Cup Final 24-04-16

Newbury's U13 As met Bracknell in the final of the 2016 Berkshire Cup on Maidenhead RFC's 4G pitch. Our opponents fielded a physically imposing team, with three six footers in the backline. Notwithstanding this disparity, Newbury began, from the off, playing their usual free-flowing, running rugby and had territorial advantage for much of the first 20 minutes, continually moving the ball wide and finding gaps. This pressure finally resulted in an overlap which allowed us to cross their line. Unfortunately, in trying to get under the posts, some quick-thinking Bracknell defence managed to hold up the ball and seven points went begging. Despite the pressure in our favour, Bracknell hit back with two quick tries – the first resulting from a ball being stripped in midfield and the second from a kick over the top which, unfortunately, took a sideways bounce away from our attempts to ground it and straight under an advancing Bracknell back's hands. We turned round at 0-14. Two great breaks from James Daly in the centre, saw the ball move through full back, Oli Rhoads, to Matt Keen on the wing who touched down to make it 5 – 14. The boys continued to battle strongly against a physical opposition. Our forwards were all outstanding – with Henry Bury, Jake Alexander, Conor JeJe, Ethan Sheard, Freddie Rock, Scott Wallace and Louis Carnell playing themselves to a standstill. Our platform remained rock solid and Felix Brader played faultlessly at 9, supplying Matthew Gaskell at 10 with swift, flat ball, which Matthew used intelligently with his backline, where Dillon Benson, Fraser Hart, Oli Rhoads, James Daly and Matt Keen stood out for their speed and ability to exploit gaps. Unfortunately, these exertions inevitably led to tiredness in the face of a larger opposition and two late tries left us trailing at the final whistle 5 – 24, a score which all observers noted did not accurately reflect a closeness of the game. Congratulations to Bracknell (we'll see you next year!) and to the As, of whom we can all be very proud.

MB