Sat 5 Apr 2025
This final league game of the season produced an excellent local derby match in which the lead changed six times and was not decided until the closing minutes.
Exmouth started the game strongly and eventually took the lead after ten minutes with a lineout catch-and-drive from five metres out. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
From the restart Sidmouth, soon levelled the score when Tom Hodge powered over the line from a tap penalty five metres out. Phil Dollman's conversion gave them the lead. This lead was increased midway through the half with a catch-and-drive try of their own touched down by Cameron Grainger.
A fine Exmouth handling move was brought to an end by a try-saving tackle by full back Fin Lashbrook. However, Exmouth kept up the pressure and levelled the score with a converted try scored by the number seven. Following a period of Sidmouth pressure, an Exmouth player was yellow carded following a series of penalties inside their own 22.
Sidmouth had been under serious pressure in the scrums throughout and the referee finally lost patience and yellow carded one of the props. Exmouth profited with a try deep into injury time after a long period of pressure near the line to give them a halftime lead at 17-12.
In the first minute after the restart Exmouth had a player yellow carded for a high tackle. Phil Dollman reduced the arrears with a penalty. This was followed by an excellent handling move down the right from their own 22 which was only halted 10 metres from the Exmouth line. However, from the position gained the Chiefs regained the lead from another lineout maul but Exmouth hit back almost immediately with a try from a fine handling move which was converted.
The Chiefs replied with a good handling move of their own to take play into the opposing 22 where they stole an Exmouth lineout and after a series of rucks on the line Dan Armstrong forced his way over for the bonus point try. Phil Dollman's conversion opened up a three point lead.
As the Chiefs tired, Exmouth regained the lead thanks to a charged down kick which rebounded kindly for them. Then, in the closing minutes, a poor clearance kick gave the Exmouth full back space to run in from 30 metres for a final converted try. This denied the Chiefs an extra bonus point, which would have moved them up to fifth place in the final league table.
On Saturday the Over 35s entertain Okehampton Over 35s kicking off at 1pm.
The Colts travel to Barnstaple for the semi final of the Devon Colts Cup.
Exmouth started the game strongly and eventually took the lead after ten minutes with a lineout catch-and-drive from five metres out. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
From the restart Sidmouth, soon levelled the score when Tom Hodge powered over the line from a tap penalty five metres out. Phil Dollman's conversion gave them the lead. This lead was increased midway through the half with a catch-and-drive try of their own touched down by Cameron Grainger.
A fine Exmouth handling move was brought to an end by a try-saving tackle by full back Fin Lashbrook. However, Exmouth kept up the pressure and levelled the score with a converted try scored by the number seven. Following a period of Sidmouth pressure, an Exmouth player was yellow carded following a series of penalties inside their own 22.
Sidmouth had been under serious pressure in the scrums throughout and the referee finally lost patience and yellow carded one of the props. Exmouth profited with a try deep into injury time after a long period of pressure near the line to give them a halftime lead at 17-12.
In the first minute after the restart Exmouth had a player yellow carded for a high tackle. Phil Dollman reduced the arrears with a penalty. This was followed by an excellent handling move down the right from their own 22 which was only halted 10 metres from the Exmouth line. However, from the position gained the Chiefs regained the lead from another lineout maul but Exmouth hit back almost immediately with a try from a fine handling move which was converted.
The Chiefs replied with a good handling move of their own to take play into the opposing 22 where they stole an Exmouth lineout and after a series of rucks on the line Dan Armstrong forced his way over for the bonus point try. Phil Dollman's conversion opened up a three point lead.
As the Chiefs tired, Exmouth regained the lead thanks to a charged down kick which rebounded kindly for them. Then, in the closing minutes, a poor clearance kick gave the Exmouth full back space to run in from 30 metres for a final converted try. This denied the Chiefs an extra bonus point, which would have moved them up to fifth place in the final league table.
On Saturday the Over 35s entertain Okehampton Over 35s kicking off at 1pm.
The Colts travel to Barnstaple for the semi final of the Devon Colts Cup.
