Sidmouth Colts 5
Tavistock Colts 22
TAVISTOCK travelled with only 13 players, but Sidmouth surrendered any advantage by requesting uncontested scrums.
From the kick-off Darren Sutton took a clean catch and immediately set up a drive into the Sidmouth half. The ball was moved out to Mark Ewings, a chip ahead and their full-back was flattened by Duncan Law.
The forwards were in quickly to win the ball which was spun out to Richard Bridle, but with two extra tacklers Sidmouth were able to clear.
Tavistock came storming back. A high kick from Mark Ewings resulted in a scrum for Tavistock in the Sidmouth 22, and David Manning picked up and stormed over in the corner.
Sidmouth then exerted pressure but the Tavistock tackling was outstanding. At one point Sidmouth had a two-man overlap but Richard Lloyd covering across took them both out.
The second half belonged to Tavistock, the forwards setting up rampaging drives, and the ball moved out wide with Simon Beard joining the line at pace. Michael Knapman took the ball on and linked with Joe Lane who crashed through the remaining defenders to score in the corner.
From the restart, Hamish Pearse-Danker set up the maul and somehow managed to spin off and drive down the wing. The ball was then popped up in copybook fashion to Joe Lane, David Manning then Adam James and back to Lane to score in the corner.
Sidmouth came back but a tackle from Bryn John halted any notion of them running the ball and they resorted to trying to chip over the top.
But Simon Beard cleaned up and set up counter-attacks, getting in front of his forwards who then drove on. A switch inside by Bryn John released John Pain who created a great position and Manning was on hand to dive over. Law converted.
Sidmouth managed one last attack and, when Tavistock were penalised, took a quick tap and scored in the corner.
Man of the match: Richard Lloyd.