Sidmouth had their final warm up game before the start of the league season against the Army Under 23s and it proved to be very competitive.
The Army started very strongly and had the home side under intense pressure for several minutes, but the Sidmouth defence was well organised, and held out well, They eventually broke out to take the lead with a move to the right of a scrum inside the Army half. Jake Smith broke through the centre to score, and he added the conversion from wide out.
Sidmouth increased their lead midway through the half when they turned over possession just inside the Army half and moved the ball swiftly to the wing where full back Finn Lashbrook outpaced the cover to score in the corner. The try was unconverted.
The Army regained possession from the restart kick and camped inside the Sidmouth 22 but, once again, could not break through the well-organised defence.
More good handling sent Sam Heathcote racing into the opposing 22 but a knock on brought the move to an end to leave the halftime score at 12-0.
Sidmouth increased their lead in the second minute after the break when a charged down kick bounced kindly for Connor Preston to touch down under the posts for Jake Smith to add the conversion.
With Sidmouth making several changes, it took time to reorganise, and the Army capitalised to score two tries. The first came from a peel around the front of a lineout close to the Sidmouth line and the second followed a turnover and good handling to their right winger. Both were converted.
The final 20 minutes were evenly contested, and Sidmouth held on for the win.
On Saturday the Chiefs entertain Exmouth in their first league game kicking off at 3pm.
The Quins play North Tawton and the Colts take on Ivybridge Colts, both to be played at Sidford.
The Army started very strongly and had the home side under intense pressure for several minutes, but the Sidmouth defence was well organised, and held out well, They eventually broke out to take the lead with a move to the right of a scrum inside the Army half. Jake Smith broke through the centre to score, and he added the conversion from wide out.
Sidmouth increased their lead midway through the half when they turned over possession just inside the Army half and moved the ball swiftly to the wing where full back Finn Lashbrook outpaced the cover to score in the corner. The try was unconverted.
The Army regained possession from the restart kick and camped inside the Sidmouth 22 but, once again, could not break through the well-organised defence.
More good handling sent Sam Heathcote racing into the opposing 22 but a knock on brought the move to an end to leave the halftime score at 12-0.
Sidmouth increased their lead in the second minute after the break when a charged down kick bounced kindly for Connor Preston to touch down under the posts for Jake Smith to add the conversion.
With Sidmouth making several changes, it took time to reorganise, and the Army capitalised to score two tries. The first came from a peel around the front of a lineout close to the Sidmouth line and the second followed a turnover and good handling to their right winger. Both were converted.
The final 20 minutes were evenly contested, and Sidmouth held on for the win.
On Saturday the Chiefs entertain Exmouth in their first league game kicking off at 3pm.
The Quins play North Tawton and the Colts take on Ivybridge Colts, both to be played at Sidford.
