With no first XV game last weekend the Quins took centre stage at the Blackmore in Devon 2nd XV Cup match against Crediton. Despite 4 wins from 4 matches this season the Quins knew that this was going to a big step in quality against a Crediton side who are always at the sharp end of the league table and came into the game with a perfect 3 wins from 3 games record.
On another glorious day in Sidmouth and with the pitch in picture perfect condition the two sides put on a fine display of rugby of rugby for the big crowd to enjoy. The opening stages were indicative of the match that was to follow with both sides showing excellent skills both in defence and attack.
The Sidmouth lineout was in particularly fine form with Alfie Collins and Will Cockayne-Cottrell stealing the first three lineouts on the Crediton throw to allow the Quins to alleviate some early Crediton pressure. On the flip side the Crediton pack were on top at scrum time, although only enough to make Sidmouth uncomfortable rather than to turnover the ball.
When Sidmouth managed to get some possession in the Crediton half they were able to open the scoring with some excellent handling. Some good phases form the forwards created the platform before livewire scrum-half Ben Fisher switched play down the blindside where Tom Price beat two defenders before drawing the last man and giving the ball back to Fisher on the inside support line to finish the move. Skipper James Docherty added the extras and Sidmouth had the lead.
Crediton came back strongly but were met with a green wall of defence, particularly through the forward pack where Asa Unsworth, Ned Coles, Connor Preston and Jake Paget were relentless around the fringes of the rucks.
Having soaked up the pressure Sidmouth doubled their lead on the half hour mark as yet more fine handling across the team saw them open up gaps in the visitors defence. This time it was Jack Hembrow making the decisive break before offloading to Unsworth who floated a pass over the top to Alex Clemo-Crosby who outsprinted the desperate defence to dot down in the corner. Docherty added the extras for a 14-0 lead.
The last 10 minutes of the half was all Crediton but yet again they could not find the answer to unlock the miserly Quins defence and the half finished with Sidmouth 14 points to the good.
With the wind at their backs in the second half the Quins enjoyed far more territory and the addition of Dan Armstrong and Charlie Farrington-Smith shored up the scrum. The match was still very evenly balanced, despite the scoreline, and the opening 10 minutes of the half continued in that vein. However, it was the Sidmouth backline that did for Crediton again as a set play from deep inside their own half saw Harvey Green and Tom Price combine out wide to set up position in the Crediton half. The ever alert Fisher spotted the gap on the blindside and drew the last man before sending Scott Henderson off down the wing to score Sidmouth’s 3rd try.
The match was all but over 5 minutes later as a perfectly executed training field move saw Jake Smith make good yards through the centre of the field and Fisher linked with his forwards on the blind side to send Price into space. The winger drew in the last defender before popping the ball to the on rushing Green who showed a clean pair of heels to the scrambling defence as he scored in the corner. Smith adding the extras with an excellent touchline conversion.
There then followed a head scratching 10 minutes where Sidmouth, for the first time this season, completely switched off defensively and from nowhere Crediton came from being out of the game to just 2 scores behind as first their big left winger finished off a nice move before their scrum half ran all of 40 yards through a floundering defence to bring it back to 26-12 with just under 15 minutes to go.
However, despite the fact that this Quins teams is predominantly a young side, they did not panic. Even as Crediton piled forward they stuck to their guns and a huge defensive set saw the ball spill loose and Ollie Hansford- Harvey was on to it like a flash, he then went on a searing run down the right flank before cutting in to score under the posts to give Docherty the easy task of adding the extras.
Crediton did not give up and came back hard but Sidmouth were in no mood to fold again. When Crediton did finally cross the whitewash for a consolation try it took them 9 phases of play to cover the final 5m of ground which is a huge testament to Sidmouth’s superb attitude that despite the game being well won they refused to allow an easy score.
Next week the Quins take a well earned break before heading back into league action against second placed, and also unbeaten, Tiverton II.
Sidmouth II: Jack Marchant (Dan Armstrong), Connor Preston (Charlie Farrington-Smith), Ned Coles, Alfie Collins, Will Cockayne-Cottrell, Asa Unsworth, Jake Paget, Ryan Davies, Ben Fisher, James Docherty, Sam Basnett (Ollie Hansford-Harvey), Jack Hembrow (Jake Smith), Scott Henderson, Tom Price, Alex Clemo-Crosby (Harvey Green)
Scorers: B Fisher (T), A Clemo-Crosby (T); S Henderson (T), H Green (T), O Hansford-Harvey (T); J Docherty (3C); J Smith (C)
Man of the Match: Alfie Collins
On another glorious day in Sidmouth and with the pitch in picture perfect condition the two sides put on a fine display of rugby of rugby for the big crowd to enjoy. The opening stages were indicative of the match that was to follow with both sides showing excellent skills both in defence and attack.
