Colts Results

Colts Lift the Devon Colts Cup 01/05/2010 Exeter 15 Ivybridge 6

Exeter Chiefs Colts played their Colts Cup Final on Saturday 1st May at Sandy Park. The match was given a 5.30pm kick off on the main pitch  after the first teams fine win against Nottingham. A good partisan crowd stayed on to watch the Chiefs Colts play Ivybridge in a repeat of last year’s final which Exeter lost 6-3. With both sides finishing unbeaten in their respective leagues, another close match was expected.

Exeter kicked off from left to right and tried to settle with some early possession but as early as the third minute conceded a penalty 35metres from their line for holding on in the tackle. Ivybridge's outside centre Adam Bradley struck a fine kick at goal to give the visitors a 0-3 lead. Exeter then came back strongly with their larger pack starting to assert their pressure at the breakdown and set piece and after several phases a Chiefs attack down their right Ivybridge were caught offside and Captain Daniel Western backed his forwards with his fly half kicking to touch rather than a kick at goal to try and level the scores. Ivybridge’s defense held firm and the Chiefs had to rebuild their attack again this time down the left. Chiefs fly half Paddy Shaw spotted his second row Robert Langley out wide on the right and sent a fine accurate kick into the in goal for his forward to catch and touch down. Unfortunately he was adjudged to have been in front of the kicker and the referee brought the play back for a penalty against Ivybridge for offside at the ruck. Exeter’s pressure from the penalty saw Chiefs hooker Ben Ager go over in the corner but a forward pass this time denied the home side another try.  From the resulting scrum five metres from Ivy's line Exeter took one against the head and Chiefs No8 Henry Amor picked and crashed over in the corner. Fly Half Paddy Shaw slotted a fine conversion from out wide on the touch line to give the chiefs a 7-3 lead. Both sides exchanged possession as half time approached  but the Chiefs pack were in  a dominant mood and after a couple of driving mauls Exeter’s captain Daniel Western was driven over from a pick and go close to the right hand corner for an unconverted try but a deserved 12-3 lead. Ivybridge were not there to just make up the numbers and forced the Chiefs back onto their five metre line with an excellent kick through their defense. The Chiefs dealt with the lineout but got caught trying to clear their lines as their no8 was penalised for holding on as the Ivybridge forwards arrived in numbers. Adam Bradley brought the score back to 12-6 with another sweetly struck kick.

A spell of pressure now saw Ivybridge have a try disallowed when they had three men over but a forward pass kept Exeter’s lead intact. Exeter now having to defend hard gave away another penalty two minutes later mid way in their own half as they went off their feet diving in at the ruck. This time the kick was pulled wide and they went in at half time 12-6 ahead.

Ivybridge got the start they wanted after the break with another penalty for offside as the Chiefs pressed hard in defense and fortunately for them again the kick was wide. Five minutes later Ivybridge conceded a penalty ten metres out in front of their posts for a high tackle which Exeter’s Shaw slotted with ease to extend their lead to 15-6. Ivybridge’s long  kicks and high balls were superbly dealt with all afternoon by Exeter’s backs, and as both sides physical and hard tackling eventually started to take its toll they both had to make changes from the bench with injuries. Exeter dominated all afternoon up front and starved Ivybridge of quick ball for their backs and finished the game in the visitors half to win a very hard fought and entertaining Cup Final.  

Exeter Chiefs Colts  15  Ivybridge  6.

An excellent finish to a hard fought season. Well down lads.

The manager and coaches would like to wish the Colts all the best for next season and to all the second year Colts past and present who have played for the Chiefs, the very best for the future.

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