Action from the Cockles defeat at Chinnor

Exmouth 19:25 Sidmouth

Exmouth Under-14s were narrowly edged out of a compelling Devon Plate cup tie.

The game sprang to life as early as the fourth minute when Connor MacDonald skipped over from just outside the Sidmouth 22-metre line, George Mears slotted the conversion and the Cockles held a 7-0 lead.

Back came Sidmouth to match the score and level things up at 7-7. There followed a passage of play that was end-to-end with both defences in no mood to concede ground. The Cockles regained the lead when Joe Harris scored and Mears again tucked away the extras. However, just as had happened with the opening Cockles try, Sidmouth again found an immediate response scoring an unconverted try which left Exmouth 14-12 ahead at the break.

Sidmouth began the second half strongly and ran in two quick tries to lead 22-14 Once again both defences shut up shop to deny tries at either end. It was Exmouth who eventually broke over, Harris running in his second try form a penalty 15-metres out to move the Cockles to within three points of Sidmouth.

There was to be no glory at the end though as Sidmouth landed a late penalty to secure a 25-19 victory. The Cockles can take many positives from their performance which was a big improvement on many others this term.

Exmouth squad - Bills, Garratt, Davies, James-Graham, Hilliar, Hooper, Jobson, Kilvington, Liddell, Patten, Paver, Sampson, Sharp, Smith, Wickes, Williamson .