Sat 24 Sep 2022
Sidmouth Quins made the short trip to Westpoint to take on Exeter Athletic looking for their first win of the season having narrowly been beaten by Cullompton two weeks earlier.
On a beautiful autumn afternoon, on a big wide pitch, the scene was set for a glorious game of open running rugby….. but looks can be deceiving, and the error strewn, yet exciting spectacle that emerged was more bloopers video than extended highlights reel. However, because 1 cliché is never enough – Sidmouth, despite doing their best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, nicked a bonus point win courtesy of a Glenn Channing penalty with 1 minute left on the clock.
From the start Sidmouth seemed to have the upper hand in the scrums, but due to some poor decision making and handling errors, were unable to convert territory and possession into points until 20 minutes into the match, flanker Joe Herbert went over from close range after a lineout drive. Channing saw his conversion drift just wide. 0-5
This was quickly followed by a try for debutant Number 8 Jack Holloway, who pick up from the based of a ruck near the Athletic line to crash over for his first try for Sidmouth. The conversion was unsuccessful.
With Athletic spoiling around the breakdown, and neither side being able to string passes together, the game was a stop-start affair. Exeter didn’t look like scoring and Sidmouth’s dangerous backline had barely seen the ball, so when a set move by the Sidmouth backs opened a hole in the home defence, it was typical that the final pass went to ground in the home 22 and the Exeter winger gathered the ball and set off for the try line. Despite an admirable chase back and tap tackle from wing Ollie Hansford-Harvey, the ball was recycled and the try was scored, the conversion was missed. 5-10
Sidmouth scored a third try when following another period of sustained pressure in the Athletic 22, scrum-half Aidan Summerfield was able to dart over from the base of a ruck, Channing converted. 5-17.
Exeter hit back shortly afterwards, when a kick deep into the Sidmouth 22 was not dealt with, and from the ensuing ruck Summerfield’s sliced clearance kick, despite the best efforts of centre James Powell, sat up nicely for the Exeter full-back to find himself in acres of space to run in unopposed for an unconverted try. 10-17
Sidmouth extended their lead just before half-time when they finally played something like the rugby they are capable of, with two powerful carries by Richie Hull and James Perchard-Richards, followed by the ball being moved along the backline where Powell ghosted through a gap in the Athletic backline to score the try that gave Sidmouth a bonus point. 10-22
After some strong words at half-time fell on deaf ears, the two sides set about butchering scoring opportunities with reckless abandon. Credit where it’s due, the tackling from both sides was excellent but it was Exeter who had the momentum. They were eventually rewarded with a try when their flanker found himself in the right place at the right time when a clearance kick from a 5-metre scrum was charged down and landed in his hands while he was standing in the in-goal area. Offside anywhere else on the pitch, but not beyond the try line. The conversion was missed. 15-22. 20 minutes to go.
Sidmouth were clearly rattled and Exeter sensed a win was on the cards and it was they who then set up camp in and around the Sidmouth 22. Sidmouth’s scrambling defence repelled several waves of attack, but eventually the pressure told, when Athletic’s second-row powered over from a tap penalty. The full-back added the conversion to make the scores 22-22 with 5 minutes on the clock.
Games like these are where leagues are won and lost, Channing kicked off and the Sidmouth chasers forced a knock-on. From the resulting scrum, the Sidmouth front-row forced a penalty, with advantage being played, Channing broke through the defensive line, offloaded to Billy Collin who was hauled down just short of the try line. Frantic defence from Exeter prevented the try, but the referee pulled the play back for the penalty around 30 metres out, Channing rightly took his time and converted. 22-25 with 1 minute to play.
What happened next will remain a mystery to all involved (and will certainly be recounted at the end of season dinner) but in short, after an unnecessarily dramatic final minute, Summerfield booted the ball into touch, the final whistle blew and Sidmouth breathed a collective sigh of relief.
After feeling that one got away against Cullompton, this was definitely one that Sidmouth ‘won ugly’, but winning games that you should have lost or settled for a draw is a sign of character and certainly something to build on. 6 points from the first two matches leaves Sidmouth 5th in the table, but they will have to improve significantly to be pushing for promotion, starting with the visit of New Cross, who have also won one and lost one, this Saturday at Sidford.
