Sidmouth Chiefs just failed to cap off an excellent season with a second trophy, writes Terry O’Brien.

They were beaten 33-23 in the final of the Devon Intermediate Cup in front of a large crowd on the Blackmore Field by neighbours Topsham in a match which was not decided until the closing minutes.

The Chiefs made a perfect start with a try in the third minute when Phil Dollman exploited an unmarked blindside after the forwards had driven a lineout maul close to the line.

Ten minutes later Jake Allen increased the lead with a penalty.

Topsham opened their account midway through the half when the scrum half launched a box kick inside the Sidmouth 22 and the right winger leapt above the Sidmouth defenders to claim the ball and run in near the post to give his scrum half a straightforward conversion.

Topsham were soon back on the attack and took the lead when the inside centre took a flat pass close to the line to crash through the defence. The scrum half added the conversion.

When a promising Sidmouth move broke down on the Topsham 22, the visitors started up a counterattack. A move which included accurate handling and support play was finished off by the number 5.

Sidmouth regained possession straight from the restart kick and the ball was moved swiftly to the open where Phil Dollman made a fine break to send Sam Heathcote sprinting over in the corner.

In the final minute of the half Archie Cruze went over in the same corner from a move around the front of a lineout five metres out.

Neither try was converted leaving the Chiefs with a one-point deficit at half time.

Five minutes after the restart Cian Warren seemed to have finished off a fine handling move to give his side the lead, but he was recalled for a forward pass.

When Topsham laid siege to the Sidmouth line with a series of rucks causing the Sidmouth defensive line to narrow, good handling found the outside centre on the overlap to score a converted try.

Three minutes later, the Chiefs set up a similar situation from a lineout catch-and-drive play to send Sam Heathcote in for his second try.

In the final quarter, the Chiefs had a couple of opportunities with lineouts close to the line but were unable to set up a controlled maul.

With four minutes to go, Topsham broke out and into the Sidmouth 22. The fly half beat three players from 15 metres out to score near the posts. The conversion gave them a ten-point lead which would not be threatened in the time remaining.

And so ends an otherwise very successful season in which the Chiefs won the South West Regional League and the Colts won the Devon Colts Cup outright for the first time.

SIDMOUTH 43 v NORTH PETHERTON 14

Sidmouth Chiefs finished their successful league season in fine style with a comfortable victory against North Petherton.

The visitors had the best of the opening exchanges before the Chiefs opened the scoring on their first visit into the opposing half. A very slick handling move gave Cian Warren a run on the left wing. Somehow, he forced his way through three defenders to touch down in the corner. Jake Allen converted from wide out.

Cian Warren was on the scoresheet again a few minutes later following a five-metre scrum. A long pass from Phil Dolman found him in space and he carried two defenders over the line for the touchdown. The try was unconverted.

North Petherton crossed the Sidmouth line midway through the half but were unable to ground the ball.

From a lineout catch-and-drive play Jed Reid got the touchdown for try number three.

Following a turnover on halfway, more good handling sent Cian Warren in for his hattrick despite the attention of three defenders. Jake Allen’s conversion made the halftime score 24-0.

Four minutes into the second half Harry Emmett went over from close range after good handling through three phases inside the 22.

When the Chiefs drove a lineout maul 20 metres into the North Petherton 22 before it was stopped, Josh Bess drove over from the back of the resulting ruck. Jake Allen converted.

The visitors had a purple patch in the middle of the half to score two fine tries. The first came from a slick move on the blindside of a scrum inside the Sidmouth 22 to create an overlap for the right winger. The second was scored by a centre as he picked a good line through the Sidmouth midfield. Both were converted by the fly half.

The final score came after a series of rucks inside the North Petherton 22 had stretched the defence for Jake Smith to find a gap in the centre. Jake Allens conversion completed the scoring.

The win took the Chiefs league points to 101 out of a possible 110 for a convincing league championship.