Latest News Co-Operative Premier & Regional Semi Finals
| Co-Operative Premier & Regional Semi Finals |
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| Monday, 06 September 2010 04:46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RESULTS St Albans Centurions survived a stern physical challenge from Welsh champions Valley Cougars to reach the RLC Premier Grand Final. A try ten minutes from time by full-back David Kramer ended the Cougars’ hopes after they had fought back from 16-0 down in a game featuring six sin-binnings as passions threatened to boil over. The Centurions built what looked to be a commanding lead with three tries in the opening quarter of an hour and seemed to be cruising to Haslams. The Welshmen dropped the opening kick off and Wisbech’s finest, Rudi van der Merwe skipped over to score with barely a minute on the watch, Kramer’s goal attempt drifted wide. The referee was working hard to keep a lid on matters as the tackles flew in from both sides and, after receiving four straight penalties, the Centurions were in again, Ollie Fountain’s dancing feet taking him through a back-peddling defence, Kramer converting. Tempers boiled over on the restart and Paul Maloney and Troy Broadbank were sin-binned. The Centurions than added to their lead as Kramer finished a planned move from a scrum with a well-worked try that he converted himself for a 16-0 lead and it seemed a matter of how many St Albans would score. The Cougars settled down and played their best rugby of the match with the forwards running hard and finding holes. That direct approach brought tries from Steve Bray and Mark Jones, one of which was converted by Paul Enamuelli to put them right back into the game. A fierce half came to a close with Broadbank in the bin for a second time along with Mike Herbert for the Cougars and Fountain for the Centurions all for separate incidents. Having withstood heavy Cougars pressure at the end of the half, the Centurions were caught napping at the start of the second and Rhodri Morris pinched a try from close range to level the scores but parity did not last long. A sloppy play the ball on the Cougars line cost them a penalty and six points as van der Merwe dived over from the tap to score, Kramer converting from in front of the posts. With over half an hour to go, there was plenty to play for and an absorbing contest developed with the Cougars having plenty of possession in the Centurions’ quarter but without quite being able to break through. Their best chance came with just over ten minutes to go but Morris knocked on diving for the line. The Centurions immediately made them pay and a good set took them the length of the field before Matt O’Rourke’s kick was deflected by a defender to Kramer who juggled the ball before touching down. He converted the score himself to put two scores between the sides. Valleys pressed again but Liam Williams lost the ball over the line and again the Centurions went the length of the field to score. A long downfield kick saw Fountain’s chase put pressure on the Cougars’ winger who lost the ball in the tackle presenting Adam Kal with a gift four points. Kramer’s goal put the game beyond the Cougars who kept battling away and managed to prevent van der Merwe from claiming a hat-trick with some strong defence in the corner. However, the Welshmen were left to rue errors and lapses of discipline that meant that the good quality rugby they played went unrewarded. The result gives the Centurions the chance to collect their second Harry Jepson Trophy in four years at Derby next weekend. CENTURIONS: David Kramer, Ollie Fountain, Aaron Brown, Darren Westhead, Rudi van der Merwe, Adam Kal, Matt O’Rourke, Roy Dube, Shane Rampling (Capt.), Keir Bell, Andy Lake, Adam Kambouris, Paul Maloney. Subs: Mark Edwards, Mike Hollister, Joe Shaw, Nick Woolley. Tries; Rudi van der Merwe (1, 45), Ollie Fountain (10), David Kramer (15, 70), Adam Kal (75) Goals; David Kramer 5/6 COUGARS: Steve Williams, Mark Powell, James allen, Mathew Williams, Kevin James, Paul Enamuelli (Capt.), Mike Herbert, Mark Jones, Rhodri