Sidmouth Colts v Barnstaple Colts Home
Colts go down by a single point against feisty Barum
Sidmouth RFC Colts 7
Barnstaple RFC Colts 8
Sidmouth Colts went down by an agonising point against Barnstaple in a bad-tempered match at the Blackmore.
Barnstaple definitely started on the front as their more physical forward pack won plenty of turnover and their strong backs caused a makeshift Sidmouth backline problems. However, reliable defensive work from Gavin Pearson in particular (playing at outside centre instead of number 8) kept them at bay for much of the half. However, from a long cross-field kick, the Barnstaple winger got a favourable bounce to go over out wide and draw first blood on the scoreboard. Thereafter, Sidmouth began to work their way back into the game and held the score at 5-0 until half-time.
As the second half began, it was clear that Sidmouth had stepped up a gear, winning much more ball at the breakdown and starting to create opportunities. However, a brief Barum revival led to a converted penalty and an 8-point lead. Sidmouth applied heavy pressure to the Barnstaple line thereafter, with Jack Sowden winning good ball at the lineout, and Thomas Irish carrying well in the loose, and they got it when Kieran Davies barrelled his way over. Sidmouth had a man yellow carded late on for a late tackle, and Barum were denied a possible try in the final minute, but it mattered not as they held on to win.
All things considered, Sidmouth can come away from the game against the side that are third in Devon league-wise with their heads held high. It was a courageous performance that ultimately fell slightly short. The rub of the green didn’t go their way on the day, but the performance will inspire confidence.
Sidmouth Colts v Okehampton Colts
Courageous Colts go down fighting against top-of-the-league Oke
Sidmouth RFC Colts 9
Okehampton RFC Colts 18
The Sidmouth Colts put in a fighting performance well worthy of praise as they went down to a strong Okehampton.
Sid made a nightmare start as Okehampton’s size and strength took them by surprise, giving up two early unconverted tries. After this, Sidmouth got themselves back into the game, the forwards starting to stand up to the larger Oke pack, particularly Mike Bond, and the backs starting to put some moves together, with Charlie Cotton and Jeremy Massy-Birch making inroads, Cotton slotting over a penalty to put Sidmouth on the board late in the half. However, Sidmouth’s defence was their dominant feature in the first half, which looked nigh impenetrable from then until half-time.
Sidmouth began the second half on the back foot as Okehampton applied early pressure, but the Sid defence held and were rewarded when Jevon Astley-Jones nailed a penalty to close the gap to four points. Sam Loader and Hayden Down impressed in the forwards when he came on, carrying the ball well as part of a pack in the ascendancy in the game. However, Okehampton scored a third try on the break to ultimately settle the game. The sides traded penalties in the latter minutes to give a final score of 18-9.
Against a side top of their league and made up entirely of senior Colts, Sidmouth can be very proud of a plucky performance, and can even be disappointed at not getting something from the game. The performances of the U16 players show great potential and Sidmouth can now look ahead with confidence to their remaining games.
Sidmouth Colts v Topsham Colts
Colts secure excellent win over local rivals
In any sport, local derby games are never predictable or easy. Thus, Sid Colts can be very proud of a great win over bitter rivals Topsham.
The game started evenly, with the sides trading penalties in the opening minutes. Sid got the crucial breakthrough when Jevon Astley-Jones hit a beautiful line to slice through and score, converting the try himself. A second try soon followed as Jeremy Massy-Birch went over out wide, and Sidmouth were on a roll. Jack Hodge was leading by example in the forwards along with Mike Bond, with Olly Blyth impressing in the backs. However, Topsham came back into the game with two penalties to go with a try out wide to edge into the lead, 16-15, at half-time.
When the second half restarted, Topsham were out of the blocks quicker and scored a second try out wide. This was as good as it got for them, as Sidmouth came roaring back with tries from Massy-Birch, Astley-Jones and the impressive Luke Wells-Burr, with Astley-Jones adding a conversion and two penalties to put some gloss on an impressive result for the side. Credit should go to Dan Rugg in the forwards, who was again very impressive in the tight and loose.
Sidmouth Colts can look with optimism towards the remaining games of the league, knowing a top-half finish is well within their grasp. On the day, they did well to win well on what was, as someone pointed out after the game, a great day for players with double-barrelled surnames! But, in all seriousness, this result was well-earned and gives Sidmouth cause for hope for the rest of the season.
Sidmouth Colts 38 Topsham Colts 23
Sidmouth Colts v Devonport Services
Devonport Services 12 Sidmouth 17
Sidmouth travelled to Devonport with a makeshift side due to injuries and unavailability’s, but thanks to three under 16s were able to take 17 players, the under 16s proved to be the stars of the day.
It was a strange start to the match with the referee putting his back out whilst picking up his kit bag on arrival to the ground, both teams were warmed up and ready so it was decided that our coach Bo Vanstone would officiate the game.
Sidmouth started strongly and were putting pressure on the larger pack, playing most of the first 20 minutes in the Devonport half, the break through came with a fine bit of skill from under 16 Luke Wells-Burr cutting through the Devonport defence to score just right of the posts, Astley-Jones converted.
Just after Sidmouth took the lead James Massey-Birch had to leave the field with a suspected broken wrist. He was replaced by Charlie Cotton who was having only his 2nd run out for the colts, Sidmouth stayed on the front foot and Wells-Burr ran in a second unconverted try before half time.
From the start of the second half Sidmouth tried to take on the bigger Devonport pack up front but were not succeeding and kept getting turned over ,this allowed Devonport to get on the front foot and they ran in a try of their own. Followed closely by a penalty which they dually converted.
Sidmouths hard work finally got rewarded when Wells-Burr got his hat trick and sealed of a fine performance with another try. The boys should be proud of their performance , to travel away to Devonport and pick up a win is always a tough achievement. Rob Jones who has not played at scrum half before had a solid game and Haydon Down the other under 16 player held the scrum rock solid.
They want to continue their improved run of form when they take on Oakhampton at The Blackmore on Saturday Kick off 3pm.
Sidmouth Colts v Barnstaple Colts
Sidmouth Colts can certainly take pride and optimism away from a narrow defeat at Barnstaple, in which they can consider themselves unlucky not to have come away with more, writes Jack Colwill.
Sidmouth quickly settled into this game despite freezing gale force winds and poor handling conditions, matching Barum’s considerably larger pack all over the pitch.
Sid drew first blood through a penalty from Jevon Astley-Jones, who had a good game in an unfamiliar wing position, after Barum had missed one of their own. Paddy Lee and Tom Irish were carrying the ball well in the forwards, making hard yards consistently.
However, as the game went on, Sidmouth began to make mistakes, which allowed Barnstaple some space out wide. Sidmouth managed to defend these well, but eventually they gave up a try. Another followed soon after, but Sid responded by tightening up their defence and working their way back into the game. The half-time score was 12-3.
The second half was evenly contested, with neither side being able to fashion any gilt-edged opportunities. As Sidmouth tired, handling errors as a result of poor conditions started to disrupt their rhythm.
Despite defeat, there are many positives the Colts can take from this game, notably some fluent passages of play in the backs and a good performance from a smaller pack than the opposition’s. Thanks must be extended to Hayden Down and Christian Goddard, from the U16s, who put in good shifts.
Barnstaple RFC Colts 12 Sidmouth RFC Colts 3
