Sat 1 Oct 2022
Sidmouth moved into second place following this victory over league leaders St Austell, but it was a desperately close-run thing following a spirited second half comeback which had the Cornishmen laying siege to the Sidmouth line in injury time.
A large crowd saw the Chiefs kick off in good conditions and the visitors lose a player to the sin bin at the first ruck of the game. Dan Retter kicked his side into the lead from the resulting penalty.
After a long kick had put them in an attacking position, St Austell took the lead with a try from a lineout catch-and-drive play. The try was unconverted.
Midway through the half, Sidmouth regained the lead with a well-constructed move from a scrum on halfway. Phil Dollman looped around one of his centres and broke through into the opposing 22 where he sent James Powell on a clear run to the right corner for an unconverted try.
St Austell levelled the score with a penalty, but two minutes later Dan Retter regained the lead with a similar effort after a Tom Hodge break had created the position.
Hodge was in action again in first half injury time when broke the gain line and offloaded for George Locke to sprint over near the posts. Dan Retter converted to give his side an 18-8 halftime lead.
Two Dan Retter penalties in the third quarter extended the lead against the run of play thanks to some excellent defensive work by the Sidmouth team.
St Austell became increasingly dominant as the final quarter progressed and, with six minutes of normal time remaining eventually breached the Sidmouth defence when a forward burst through on a 50-metre run into the home 22. When he was eventually stopped, the ball was quickly recycled and moved to a three man overlap for the outside centre to run in unopposed. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
With Tom Hodge seeing a yellow card, the Chiefs were hanging on desperately. With the game in injury time, St Austell scored again through their right winger on the end of a good handling move.
St Austell were soon back pressing on the Sidmouth line with the home supporters praying for the final whistle. Relief came when the Chiefs turned over possession at a ruck on their line and kicked the ball dead to end the game.
On Saturday the Chiefs entertain Exmouth in a local derby in the Devon Senior Cup. The kick-off is at 3.00pm.
On Sunday the Colts host Dorchester in a National Cup match at the Blackmore, kick off at 3pm.
Also on Sunday, the Valkyries travel to Okehampton.
A large crowd saw the Chiefs kick off in good conditions and the visitors lose a player to the sin bin at the first ruck of the game. Dan Retter kicked his side into the lead from the resulting penalty.
After a long kick had put them in an attacking position, St Austell took the lead with a try from a lineout catch-and-drive play. The try was unconverted.
Midway through the half, Sidmouth regained the lead with a well-constructed move from a scrum on halfway. Phil Dollman looped around one of his centres and broke through into the opposing 22 where he sent James Powell on a clear run to the right corner for an unconverted try.
St Austell levelled the score with a penalty, but two minutes later Dan Retter regained the lead with a similar effort after a Tom Hodge break had created the position.
Hodge was in action again in first half injury time when broke the gain line and offloaded for George Locke to sprint over near the posts. Dan Retter converted to give his side an 18-8 halftime lead.
Two Dan Retter penalties in the third quarter extended the lead against the run of play thanks to some excellent defensive work by the Sidmouth team.
St Austell became increasingly dominant as the final quarter progressed and, with six minutes of normal time remaining eventually breached the Sidmouth defence when a forward burst through on a 50-metre run into the home 22. When he was eventually stopped, the ball was quickly recycled and moved to a three man overlap for the outside centre to run in unopposed. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
With Tom Hodge seeing a yellow card, the Chiefs were hanging on desperately. With the game in injury time, St Austell scored again through their right winger on the end of a good handling move.
St Austell were soon back pressing on the Sidmouth line with the home supporters praying for the final whistle. Relief came when the Chiefs turned over possession at a ruck on their line and kicked the ball dead to end the game.
On Saturday the Chiefs entertain Exmouth in a local derby in the Devon Senior Cup. The kick-off is at 3.00pm.
On Sunday the Colts host Dorchester in a National Cup match at the Blackmore, kick off at 3pm.
Also on Sunday, the Valkyries travel to Okehampton.
