Crediton Colts 31 v Sidmouth Colts 36

THE quarter final stage of the Colts Cup was reached after something of a stop/start block of games in which not all the sides fulfilled their fixtures.

Sidmouth were unable to fulfil the earlier game at Crediton due to lack of numbers. Fortunately, they managed to find sufficient players to honour the fixture.

With the slope in our favour for the first half, we dominated territory but could not break down the strong Sidmouth defence.

It was the visitors who had the advantage of the wind and through their fly half were able to clear their lines including a couple of enormous 50/22 kicks which put them in a good position.

Both teams were creating opportunities and indeed were quite ruthless in converting those chances into points and we reached the interval with the visitors comfortably ahead 10-22.

Whilst the Crediton lads had not produced their best rugby, there was plenty of energy about the team.

Unfortunately, an early lapse in concentration from the restart gifted the visitors a soft score and suddenly at 10-29 it looked like game over.

However, the response was superb and we battled our way back into the game, upping the tempo and physicality and forcing Sidmouth to slow the game down at every opportunity and we felt that, come the end it was only the clock that prevented what could have been a memorable win.

Three second-half tries against two from Sidmouth brought us back into the game but it was not quite enough against the current Devon Colts Cup holders.

The game was a wonderful advert for Colts rugby in Devon played in the right spirit and the players from both sides were a credit to their respective clubs.

George Baxter led the scoring with two tries and three conversions and there was a try apiece for Solomon Plowman, Sam Cliff and Archie Bridgeman.

Paul Harris