Sat 19 Oct 2024
Tiverton II 10-21 Sidmouth Quins (HT 7-14)
Having had a well earned rest last week after notching up 5 consecutive victories, the Quins were back in action with a top of the table clash against the only other unbeaten side in the league, Tiverton II. And once again Sidmouth came away victorious in another tough physical encounter.
The match was a complete clash of styles as the huge Tiverton pack took little time to show what they were all about as they dominated the early exchanges in the scrum and the tight phases using there superior bulk to good effect. Sidmouth on the other hand had superiority in the line-out, through Tom Butler and Alfie Colins allied to Neil Barrett’s pin point accuracy from hooker, and looked much more dangerous in the backs and through the wide channels.
Despite the lack of possession which came from Tiverton’s excellent ball retention, the Quins made sure that the home side were made to work extraordinarily hard for the little territory they were able to establish with a now customary miserly defensive effort. Jake Paget and James Perchard-Richards were to the fore from the back row along with Jake Smith, Jack Hembrow and Scot Henderson across the middle of the park.
When Sidmouth did get hold of the ball they made the most of the opportunity, Alex Clemo-Crosby provided the service for Smith run the show from fly half and utilise the full array of options in the outside channels. With territory established a well worked lineout move saw Barrett peel off the back split the defence and crash over under the posts for the opening score, Smith adding the extras.
Better was to follow as Ryan Davies, in a man of the match effort from No.8, rumbled over the line to double the lead and put Sidmouth in control.
But Tiverton were not unbeaten for no reason and a solid period of pressure before half time saw them cut the lead in two with some abrasive forward work eventually paying dividends to leave the score at 7-14 at half time.
Sidmouth came out quickly in the second half and there were numerous opportunities to extend their lead but Jake Allen and Ollie Hansford-Harvey were both denied by the bounce of the ball.
Substitutions were made and Charlie Farrington-Smith, Isaac Lidster and Hery Williams entered the fray and shored things up in the pack. Charles Edwards replaced Clemo-Crosby at scrum half with no change in the quality of service for Smith to keep probing at the Tiverton defence.
Despite Sidmouth looking far more threatening, it was Tiverton who got the next score and all of a sudden the game got rather tight as a penalty saw the deficit reduced to 10-14.
But the Quins refused to panic and just kept playing the open brand of rugby that has served them so well so far this term. With Tiverton tiring a well worked move saw Edwards score Sidmouth’s third try and Smith rounded off the scoring with a third successful conversion.
Due to having played 1 game less than their hosts the Quins still sit in 2nd place in the table but are level with Tiverton on 23 points. With Tiverton having a week off next weekend Sidmouth will have the chance to return to the top of the table if they can beat third placed Exeter Engineers at the Blackmore with a 2.30pm kick off next Saturday.
Sidmouth II: Jack Marchant (Charlie Farrington-Smith),, Neil Barrett, Ned Coles, Alfie Collins, Tom Butler, James Perchard-Richards (Henry Williams), Jake Paget (Isaac Lidster), Ryan Davies, Alex Clemo-Crosby (Charles Edwards), Jake Smith, Sam Basnett (Ollie Hansford-Harvey), Jack Hembrow, Scott Henderson, Tom Price, Jake Allen
Scorers: N Barrett (T), R Davies (T); C Edwards; J Smith (3C)
Man of the Match: Ryan Davies
Having had a well earned rest last week after notching up 5 consecutive victories, the Quins were back in action with a top of the table clash against the only other unbeaten side in the league, Tiverton II. And once again Sidmouth came away victorious in another tough physical encounter.
The match was a complete clash of styles as the huge Tiverton pack took little time to show what they were all about as they dominated the early exchanges in the scrum and the tight phases using there superior bulk to good effect. Sidmouth on the other hand had superiority in the line-out, through Tom Butler and Alfie Colins allied to Neil Barrett’s pin point accuracy from hooker, and looked much more dangerous in the backs and through the wide channels.
Despite the lack of possession which came from Tiverton’s excellent ball retention, the Quins made sure that the home side were made to work extraordinarily hard for the little territory they were able to establish with a now customary miserly defensive effort. Jake Paget and James Perchard-Richards were to the fore from the back row along with Jake Smith, Jack Hembrow and Scot Henderson across the middle of the park.
When Sidmouth did get hold of the ball they made the most of the opportunity, Alex Clemo-Crosby provided the service for Smith run the show from fly half and utilise the full array of options in the outside channels. With territory established a well worked lineout move saw Barrett peel off the back split the defence and crash over under the posts for the opening score, Smith adding the extras.
Better was to follow as Ryan Davies, in a man of the match effort from No.8, rumbled over the line to double the lead and put Sidmouth in control.
But Tiverton were not unbeaten for no reason and a solid period of pressure before half time saw them cut the lead in two with some abrasive forward work eventually paying dividends to leave the score at 7-14 at half time.
Sidmouth came out quickly in the second half and there were numerous opportunities to extend their lead but Jake Allen and Ollie Hansford-Harvey were both denied by the bounce of the ball.
Substitutions were made and Charlie Farrington-Smith, Isaac Lidster and Hery Williams entered the fray and shored things up in the pack. Charles Edwards replaced Clemo-Crosby at scrum half with no change in the quality of service for Smith to keep probing at the Tiverton defence.
Despite Sidmouth looking far more threatening, it was Tiverton who got the next score and all of a sudden the game got rather tight as a penalty saw the deficit reduced to 10-14.
But the Quins refused to panic and just kept playing the open brand of rugby that has served them so well so far this term. With Tiverton tiring a well worked move saw Edwards score Sidmouth’s third try and Smith rounded off the scoring with a third successful conversion.
Due to having played 1 game less than their hosts the Quins still sit in 2nd place in the table but are level with Tiverton on 23 points. With Tiverton having a week off next weekend Sidmouth will have the chance to return to the top of the table if they can beat third placed Exeter Engineers at the Blackmore with a 2.30pm kick off next Saturday.
Sidmouth II: Jack Marchant (Charlie Farrington-Smith),, Neil Barrett, Ned Coles, Alfie Collins, Tom Butler, James Perchard-Richards (Henry Williams), Jake Paget (Isaac Lidster), Ryan Davies, Alex Clemo-Crosby (Charles Edwards), Jake Smith, Sam Basnett (Ollie Hansford-Harvey), Jack Hembrow, Scott Henderson, Tom Price, Jake Allen
Scorers: N Barrett (T), R Davies (T); C Edwards; J Smith (3C)
Man of the Match: Ryan Davies
