farrington-Smith), Neil Barratt (Yan Mercan), Chris Otway, Alfie Collins, Tom Butler (Kyle Baker), Jake Paget (Henry Williams), Ryan Davies, Alex Clemo-Crosby, Harry Guy, Sam Basnett, Jack Hembrow, Scott Henderson, Rabbie Hansford, Harvey Green (Mark Bishop)
Scorers: N Barrett (T), O Marsh (T); H Guy (T, 2P)
Dukes Man of the Match: Alfie Collins
Those title credentials came under serious scrutiny last weekend as the Quins faced a combative Tiverton II side at home on a heavy Blackmore pitch. And whilst this was a game for the purists Sidmouth showed that they have plenty of grit to go along with the undoubted flair which has seen them at the sharp end of the league this year.
The opening exchanges were cagey, both sides had periods of possession but Tiverton found themselves swamped by the oppressive Quins defence whilst in attack Sidmouth were struggling to get enough clean ball to really open up the game as Tiverton used their big forwards to disrupt the breakdown.
It was Sidmouth who created the first sustained period of pressure, but as is often the way a quick break from Tiverton saw them earn a penalty and a 0-3 lead against the run of play after 15 minutes.
It was in the next 20 minutes that the game was won as Sidmouth clicked into gear and after levelling through the boot of Harry Guy the Quins proceeded to roll of three tries in quick succession.
First Neil Barratt latched on to the back of a maul after Quins had found good field position inside the visitors 22. The set up was perfect and the Quins packed practically trotted their way over the line and Barratt completed the formalities.
The second followed shortly after as Harvey Green chased a long kick and snaffled the Tivvy fullback before he could clear the ball. Rabbie Hansford followed up and fine bit of counter-rucking saw the ball spill out on the Sidmouth side where Guy picked up and scooted off over the whitewash to open up a 13-3 lead.
Olly Marsh completed Sidmouth’s try scoring for the afternoon on the 35 minute mark as yet more aggressive defence put more pressure on the Tiverton players than they were able to handle and Marsh was on hand to rip the ball and skip over form 5m out.
With the front 5 of Ned Coles, Barratt, Chris Otway, Tom Butler and Alfie Collins having the upper hand in both scrum and lineout and back row of Jake Paget, Marsh and Ryan Davies competing hard at the breakdown it appeared that the Tiverton resistance may have been broken. However, on the stroke of halftime a dubious looking clearout on Alex Clemo-Crosby at the back of a ruck in midfield saw the ball end up in the hands of the Tivvy fly-half who kicked through and won the chase to give the visitors hope at the break – 18-8.
The opening 15 minutes of the second half were a stodgy affair as neither side was able to build any meaningful pressure and indiscretions and mistakes meant the referee’s whistle was to the fore. Harry Guy was doing his best to control proceedings and Jack Hembrow and Scott Henderson in the centres were their usual efficient selves in both attack and defence but a mixture of conditions and the stop start nature of the game was stopping them getting into any real flow.
It was Tiverton who got the first score of the half from a penalty, which was one of a worrying number that the Quins had started conceding. Sidmouth responded in kind through Harry Guy and with 15 minutes left they held a 10 point lead, 21-11.
In truth at this stage Sidmouth looked the more comfortable in and out of possession, Kyle Baker, Henry Williams, Charlie Farrington-Smith and Mark Bishop all entered the fray and there were a couple of chances for Sidmouth to extend their lead as they spent long periods in the Tiverton half.
It was maybe slight over confidence that saw Sidmouth try to run the ball from deep in their own half which put the game back in the balance as a turnover in midfield saw the Tiverton prop show impressive speed for a big man and scamper under the posts to make it a 3pt game with 10 minutes to go.
This could have mad for a nervy end to the match, but in truth Sidmouth barely stepped foot in their own half for the rest of the match. Sam Basnett had an opportunity to seal the match but came up just short but aside from the underlying fear that one quick breakaway could undo their hard work, Sidmouth calmly closed out the match to pick up the win.
Next weekend sees 9th placed Newton Abbot visit the Blackmore, and with no first team game there should be a big crowd in as the Quins look to keep the pressure on the teams above them.
Sidmouth II: Ned Coles (Charlie Farrington-Smith), Neil Barratt (Yan Mercan), Chris Otway, Alfie Collins, Tom Butler (Kyle Baker), Jake Paget (Henry Williams), Ryan Davies, Alex Clemo-Crosby, Harry Guy, Sam Basnett, Jack Hembrow, Scott Henderson, Rabbie Hansford, Harvey Green (Mark Bishop)
Scorers: N Barrett (T), O Marsh (T); H Guy (T, 2P)
Dukes Man of the Match: Alfie Collins
