Sat 15 Feb 2025
Sidmouth made the short journey down the A30 with the first ever league fixture with Launceston on a very heavy, sticky pitch.
The home side started quickly with a sequence of pick and go’s eventually scoring round the fringes, the kick was successful, taking an early lead 7-0.
Sidmouth quickly got back on level terms through a Tom Hodge line-break from a dominant set piece, who linked up with Shaun Malton who dotted down, James Docherty added the extras 7-7.
Sidmouth won a scrum penalty, Docherty pinned it deep into the Launceston 22. From the line-out, a catch and drive maul from 15m led to a penalty try and a yellow card for the home side, Sidmouth taking a 7 point lead.
Sidmouth found some momentum with the catch and drive which led to another penalty and a yellow card for a deliberate knock on from the home side's scrum half. With the momentum firmly with Sidmouth, they scored another catch and drive try out wide from Shaun Malton, the kick narrowly went wide, 7-19.
Sidmouth secured the try bonus point from another catch and drive, this time Tom Hodge coming up with the goods and getting the deserved rewards, Docherty pushed the kick wide. The half time whistle followed with Sidmouth leading 7-24.
As the second half started, the challenge for the away side was to keep the pressure on and take control off the game. Unfortunately, Sidmouth lost 2nd row Liam Hillier to a red card from a clear out that was suggested to have hit the man in the head, the home side took advantage of the red card and scored there own catch and drive try which was converted 14-24.
Sidmouth absorbed the home sides pressure, in a similar fashion to the start of the game, and they gained some much needed territory. Sidmouth went to the lineout and scored with Shaun Malton, the conversion drifted narrowly wide of the posts 14-29.
With the game at a point that could go either way, Sidmouth took control when Tom Hodge picked up his second try of the day from a well-worked backs move, following much hard work from the forwards gaining plenty of yards deep into the Launceston third, the kick was missed 14-34.
Sidmouth, being very clinical in the scoring zone came out with another try and birthday boy Malton getting his hat trick, Docherty adding the extras 14-41.
The home side managed a consolation try out wide, late on, but their conversion attempt was missed.
Notale mentions for Harvey Hannay and Fin Keywood, the returning Harry Emmett from his altitude training, and the man of the match decision was a very tough one this week with Tom Hodge and Cam Grainger all being in with a shout, but the award eventually went to Shaun Malton for his 3 tries, leading to Sidmouth earning a well deserved 5 points on the road.
Report by Glenn Channing.
The home side started quickly with a sequence of pick and go’s eventually scoring round the fringes, the kick was successful, taking an early lead 7-0.
Sidmouth quickly got back on level terms through a Tom Hodge line-break from a dominant set piece, who linked up with Shaun Malton who dotted down, James Docherty added the extras 7-7.
Sidmouth won a scrum penalty, Docherty pinned it deep into the Launceston 22. From the line-out, a catch and drive maul from 15m led to a penalty try and a yellow card for the home side, Sidmouth taking a 7 point lead.
Sidmouth found some momentum with the catch and drive which led to another penalty and a yellow card for a deliberate knock on from the home side's scrum half. With the momentum firmly with Sidmouth, they scored another catch and drive try out wide from Shaun Malton, the kick narrowly went wide, 7-19.
Sidmouth secured the try bonus point from another catch and drive, this time Tom Hodge coming up with the goods and getting the deserved rewards, Docherty pushed the kick wide. The half time whistle followed with Sidmouth leading 7-24.
As the second half started, the challenge for the away side was to keep the pressure on and take control off the game. Unfortunately, Sidmouth lost 2nd row Liam Hillier to a red card from a clear out that was suggested to have hit the man in the head, the home side took advantage of the red card and scored there own catch and drive try which was converted 14-24.
Sidmouth absorbed the home sides pressure, in a similar fashion to the start of the game, and they gained some much needed territory. Sidmouth went to the lineout and scored with Shaun Malton, the conversion drifted narrowly wide of the posts 14-29.
With the game at a point that could go either way, Sidmouth took control when Tom Hodge picked up his second try of the day from a well-worked backs move, following much hard work from the forwards gaining plenty of yards deep into the Launceston third, the kick was missed 14-34.
Sidmouth, being very clinical in the scoring zone came out with another try and birthday boy Malton getting his hat trick, Docherty adding the extras 14-41.
The home side managed a consolation try out wide, late on, but their conversion attempt was missed.
Notale mentions for Harvey Hannay and Fin Keywood, the returning Harry Emmett from his altitude training, and the man of the match decision was a very tough one this week with Tom Hodge and Cam Grainger all being in with a shout, but the award eventually went to Shaun Malton for his 3 tries, leading to Sidmouth earning a well deserved 5 points on the road.
Report by Glenn Channing.
