With two good wins followed by a disappointing loss at Torquay, the Saints were determined to take control of this match from the start. Sidmouth received the kick off and found themselves under immediate pressure with the Saints tackling well and both backs and forwards carrying with great intensity, Sidmouth found it difficult to clear their lines.

The Saints pack quickly established superiority in the scrum and with all eight playing their roles to perfection the visitors were being marched back at a rate of knots. In an effort to gain some set piece parity the visitors made their first front row replacement after 10 minutes but it could not stem the red and white tide. In a classic scrum blind side move from 15 metres, number 8 George Knowles fed scrum half Andy Ashwin who straightened up the opposing winger before sending Cavan Boyer in for his first try of the afternoon. Try was unconverted – Saints 5 Sidmouth 0

The Saints came storming back from the kick off with Hugh Noott and Charlie Nicholson prominent in some strong forward drives, while James Martin rampaged around Tregorrick from his fullback position. Wave after wave of Saints attacks were met by doughty Sidmouth defence but the intensity of the home side was beginning to have an impact on the opposition and the Sidmouth hooker had to leave the field after 15 minutes, followed 5 minutes later by their open side flanker.

Saints had really hit their stride and with forwards Nelson and Bright generating quick ball from the contact area Chris Ashwin and Shane Johns made ground before veteran winger Ben Chenoweth crossed for the second try of the game after 25 minutes with Liam Freeman converting to make the score Saints 12 Sidmouth 0.

Sidmouth, however, were coming off the back of three straight wins and are not a side to be underestimated. They slowly began to work their way back into the game and kicked two penalties in quick succession through Whelan and Retter to claw their way back to Saints 12 Sidmouth 6.

Stung into action, Andy Ashwin found a wonderful touch from a Sidmouth infringement and from the resultant lineout and a soaring catch from Anthony Knight, it was number 8 George Knowles who emerged from the bottom of a well-constructed catch and drive to claim the try, converted by Freeman to give a half time score of Saints 19 Sidmouth 6.

With the Saints dominant, needing just one more try for a bonus point and Sidmouth rocking from having been forced into a succession of injury induced replacements Tregorrick anticipated a second half try-fest. The second half was, however, a reminder of what makes sport such a compelling spectacle to so many people. Sidmouth, despite being under enormous pressure defended with a fantastic spirit repelling everything the Saints threw at them. The first 20 minutes of the second half were scoreless until Sidmouth pounced on a stray pass in their own 22 and after a series of phases, Chris Higgs dived over for the visitors, a well-deserved try, Saints 19 Sidmouth 11.

Saints forced themselves back into Sidmouth’s twenty-two where an offside infringement by the Sidmouth backs gave Liam Freeman the chance to extend the lead again with a penalty Saints 22 Sidmouth 11.

Once again Sidmouth found the character to mount a series of sustained attacks as they searched for the score that would give them a losing bonus point but with time running out skipper Miles Davey intercepted on half way and set off on the long run to the try line. Sensing the opposition gaining, Miles off-loaded perfectly to supporting winger Cavan Boyer who forced his way past three defenders to score under the posts. The extras were added by Liam Freeman to give a final score of Saints 29 – Sidmouth 11.

This was a great advert for rugby with both sides having to dig deep in a hard fought but entertaining spectacle. Saints had good performance spread through the side. They will be pleased that they managed to keep discipline and structure to deliver a winning performance against one of their close rivals and gain the full 5 points while denying Sidmouth anything.

There were many candidates for man of the match but Hugh Noott showed great appetite for the game winning not only his scrum battle but finding the energy and desire to deliver a barn storming performance in the loose.