Colts

Eastern Counties U19 Cup Final

Colchester 8 - 5 Shelford

On Sunday Shelford travelled to Colchester for the EC Cup final. With the sun shining the omens were good for a game of rugby.

Having twice lost to Colchester this year, Shelford knew that they would have to be at their best - they did not disappoint and from the off took the game to Colchester, keeping them on the back foot. This seemed to take Colchester by surprise who had difficulty coping with the pressure and onslaught of tackles that kept coming in. Colchester thought with their bigger team, they would smash through but to their immense credit, the Shelford boys kept pinging them back. And at every opportunity they ran the ball back to Colchester. On the 24th minute, after the forwards secured quick ball, some slick passing saw the ball get to Jon Caller who side stepped his man and broke through the Colchester defence with a lovely side step to score near the corner. The conversion fell just short. For the rest of the half, Shelford kept up the pressure with the back row everywhere, breaking up attack after attack.

Straight from the off in the second half Shelford again took the game to Colchester and spent the next 20 mins in the Colchester half. Then on 48th minute, Shelford were awarded a penalty on the half way line and Ben Seymour went for the posts. As the ball came back off the cross bar (still shaking now) Harry Robbins caught the ball and was taken out in the air unfortunately play was allowed to continue and Colchester turned the ball over. Then an indiscretion saw Shelford lose a man to the sin bin. Shelford now found themselves under pressure as the hosts tried to make the extra man count but some fantastic defence kept them out till the last minute of the 10. Shelford ran out of defenders and Colchester scored in the corner 5 - 5, with the conversion missed. Just as the Shelford man retook the field for the last 10 they lost another to the sin bin. Colchester really went for it, sensing blood but once again Shelford held out and a fine defensive display kept Colchester out. 3 times they crossed the Shelford try line and 3 times they were held up.  Then it was déjà vu and in the last second of the game, Colchester were awarded a dubious penalty on the 22 and with the last kick of the game broke Shelford hearts to make it 8 - 5 final score. I can't say in words how good a game this was, with both teams putting on a spectacular game of rugby, played in the right spirit. Everyone who watched will remember it for a long time. A draw would have been the right result but the game’s not like that. You can not deny Colchester their victory as they made the most of their chances and really applied the pressure in the last 20 minutes when Shelford were down to 14 men. Once again Shelford paid the price for indiscipline. Unlucky lads, down but not out.