NEWTON Abbot All Whites bounced back from the previous Saturday's disappointing home defeat to Paignton with a gritty hard fought win at Sidmouth, so often the bogey ground for many a club.

Playing up the slope in the first half they pinned the home team in their own half for much of the game, and rarely did Sidmouth threaten the All Whites' line.

Mike Saxton had one of those day's players dream of – scoring all the points for his team, starting with a try awarded after good approach work by new scrum half Mark Dibble, who sniped around and asked questions of the Sidmouth defence all afternoon. Saxton was on hand to take a scoring pass from lock Paul Warren, who also enjoyed a fine game.

From an awkward angle Saxton could not make the extra two points, but the All Whites had the bit between their teeth now.

Constant pressure saw Sidmouth making error after error, and when they did make a rare foray into the visitors' half, the move was quickly snuffed out by solid defence.

Jan Viskoper then made the clearance of the season, thumping the ball a good 70 yards down field after a ruck had been turned over.

Saxton then nosed the away side further ahead with a penalty with 15 minutes gone.

With things going well, the All Whites were disrupted when captain Simon Mabin failed to get up after a ruck. Holding his ankle, he found himself carried off with a suspected fracture.

Coach Phil Burford shuffled the pack, bringing on veteran Richard Beere and moving Nick Hammond across to hooker.

The All Whites' scrum were giving Sidmouth a torrid afternoon before Mabin went off, and they continued to do so.

Sidmouth, however, added long-range penalties through fly half Glenn Channing, bringing the score back to 6-8.

As the half drew to a close, the All Whites won a penalty and Saxton put a bit more daylight between the visitors and hosts, making the scoreline 6-11 at the break.

The second half began much the same as the first, and although Sidmouth made more of a fist of things they rarely got into any rhythm. When they did threaten, the superb All Whites' defence flattened them.

Saxton kicked his third penalty of the afternoon with six minutes played, but Sidmouth struck back soon after with a penalty by Channing to make the score 9-14.

More pressure from the visitors saw Sidmouth infringe once more and Saxton made them pay with another successful penalty.

Although Sidmouth did manage to make the odd foray into Newton territory, they never really looked like breaching the solid defence.

Saxton applied the coup de grace with another penalty to wrap up the win for his side.

Burford, although pleased with his side's third away win of the season, was not too happy with the handling errors.

He singled out the back row for particular praise – George Mills enjoyed a fine game. Roaming with his partner in crime Jason Keenan, they caused havoc for the home defence and tackled their hearts out.

Tomorrow, the All Whites welcome old Cornish foes St Ives to Rackerhayes.