Exmouth Colts 22 Sidmouth Colts 8

Exmouth played hosts to near neighbours Sidmouth,on a hot Saturday afternoon at the Imperial ground.Exmouth were expecting a hard game with Sidmouth, as both sets of players knew each others games, from previous club and School matches. Exmouth started of the game well,moving the ball from one side of the pitch to the other. After 5 minutes the forwards won quick ball,scrum half Lloyd Watkins got the ball out quickly to the backs and when the ball got to Paul Bright he made a telling outside break and passed the ball to left wing Brad Neilson, who out stripped the covering defence to score under the posts. James England converted. The next score came after Sidmouth were caught offside, Danny Sampson kicked for the corner. From the resulting lineout Exmouth had some luck because Sidmouth had won the lineout, but their scrum half was not happy with the ball he got and fly hacked the ball straight onto one of Exmouths players head. The ball ricocheted into the try area were Simon Hartley dived on it,to score out wide. From the kick off Sidmouth won a penalty on the 10 metre line and decided to kick for goal in front of the post,which was successful. The next score for the young cockles came just before half time. The forwards again won quick ball for the backs, Sampson chipped the ball over the rushing Sidmouth defence, James England regained the ball and scored under the posts. Half time score 17-3.Exmouth made 3 changes at half time to give all their players some game time. This disrupted the side slightly and Sidmouth had the better of the second half. Their forwards won some good ball and there backs started to make some inroads into Exmouths Half.Exmouths backrow of Opie, Siddle and Elliot had another good game in defence and attack. Exmouth did not score again until 2 minutes from time when good handling from backs and forwards gave Neilson space to score out wide. Sidmouth though had the last word in this game, as they scored a converted try under the posts in the last minute. Final score 22-10. Man of the match went to Brad Neilson for his brace of tries. This week the colts travel away to a strong Topsham side.