Sidmouth Chiefs just failed to cap off an excellent season with a second trophy. They were beaten in the final of the Devon Intermediate Cup in front of a large crowd on the Blackmore Field by neighbours Topsham in a match which was not decided until the closing minutes.

The Chiefs made a perfect start with a try in the third minute when Phil Dollman exploited an unmarked blindside after the forwards had driven a lineout maul close to the line.

Ten minutes later Jake Allen increased the lead with a penalty.

Topsham opened their account midway through the half when the scrum half launched a box kick inside the Sidmouth 22 and the right winger leapt above the Sidmouth defenders to claim the ball and run in near the post to give his scrum half a straightforward conversion.

Topsham were soon back on the attack and took the lead when the inside centre took a flat pass close to the line to crash through the defence. The scrum half added the conversion.

When a promising Sidmouth move broke down on the Topsham 22, the visitors started up a counterattack. A move which included accurate handling and support play was finished off by the number 5.

Sidmouth regained possession straight from the restart kick and the ball was moved swiftly to the open where Phil Dollman made a fine break to send Sam Heathcote sprinting over in the corner.

In the final minute of the half Archie Cruze went over in the same corner from a move around the front of a lineout five metres out.

Neither try was converted leaving the Chiefs with a one-point deficit at half time.

Five minutes after the restart Cian Warren seemed to have finished off a fine handling move to give his side the lead, but he was recalled for a forward pass.

When Topsham laid siege to the Sidmouth line with a series of rucks causing the Sidmouth defensive line to narrow, good handling found the outside centre on the overlap to score a converted try.

Three minutes later, the Chiefs set up a similar situation from a lineout catch-and-drive play to send Sam Heathcote in for his second try.

In the final quarter, the Chiefs had a couple of opportunities with lineouts close to the line but were unable to set up a controlled maul.

With four minutes to go, Topsham broke out and into the Sidmouth 22. The fly half beat three players from 15 metres out to score near the posts. The conversion gave them a ten-point lead which would not be threatened in the time remaining.

And so ends an otherwise very successful season in which the Chiefs won the South West Regional League and the Colts won the Devon Colts Cup outright for the first time.