DHSOB’s Under-16 squad brought the curtain down on their season with a 17-17 draw at Exeter Saracens.

While a draw was a fair result, the Stonehouse side will know that it was a match they should have won.

Al Spicer gave DHSOB the lead after producing a nifty side-step after prop Finlay Salter had punched through the middle. Spicer also converted.

Shortly after, Sharks, with many of the team have played together for eight years, scored again after winning a scrum against the head in their own 22.  A clever-spotted long pass from inside centre Tommy Pullinger put full-back Josh Hellings in the clear and he accelerated the length of the pitch with just one defender to beat.

Unfortunately, a little indiscipline and lack of concentration seeped into the Sharks’ game, giving the home side a way back.

A loose off-load inside their own half was latched onto by a fired-up Saracens side who pushed forward. Some staunch defence couldn’t prevent a score from a solid rolling maul.

A fantastic try-saving tackle from skipper and second-row Adam Brown prevented a certain score from Exeter before the break.

Exeter started the second half the brighter side, only staunch defence from the likes of flanker Jerome Clench, second row Sam Nevin and Jake Bourne, who had moved from hooker to flanker, halted their progress.

The home side then found another gear and despite some fine defensive tackles from Brown and Reece Bartlett, Sarries managed to tie the score.

Exeter then had the impetus with them. Sharks gave away a number of penalties in their own 22, until the ref yellow-carded Will Robinson, for not rolling away.  Surprisingly, Exeter scorned the chance to go for a third try and opted for a kick at goal. Fortunately for Sharks, it missed.

Replacement hooker Brandon Normington pulled off a sensational steal on the Sharks’ own try-line only for the referee to inexplicably award a penalty against the visitors. Despite some frantic defence, Exeter managed to level the scores.

Sharks got their act together again, scoring again following a breakout from their own 22. This time Hellings provided Pullinger with the pass and Brown sprinted over to finish the move and tie the match.