Sat 15 Oct 2022
With fortunes waxing and waning throughout, the outcome of this highly entertaining game between two evenly matched teams was eventually decided by two touchline conversions, one from each side of the pitch, by Cole Monaghan.
In the opening 12 minutes, the Chiefs must have been wondering what had hit them as Wellington raced into a ten-point lead.
In the first scrum of the game, the visitors demolished the Sidmouth eight to win the ball against the head. With the home defence on the back foot, they worked the ball to an overlap for the right winger to score in the corner.
Wellington were soon back on the attack and, when they won a penalty in another dominant scrum, they kicked for a lineout just inside the Sidmouth 22. They set up a driving maul and the hooker peeled off to set up a try for the left winger.
The Chiefs regained possession from the restart kick to enjoy their first spell in attack. Good handling set up Sam Heathcote on a run into the 22 and, when the ball was switched to the right, Phil Dollman made the break to send James Powell sprinting over in the corner. Cole Monaghan kicked the conversion.
The Chiefs enjoyed territorial advantage for much of the rest of the half, as they shored up their scrummaging, but were too often guilty of kicking possession away. The score remained 7-10 at halftime.
From the restart kick, the Chiefs launched a fine handling move to take play deep into the Wellington 22. When a clearance kick failed to find touch, James Powell threw a long pass to Sam Heathcote. The left winger wrong footed the one defender in front of him and outpaced the cover to score a fine individual try.
The third Sidmouth try was started by one second row and finished by the other. Rob Griffin dispossessed an opponent in a tackle on his own 22 to start a handling move finished off by Dan Armstrong touching down near the post to give a straightforward conversion.
Wellington hit back midway through the half when their number eight burst through the middle of a ruck to run over unopposed.
The Chiefs extended their lead again when Dan Retter ran back another missed touch kick and linked up with James Powell. The wingman was tackled just short of the line, but Haydon Down was on hand to finish the move off. Cole Monaghan converted.
With ten minutes to play, Wellington closed the gap to four points with a converted try when a forward powered over from a ruck near the line. However, the Chiefs played out the remaining time for a bonus point win, which keeps them hot on the heels of Crediton at the top of the league.
On Saturday the Chiefs travel to Truro.
At the Blackmore Field, the Quins entertain OPM 2nds from Plymouth kicking off at 3.00pm.
On Sunday the Valkyries are at home to Paignton Ladies kicking off at 3.00pm.
In the opening 12 minutes, the Chiefs must have been wondering what had hit them as Wellington raced into a ten-point lead.
In the first scrum of the game, the visitors demolished the Sidmouth eight to win the ball against the head. With the home defence on the back foot, they worked the ball to an overlap for the right winger to score in the corner.
Wellington were soon back on the attack and, when they won a penalty in another dominant scrum, they kicked for a lineout just inside the Sidmouth 22. They set up a driving maul and the hooker peeled off to set up a try for the left winger.
The Chiefs regained possession from the restart kick to enjoy their first spell in attack. Good handling set up Sam Heathcote on a run into the 22 and, when the ball was switched to the right, Phil Dollman made the break to send James Powell sprinting over in the corner. Cole Monaghan kicked the conversion.
The Chiefs enjoyed territorial advantage for much of the rest of the half, as they shored up their scrummaging, but were too often guilty of kicking possession away. The score remained 7-10 at halftime.
From the restart kick, the Chiefs launched a fine handling move to take play deep into the Wellington 22. When a clearance kick failed to find touch, James Powell threw a long pass to Sam Heathcote. The left winger wrong footed the one defender in front of him and outpaced the cover to score a fine individual try.
The third Sidmouth try was started by one second row and finished by the other. Rob Griffin dispossessed an opponent in a tackle on his own 22 to start a handling move finished off by Dan Armstrong touching down near the post to give a straightforward conversion.
Wellington hit back midway through the half when their number eight burst through the middle of a ruck to run over unopposed.
The Chiefs extended their lead again when Dan Retter ran back another missed touch kick and linked up with James Powell. The wingman was tackled just short of the line, but Haydon Down was on hand to finish the move off. Cole Monaghan converted.
With ten minutes to play, Wellington closed the gap to four points with a converted try when a forward powered over from a ruck near the line. However, the Chiefs played out the remaining time for a bonus point win, which keeps them hot on the heels of Crediton at the top of the league.
On Saturday the Chiefs travel to Truro.
At the Blackmore Field, the Quins entertain OPM 2nds from Plymouth kicking off at 3.00pm.
On Sunday the Valkyries are at home to Paignton Ladies kicking off at 3.00pm.