On a beautiful autumn afternoon, on a big wide pitch, the scene was set for a glorious game of open running rugby….. but looks can be deceiving, and the error strewn, yet exciting spectacle that emerged was more bloopers video than extended highlights reel. However, because 1 cliché is never enough – Sidmouth, despite doing their best to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, nicked a bonus point win courtesy of a Glenn Channing penalty with 1 minute left on the clock.
From the start Sidmouth seemed to have the upper hand in the scrums, but due to some poor decision making and handling errors, were unable to convert territory and possession into points until 20 minutes into the match, flanker Joe Herbert went over from close range after a lineout drive. Channing saw his conversion drift just wide. 0-5
This was quickly followed by a try for debutant Number 8 Jack Holloway, who pick up from the based of a ruck near the Athletic line to crash over for his first try for Sidmouth. The conversion was unsuccessful.
With Athletic spoiling around the breakdown, and neither side being able to string passes together, the game was a stop-start affair. Exeter didn’t look like scoring and Sidmouth’s dangerous backline had barely seen the ball, so when a set move by the Sidmouth backs opened a hole in the home defence, it was typical that the final pass went to ground in the home 22 and the Exeter winger gathered the ball and set off for the try line. Despite an admirable chase back and tap tackle from wing Ollie Hansford-Harvey, the ball was recycled and the try was scored, the conversion was missed. 5-10
Sidmouth scored a third try when following another period of sustained pressure in the Athletic 22, scrum-half Aidan Summerfield was able to dart over from the base of a ruck, Channing converted. 5-17.
Exeter hit back shortly afterwards, when a kick deep into the Sidmouth 22 was not dealt with, and from the ensuing ruck Summerfield’s sliced clearance kick, despite the best efforts of centre James Powell, sat up nicely for the Exeter full-back to find himself in acres of space to run in unopposed for an unconverted try. 10-17
Sidmouth extended their lead just before half-time when they finally played something like the rugby they are capable of, with two powerful carries by Richie Hull and James Perchard-Richards, followed by the ball being moved along the backline where Powell ghosted through a gap in the Athletic backline to score the try that gave Sidmouth a bonus point. 10-22
After some strong words at half-time fell on deaf ears, the two sides set about butchering scoring opportunities with reckless abandon. Credit where it’s due, the tackling from both sides was excellent but it was Exeter who had the momentum. They were eventually rewarded with a try when their flanker found himself in the right place at the right time when a clearance kick from a 5-metre scrum was charged down and landed in his hands while he was standing in the in-goal area. Offside anywhere else on the pitch, but not beyond the try line. The conversion was missed. 15-22. 20 minutes to go.
Sidmouth were clearly rattled and Exeter sensed a win was on the cards and it was they who then set up camp in and around the Sidmouth 22. Sidmouth’s scrambling defence repelled several waves of attack, but eventually the pressure told, when Athletic’s second-row powered over from a tap penalty. The full-back added the conversion to make the scores 22-22 with 5 minutes on the clock.
Games like these are where leagues are won and lost, Channing kicked off and the Sidmouth chasers forced a knock-on. From the resulting scrum, the Sidmouth front-row forced a penalty, with advantage being played, Channing broke through the defensive line, offloaded to Billy Collin who was hauled down just short of the try line. Frantic defence from Exeter prevented the try, but the referee pulled the play back for the penalty around 30 metres out, Channing rightly took his time and converted. 22-25 with 1 minute to play.
What happened next will remain a mystery to all involved (and will certainly be recounted at the end of season dinner) but in short, after an unnecessarily dramatic final minute, Summerfield booted the ball into touch, the final whistle blew and Sidmouth breathed a collective sigh of relief.
After feeling that one got away against Cullompton, this was definitely one that Sidmouth ‘won ugly’, but winning games that you should have lost or settled for a draw is a sign of character and certainly something to build on. 6 points from the first two matches leaves Sidmouth 5th in the table, but they will have to improve significantly to be pushing for promotion, starting with the visit of New Cross, who have also won one and lost one, this Saturday at Sidford.
