Sidmouth U16s 21

Okehampton U16s 19

IN this the league semi-final both teams came out fired up with Sidmouth slightly the stronger in the scrum.

Sidmouth opened the scoring through a strong run against the few weak tackles in the whole of the game. Okehampton came straight back with a penalty awarded in the centre where Searle tapped and ran to offload for Pillivant to score and Searle to convert.

From then on the game was end to end. Sidmouth came back with a penalty then from the back of a scrum Liversidge for Oke popped the ball up to Bickley who went off on an unstoppable runs evading tackles to score and Simmons to convert.

Just before half-time Oke should have extended the lead by feeding off the back of the ruck inside the 22 to Nasher on a crash ball who crossed the line only for the referee to spot a knock on! So Okehampton went at half-time leading 8-14.

The game continued in the second half at a ferocious pace with the Oke forwards Pillivant, G Baker, Williams, Sampson and Middleton having great success in turning over opposition ball and clearing out the rucks.

Sidmouth clawed back with a penalty and then took the lead with their second try.

Oke then dominated with the team working well together and at one stage their rolling maul drove Sidmouth back 30 metres for the ball to be fed out to K Lee to dive over the line.

Oke kept the pressure up but after last play was called Sidmouth kept the ball alive long enough to pinch a score deep into stoppage time — putting them into the next round leaving Oke lads and coaches completely deflated on the final whistle after a great all round performance by both teams.