Exeter Chiefs Colts Battle for Top Spot

Exeter Chiefs Colts V Brixham Colts

Exeter kept up their challenge for top spot in the Devon RFU Colts Shield competition hosting Brixham at Withycombe RFC. This season the boys have been rewarded with kit sponsorship from Astley Media, who have kindly provided warm up tops and playing shorts and socks.

They took to the pitch with pride in their new clothing. The ground staff at Withy had done a good job and the pitch was in great condition considering the atrocious weather we had after Christmas.

Brixham started well, trying to feed their forwards who were physically much bigger than the Chiefs lads. They were awarded three penalties in the first 20 minutes, which were all missed and Chiefs slowly came back into the game.

The game was starting to flow from end to end, neither team able to make that crucial break through. Attacks from Chiefs backs, including Jack Hamlyn who was drafted into the backline, went unrewarded, but as the Brixham forwards tired, penalties were inevitable and George Bird converted for a slim lead.

It was a half of basic errors from both teams, kicking, knock ons, catching and scrum taps, all of which led to frustration among the players. Chris Jose was penalised for a momentum drive on a player that the referee saw as a dump tackle and Brixham levelled the score at 3 - 3.

More excellent back play from Chiefs continued to pepper the Brixham defence and eventually skipper Chris Jose reached for the line to secure a halftime lead 8 - 3.

Changes at halftime brought on Zi Alexis and Rory Smith to stabilise the pack. Harri Beaton was matching Brixham's 22-stone front row player in the scrum and didn't give an inch. The switch of Chiefs scrum halves started to pay off and ball was being fed to the backs on a regular quick fire basis.

With Chiefs in full flow a deliberate knock-on saw a Brixham player sin binned and in the dying minutes Zi Alexis with ball in hand made a 50-metre dash for the line to score the decisive try.

Final score Chiefs 13, Brixham 3.

After match meals were enjoyed with thanks to the Withycombe kitchen staff and also to Beacon Garage for providing the post-match shirts and club ties. With all the new kit the Chiefs lads proved how well they can play as a team and look like a professional outfit.