Topsham U16s 42,

Topsham have built a star-studded squad over the last few seasons, attracting players from a wide area, so this was always going to be a tough ask for a depleted Kingsbridge U16s team.

Fourteen brave souls plus Jamie Broadfoot from the year below ventured north in the gale on Sunday to give it their best.

Worst fears were confirmed when lining up for kick-off, the sheer size of the Top­sham forwards meant that even Bally from the Kings coaching team was looking upwards.

The score was not a surprise and neither was the fact that the Kingsbridge team stuck to the task from the first minute to the last, tackling, rucking and mauling to stem the tide.

Louis Chapman at scrum-half epitomised the spirit and never-say-die attitude with darting runs but mainly tackling and more tackling.

Petroc Brown in the line-out and Jordan Perring in the loose made sterling efforts as the Kings pack laid their bodies on the line.

Sid Niblett’s call to arms after the third try made you feel proud to be part of the group, as did Dan Tucker refusing to leave the field after a knock from (you guessed it) more tackling.

Attacking play was limited but Ollie Wot­ton and Will Throgmor­ton in the centre work­ed hard to punch holes and Sam West at full-back offered op­tions under the stewardship of Sam Jones, but it wasn’t Kings’ day.

The repeated desire to stand up for their mates was never more forthcoming than when the Topsham fly-half used captain Ben Woods’ head as leverage to get up off the ground after being tackled by him.

Tackler of the match was Lewis Dustan, who made multiple spectacular hits on the Top­sham back row, and the club’s thanks go to Jamie, who was fantastic on the wing.

Next week Kings face a trip to Topsham in the Fisher­man’s Cup...