Honiton travelled to North Devon to face a resurgent Bideford side judging by recent results and without their first choice full-back and skipper Ollie Rice and centre Ollie Hyland who were representing the first team,

Bideford Colts 5,

Honiton Colts 19

Honiton travelled to North Devon to face a resurgent Bideford side judging by recent results and without their first choice full-back and skipper Ollie Rice and centre Ollie Hyland who were representing the first team, writes Jason Fahy.

This colts side are renowned slow starters but got straight into their stride and dominated the opposition up front despite giving away a significant weight advantage. Jack Fahy and Davy Falkner dominated the line-out, stealing most of the opposition ball and the Lacemen's new look front row of Clark, Clements and Bailey also dominated the scrums.

In fact, Matt Bailey showed exactly why he is capable of playing a year above his age group with an awesome display in the loose and a "Richie McCaw" type performance with the amount of ball he turned over and earning the Man of the Match award.

Ben Small bagged a brace within 10 minutes of each other, one of which was converted by Meadows.

Small would have grabbed a hat-trick but for an excellent try-saving tackle from the Bideford full-back.

Bideford replied with an unconverted try out wide and threatened to get back in the game before stand-in skipper Dean Norman, who gave a stereotypical surging performance, including the 'hand off of the season', bagged himself a try late in the first half and just reward for his unrelenting support play. Meadows added the conversion to end the half 5-19 ahead.

Uncontested scrums followed in the second half after the home side lost their loose-head prop, which actually suited the Lacemen with their more mobile pack.

Ten minutes into the half, Mugford joined the Honiton pack. With the visitors camped in Bideford territory and following several phases of play, what looked like a certain try was squandered as Harrandance dropped the ball over the try line.

The referee halted the restart due to two injuries to the home side, one of which was a neck injury and eventually saw the game ended early as a result with Honiton winning 19-5.

A further three points on the road sees Honiton continue to climb the table. The demanding coaching team remain convinced that there is still more to give, including more mature decision making in the key areas of play.

Next week Honiton face a stiff test at home to Exmouth.