The Sidmouth lineout was in particularly fine form with Alfie Collins and Will Cockayne-Cottrell stealing the first three lineouts on the Crediton throw to allow the Quins to alleviate some early Crediton pressure. On the flip side the Crediton pack were on top at scrum time, although only enough to make Sidmouth uncomfortable rather than to turnover the ball.
When Sidmouth managed to get some possession in the Crediton half they were able to open the scoring with some excellent handling. Some good phases form the forwards created the platform before livewire scrum-half Ben Fisher switched play down the blindside where Tom Price beat two defenders before drawing the last man and giving the ball back to Fisher on the inside support line to finish the move. Skipper James Docherty added the extras and Sidmouth had the lead.
Crediton came back strongly but were met with a green wall of defence, particularly through the forward pack where Asa Unsworth, Ned Coles, Connor Preston and Jake Paget were relentless around the fringes of the rucks.
Having soaked up the pressure Sidmouth doubled their lead on the half hour mark as yet more fine handling across the team saw them open up gaps in the visitors defence. This time it was Jack Hembrow making the decisive break before offloading to Unsworth who floated a pass over the top to Alex Clemo-Crosby who outsprinted the desperate defence to dot down in the corner. Docherty added the extras for a 14-0 lead.
The last 10 minutes of the half was all Crediton but yet again they could not find the answer to unlock the miserly Quins defence and the half finished with Sidmouth 14 points to the good.
With the wind at their backs in the second half the Quins enjoyed far more territory and the addition of Dan Armstrong and Charlie Farrington-Smith shored up the scrum. The match was still very evenly balanced, despite the scoreline, and the opening 10 minutes of the half continued in that vein. However, it was the Sidmouth backline that did for Crediton again as a set play from deep inside their own half saw Harvey Green and Tom Price combine out wide to set up position in the Crediton half. The ever alert Fisher spotted the gap on the blindside and drew the last man before sending Scott Henderson off down the wing to score Sidmouth’s 3rd try.
The match was all but over 5 minutes later as a perfectly executed training field move saw Jake Smith make good yards through the centre of the field and Fisher linked with his forwards on the blind side to send Price into space. The winger drew in the last defender before popping the ball to the on rushing Green who showed a clean pair of heels to the scrambling defence as he scored in the corner. Smith adding the extras with an excellent touchline conversion.
There then followed a head scratching 10 minutes where Sidmouth, for the first time this season, completely switched off defensively and from nowhere Crediton came from being out of the game to just 2 scores behind as first their big left winger finished off a nice move before their scrum half ran all of 40 yards through a floundering defence to bring it back to 26-12 with just under 15 minutes to go.
However, despite the fact that this Quins teams is predominantly a young side, they did not panic. Even as Crediton piled forward they stuck to their guns and a huge defensive set saw the ball spill loose and Ollie Hansford- Harvey was on to it like a flash, he then went on a searing run down the right flank before cutting in to score under the posts to give Docherty the easy task of adding the extras.
Crediton did not give up and came back hard but Sidmouth were in no mood to fold again. When Crediton did finally cross the whitewash for a consolation try it took them 9 phases of play to cover the final 5m of ground which is a huge testament to Sidmouth’s superb attitude that despite the game being well won they refused to allow an easy score.
Next week the Quins take a well earned break before heading back into league action against second placed, and also unbeaten, Tiverton II.
Sidmouth II: Jack Marchant (Dan Armstrong), Connor Preston (Charlie Farrington-Smith), Ned Coles, Alfie Collins, Will Cockayne-Cottrell, Asa Unsworth, Jake Paget, Ryan Davies, Ben Fisher, James Docherty, Sam Basnett (Ollie Hansford-Harvey), Jack Hembrow (Jake Smith), Scott Henderson, Tom Price, Alex Clemo-Crosby (Harvey Green)
Scorers: B Fisher (T), A Clemo-Crosby (T); S Henderson (T), H Green (T), O Hansford-Harvey (T); J Docherty (3C); J Smith (C)
Man of the Match: Alfie Collins
