With both sides employing bulldozer tactics to force openings and both defences well enough organised to counter this limited approach, there was little in the way of spectacle to entertain a large crowd present for the opening of the league season. 

On the balance of play, a draw was a fair result, but one Sidmouth could have avoided had they not spurned the opportunity to kick a penalty in front of the posts midway through the second half when seven points to the good.

Newton Abbot kicked off and kept play mainly inside the Sidmouth half. They deservedly took the lead with a penalty after ten minutes.

The Chiefs responded well and took the lead with a try scored by George Locke. The outside centre ran a good line to cut through the defence, which had been stretched by a series of rucks near the line. Cole Monaghan added the conversion.

Sidmouth, with the breeze in their favour, continued to dominate proceedings and extended the lead when the forwards set up a driving maul from a lineout inside the opposing 22 and Ollie Derryman peeled off to force his way over the line. Cole Monaghan converted.

Either side of the 30-minute mark, both sides produced their most creative moments of the game. The Chiefs produced a handling move involving backs and forwards taking play from their own 22 into the opposing 22 but a knock on brought the promising situation to an end.

A well-judged diagonal kick by the Newton Abbot fly half found his left winger in space. He went on a 60-metre run into the Sidmouth 22, but his pass failed to find a teammate.

The visitors finished the half on the attack but could not find a way through the determined defence.

Phil Dollman did not return after the halftime break and Jed Reid would later join him on the injured list. 

When Sidmouth dropped the ball on halfway five minutes into the second half, an opponent hacked it deep into the Sidmouth 22. The initial danger was covered but, when possession was turned over at a ruck, Newton Abbot had a big overlap on the left and the number 8 strolled over for a try converted by the fly half.

Sidmouth increased their lead to seven points with a Cole Monaghan penalty after a strong break by Tom Hodge had created the attacking position.

The Chiefs were soon back on the attack and a long period of pressure was rewarded with a penalty award near the posts and a yellow card for a Newton Abbot player. The three points on offer was turned down in favour of a tap penalty move, which failed to produce the desired outcome.

As the game progressed through the final quarter, Newton Abbot were gaining the ascendancy but Sidmouth defended well. As the game moved into injury time, a kick found touch deep inside the Sidmouth 22. Newton Abbot won the ball and set siege to the Sidmouth line. From a five-metre scrum, they set up a ruck near the line and a forward drove over the line. The conversion levelled the scores and was followed by the final whistle. 

On Saturday the Chiefs travel to North Petherton.

At Blackmore the Quins play their first ever league game against Cullompton 2nds kicking off at 3.00pm.

On Sunday the women’s Valkyries team entertain Exeter Saracens in a friendly kicking off at 3.00pm.