Royal Wootton Bassett Rugby Club wins at rainy Sidmouth

The encounter took place in South Devon.

The weather change dramatically throughout, starting with bright sunshine before descending into torrential rain, which added an unpredictable element to the game.

Bassett opened the scoring early in the sixth minute.

After winning a penalty in midfield, they executed a well-structured lineout.

Fly-half Sam Baker quickly distributed the ball to winger Michael Clifton, who powered through the Devon defence to score.

Scrum-half Rhys Floyd successfully converted, giving the away side a seven-point lead.

Despite the adverse weather, Bassett maintained the majority of possession, but Sidmouth remained a constant threat on the counter-attack.

In the fourteenth minute, Sidmouth responded with a clever tactical play.

They opted for a shortened lineout, which caught the Bassett defence off guard.

The ball was swiftly moved to the flanker, who broke through for a try under the posts.

The conversion was successful, bringing the scores level at seven apiece.

Bassett quickly regained their composure and launched another attack.

Following an attacking scrum, No. 8 Ollie Baycroft picked up the ball and made a determined run for the line.

Despite being tackled, he managed to break free and score under the posts, with Floyd converting once again to make it 14-7.

However, Sidmouth was not to be outdone.

They executed a quick lineout in their own half, catching Bassett off guard once more.

The ball was moved swiftly to the left corner, resulting in a well-worked try.

The conversion attempt was unsuccessful, leaving Bassett with a narrow fourteen to twelve lead as the first half concluded.

The second half began with the sun shining brightly, creating a stark contrast to the earlier downpour.

The game opened up significantly, with both sides looking to exploit any defensive lapses.

Bassett appeared more likely to score, and in the seventh minute, Baker found flanker Harry Murphy on the halfway line.

Murphy showcased his strength and determination, breaking through two tackles to score a brilliant try.

Floyd added the conversion, extending Bassett’s lead to twenty-one to twelve.

Sidmouth responded within ten minutes, managing to score an unconverted try, narrowing the gap to just four points.

Despite both teams pushing for further scores, the match concluded with no additional points, and Bassett emerged victorious with a twenty-one to seventeen scoreline.

This win sees Bassett move up the league table, reflecting their hard work and determination on the pitch.

Next week will be a rest week for Bassett, who will return to action the following week with an away trip to Gloucester to face Matson.