Morris, Steve Bray, Troy Broadbank, Liam Williams, John Sanigar. Subs: Chris Holcombe, Liam Thomas, Sam Coomber, Lee Jenkins. Tries; Steve Bray (24), Mark Jones (27), Rhodri Morris (41) Goals; Paul Emanuelli 2/3. Man of the Match: David Kramer (St Albans) Referee: Ian Curzon COVENTRY BEARS 32 WIDNES WEST BANK BEARS 16 – St Mary’s College, Spinkhill Coventry won the battle of the Bears to book a place in the Grand Final and the chance to avenge last year’s defeat in the Harry Jepson Trophy decider, their victory built on an excellent first half performance that established an ultimately decisive margin. Widnes were tenacious throughout but ran out of firepower despite starting both halves well and scoring almost identical touchdowns. Scrum half Luke Willings was their most potent weapon and he opened the scoring for Cheshiremen early on with a sniping dart, Ste Mellor converting. Coventry responded soon after with their best in attack and strong defence, centre Nick Thatcher crossing for the first of two tries in ten minutes, the second of which came from a perfectly placed grubber by Scott Clendenning-Fenton, which Glen Burnside converted. Mid-way through the first half Tom Watts powered on to a fine short ball to extend Coventry’s lead to 16-6, Burnside landing his second goal and the best try of the game came in the lead up to half time, full back Iestyn Pratt dancing over from 30 metres and leaving defenders clutching in his wake. Burnside missed the goal and the men from the West Midlands led 20-6 at the break. Willings repeated his feat at the start of the second period to narrow the gap to eight points, Mellor landing the conversion but that was as close as Widnes got. Coventry hooker Barry McGuffog burrowed his way over from close range just before the hour and Burnside potted his third goal. Widnes prop Peter Clarke was sent off for foul and abusive language but his side rallied, Mellor linking to go over out wide to give them hop at 26-16. In the final minute, long-striding John Nicholls secured victory for Coventry when he strode through, Burnside adding the extras. COVENTRY 1 Iestyn Pratt 2 Glen Burnside 3 Nick Thatcher 4 Sam Viggars 5 Phil Malloy 6 Scott Clendenning-Fenton 7 Alex Brown 8 Ryan Jenkins 9 Barry McGuffog 10 Matt Evans 11 Luke Watts 12 Tom Watts 13 Karl Wesley Subs 14 Rob Calloway 15 John Nicholls 16 Adam Booth 17 Alan Robinson WIDNES 1 Ste Mellor 2 Mickey Kelly 3 Adam Middleton 4 Ste Curphey 5 Oliver Fay 6 Tommy Arrowsmith 7 Luke Willings 8 Wayne Courtnege 9 Greg Pitchilingi 10 Peter Clarke 11 Sean Conroy 12 Craig Simm 13 Craig Millington Subs 14 Sean Attwood Men of the match: COVENTRY – Nick Thatcher WIDNES – Luke Willings Half time: 20-6 Referee: Charlie Nielson PARKSIDE HAWKS 44 JARROW VIKINGS 22 – Monkton Stadium, Gateshead Centre Pat Banks was the star for the South Leeds side, running a terrific hat trick, a third of his side’s nine touchdowns. Parkside led 14-0 after 22 minutes, winger Connor Socket and Banks, who formed a fine right sided combination both crossing with two minutes of each other and Jamie Dixon adding a third. Jarrow were slow to find their feet, full back Bruce Parker going over for their first score in the 27th minute, John Coutts converting. Banks’ second score kept the Vikings at arm’s length but a Barry Walker score and Coutts goal kept the North Easterners in it at 18-12 down at the break. From the start of the second half to the hour mark, though, Parkside were rampant; props Sam Thorpe and Steve Gill, along with Jerome Malcolm and Johnny Austin all crossing to establish an unassailable 38-12 lead, Austin landing his second goal and Luke O’Mally his first. Two tries in quick succession from Paul Dodsworth and Walker with his second raised Jarrow hopes but Hawks secured the win with Banks’ treble nine minutes from time. HAWKS
Tries: Socket (7), Banks (9, 33, 71), Dixon (22), Thorpe (46), Malcolm (52), Gill (56), Austin (61) Goals: Austin 2, O’Mally 2 VIKINGS
Tries Parker (27, 66), Walker (39), Dodsworth (64) FIXTURES – GRAND FINALS PREMIER – HARRY JEPSON TROPHY (3pm) REGIONAL (1pm) |