Sidmouth were never behind in this top-of-the table clash, but Topsham kept closing the gap creating a nail-biting finish as the Chiefs were desperately hanging on to their lead until the 31-27 victory at the final whistle, writes Terry O’Brien.

The Chiefs made a promising start as they kept play mainly in the Topsham half in the early stages. They took a deserved lead in the middle of the first half when Thomas Mead ran a good angle to cut through the centre from a ruck near the line. Jake Smith added the conversion.

Topsham soon replied with a try of their own on their first serious incursion into the Sidmouth 22, when they created an overlap for the right winger to cross for an unconverted try in the corner.

Jake Smith increased the lead with a penalty before Harry Emmett made life more comfortable when he touched down at the back of a lineout catch-and-drive play. Jake Smith’s conversion opened up a 12-point lead.

In injury time, Topsham closed the gap to five points when the number eight drove over from close range. The try was converted by the scrum half. Four minutes into the second half, the lead was reduced to two points when the scrum half kicked a penalty.

The Chiefs responded with two tries to open up a 16-point lead. Jake Smith exploited a gap after Harry Emmett peeled off a lineout maul to create the chance. Ten minutes later, a multi-phase move was finished off when Phil Dollman made a half break to send Cian Warren over. Both tries were converted.

With 15 minutes to play, fortunes changed dramatically when Shaun Malton was yellow carded. From a five-metre scrum Topsham were awarded a penalty try. And five minutes later, they won a scrum against the head and their left winger crossed in the corner on the end of a fine handling move.

With five minutes to play, Topsham’s fly half intercepted a pass in his own half with an open field ahead, but the referee had been playing advantage to Sidmouth and recalled him. With Malton returning to the game, the Chiefs managed to play out the closing minutes safely.

On Saturday, the Chiefs travel to play fast-improving Truro. The Quins are away to Tiverton 2nds.