Wolverhampton RFC Colts 7 Bishop’s Stortford RFC Colts 5

Bishop’s Stortford RFC Colts travelled to the West Midlands on Sunday afternoon to take on Wolverhampton RFC in the semi-final of the National Colts Cup. The Wolverhampton team had won the National U17 cup last season and so a tough encounter was always anticipated.

As has so often been the case on this cup run the weather played a significant part in the outcome of the game. Once again there was a strong wind blowing almost directly down the length of the pitch giving the team playing with it a distinct advantage.

Stortford won the toss and elected to play against the wind in the first half. All too often though they chose to kick against the wind, a policy that was never likely to succeed. Repeated failed attempts only served to present the Wolves with a succession of good attacking positions. Dogged and at times desperate defence from the Stortford lads prevented their hosts scoring until the 18th minute when an individual mistake gifted Wolverhampton a try on the far right wing. Despite the swirling wind the try was converted, an act that ultimately proved decisive. 7-0
Stortford continued to be resilient in defence though and when the half time whistle blew with the score only 7-0 the travelling support had every reason to be confident that the deficit could be overturned given that Stortford now had the advantage of the wind.

That belief was enhanced immediately from the restart when Wolverhampton made a mistake deep in their half handing Stortford both possession and territory. Two plays later Stortford Scrum Half and Captain Alex Patton eluded the Wolves back row to dart into the same right corner to score a try. Understandably in the conditions the conversion was missed 7-5
Stortford now had at least 30 minutes in order to secure the winning score but regrettably could never quite manage to achieve the desired combination of possession and territory again and in truth never really threatened to register another score. To their immense credit the Wolves were more disciplined in the way they played into the wind than Stortford had been. They worked tirelessly to run the ball back rather than kick aimlessly to gift Stortford easy possession. Everyone present from Hertfordshire was understandably very disappointed when the final whistle blew on the game and the Stortford cup run because it was match that they could have undoubtedly won. But in fairness the hosts were deserved winners on the day and will now play Tonbridge Juddians RFC in the final at Bedford Blues RFC on 4th May.

The Stortford players should though take great pride from their performances this season and must now re focus as they still have other opportunities to secure the silverware they deserve to cap their youth rugby careers. On Sunday 19th April they take on Harpenden in the Herts County Colts Cup final at Fullerians RFC and the following Sunday (26th) an LV Cup final vs Hitchin RFC at Hitchin