BARNSTAPLE COLTS kept alive their chances of a top-four finish with a 15-11 win over Sidmouth.

It was a gutsy performance against powerful opponents at Pottington Road.

Missing key players Shaun Deasey and Ryan Carter, Barum made a tentative start and Sidmouth took the lead with two penalties.

Wing Nick Evans kicked a penalty to make it 6-3 before a crucial passage of play.

A 30-metre driving maul was dropped by Sidmouth and, with the penalty kicked to touch, a well-worked line-out move saw skipper Josh Ovey get over the tryline.

Sidmouth struck first in the second half, regaining the lead with a try.

But Barum hit back again and went 15-11 up when they drove to within 10 yards of the line and fly-half Rob Elliott found centre James Roulstone who cut a scything line to score under posts, leaving an easy conversion for Evans.

Jamie Todd put in a fantastic performance at openside flanker.

Coach Joe Flannigan said: "We must take this belief into the next four games knowing we must be one of the hardest teams to play against."