On a rare dry and sunny Saturday afternoon this January. Sidmouth 1st XV hosted the Gloucester based side Matson.

Special thanks must go the the team of volunteers that made the game possible to go ahead after the torrential rain earlier in the week.

The match kicked off after a very successful the annual sponsors lunch, with the sponsors treated to a very competitively played match against the Gloucester based side.

Sidmouth opened up the scoring after 4 mins played after Matson knocked on in Sidmouth's 22. Shaun Malton recognised the space with a beautiful twenty metre pass to find Fin Lashbrook on the right wing. Fin beat the covering Matson defenders with ease to finish off the try from 70 metres out under the posts. CONVERTED by Lewis Tose. 7-0.

With 14 mins played Sidmouth's fly half Lewis Tose found a gap in Matson's defence, Lewis was brought down with a high tackle from Matson's #10. The Matson player was show a yellow card for the offence. Lewis Tose kicked the resulting penalty. 10-0.

Matson found a foot hold into the game in the second twenty in the half, but with important penalties won by Prop Charlie Brook and Lewis Tose, Sidmouth successfully cleared the Matson try scoring threat. Sidmouth saw out the half with another successful penalty from Lewis Tose after Matson conceded a breakdown penalty in their 22. (13-0 Ht).

Shortly after the half time break, Sidmouth ran a set play from a lineout on the far side. Inside centre broke through Matson's defence with support from player of the Match Rabbie Hansford unfortunately a try wasn't finished after dogged cover defence from Matson.

After the next 10 mins of Matson ball and territory. Sidmouth scored they second try of the match. Sidmouth broke free after a very similar set play from a lineout on the hospital side of the ground. The inside centre Jake Smith found Rabbie Hansford. The #8 produced a very powerful yet mazey run from 22 to 22. Rabbie was tackled and outside centre George Locke kicked through the loose ball and dotted the ball down just by the posts. Lewis kicked the conversion. (20-0).

Matson showed a lot of spirit in the last quarter of the match with two tries of the their own.

Matson scored their first try in the left hand top corner. After a neat passing move from a Matson scrum in Sidmouth's 22. The left wing finished off the move. (20-5). Conversion missed.

Matson finished the scoring 10 mins later after a series of penalties conceded by Sidmouth. Matson found themselves in Sidmouth's 22 and a try was scored by Matson's inside centre from a quick tap penalty and Sidmouth ran out of defenders. Successful converted (20-12).

Sidmouth closed out the match mostly in Matson's half but couldn't find a scoring chance.

Congratulations to a top performance from all of Sidmouth's front row. Charlie Brook, Nathan Tomkins, captain Haydon Down and Harvey Hannay who scrummaged against Matson's former premiership players. Final score 20-12.

With 3 league wins on the bounce, Sidmouth are 8th in the latest Region 1 SW league standings.

Sidmouth host Lydney next week at the Blackmore. Kick off 14.30.