Team

Rory Hardman (Myerscough) Liam Isaacs (Caldy) Jonny Lea (Sandbach) Luke Harris (Wirral GS); Mike Finnemore (C) (Macclesfield) George Beal (Ellesmere) James Beal (Ellesmere) Joe Jackson (Sandbach) Matthew Van Sertima (Caldy); Ryan Wolf (Sandbach) Elliot Morris  (Sandbach)

Coaches & Managers: Simon Verbickas, Denis Mahony, Mark Dean, David Ewing & Emma (Physio).

Another good day for Cheshire at the National Sevens.  In the first game we lost narrowly (17:0) to the favourites and winners Leicester (Academy) pushing them hard.  Wins then over Surrey & Warwickshire and a narrow loss took us into the Plate finals.  In the semi’s we beat Warwickshire A but a very tired team lost to Surrey (21:12).

Matt Van Sertima, who showed great promise, was injured in the first game after 10 minutes and was unable to resume.  All the team, well led by Mike Finnemore, scored with George Beal and Jonny Lea leading the try scoring.

Jonny Lea, Cheshire’s leading points scorer

On Saturday 25th May, Sandbach Rugby Club are hosting this special end of season party - a day out for the whole family, which will include 7′s and Veterans 10′s tournaments – a bouncy castle, Hog Roast and food and drink.

If you’re interested in entering a team in one of the tournaments, entry forms can be found on the Sandbach Rugby Club website http://www.sandbachrufc.co.uk

Gates open at 10am, and entry is just £5 per adult and U18′s are free.

Cheshire 31  Durham 29

Cheshire win in a close encounter against Durham on Saturday at Gateshead RFC, seven of the eight trys scored were in the second half and a last minute missed conversion via the Durham fly half ensuresd a Cheshire win. Durham 29 Cheshire 31, This leaves Cheshire 2nd place in the County Championship, with unbeaten Lancashire Top.

Lancashire are on 10 points Cheshire 6

Next week Cheshire take on Lancashire at Macclesfield RUFC 18th May, kick of 3pm

From all the rugby playing counties of England, second place in a National championship rugby competition is by all accounts a significant achievement, but that was no consolation for this ‘bonded’ team of high performance athletes lead out at Twickenham by captain Josh Longson.Cheshire has certainly punched well above its weight (demonstrated by recent Under 20’s success against; Yorkshire, Gloucester and Kent) earning a well deserved place at the 4th May National final against Berkshire.

The last time our small county successfully achieved this much-prized accolade was 2005, and included fellow Cestrian and current London-Welsh fly half Alex Davies.That 05 team (as with this) was supported by Paul Langton (current U20 Chairman) and David Ewing ( Cheshire Exec +RFU County Rep),both had invested significant time effort and resources then, and now, securing infrastructure, support and commitment from the coaching team and the unsung back room staff, all focussed to ensure ‘Team Cheshire’ reached this Final once more.

It was no surprise that a pre game team talk by Alex to his county colleagues was gratefully received by a tightly formed group of players who confirmed the one objective sought by all. Pride and Passion were never in doubt. There was only one prize sought ! and each individual knew it well, alongside their particular individual expected task.

Sir Clive Woodward in his campaign once said “It’s a happy changing room ,but…. we came here to win …..not to come second” That was certainly the same and only objective from Coach Giles Heagerty and Manager Ian Stanton to their players.

Despite the first points of the competition being secured by the Cestrians, unfortunately a keen Berkshire squad were able to monopolise on some unforced Cheshire errors. This distanced execution of tactics to effectively change the score away from Cheshire’s favour.

The game was unfortunately blighted by two nasty injuries.10 minutes before ½ time, when Cheshire Fly half Callum Yates was carried from the field of play requiring immediate surgery to a particularly nasty mouth injury. This was a firm reminder to us all of the importance in having the correct safety equipment when engaged in both training or game time. Should this injury have occurred without a ‘gum shield’ the results could have been considerably more serious. Then followed a fractured Eye socket to Cheshire centre Mike Kaciubskyj. The immediate support from Twickenham Doctors and medical team was first rate, and a note of thanks must be made to them, and a speedy recovery wished to our players.

Events of this nature are unfortunate, unwanted but unfortunately it was disruptive to Cheshire momentum. In earlier campaign fixtures our small county had provided a catalogue of quality scrum half’s now undergoing medical treatment, Ollie Chambers (shoulder) George Drury ( Knee) and now Callum A big step up was required at this juncture for young Matt Geiger to now undertake duty at the scrum away from his full back position.He did not dissapoint.

The 30-17 result may have gone against Cheshire’s best efforts and although it was ‘not to be’ our day, it would be unfair not to acknowledge Berkshires ability to gain the edge.Cheshire, graciously received their ‘runners up’ medals and in the true spirit of this wonderful game soon sharing a ‘beer’ and ‘banter’ with their Berkshire opposite numbers,bravely disguising their inner hurt.

As The Cheshire Chairman stated in his post match address “It has been too long since 2005 for Cheshire to be at this National under 20’s Final, and it will not be so long before we are back here again”. This clearly set the new objective for 2013/14 season, and our County’s clubs have the players available within to build on the foundation stone now laid to make this achievable.

On a more serious note, this was the last county representative game for a number of the young Cestrians as they now fall outside the age criterion. A large thanks must be made to them and to the rest of the team, not only for returning from Universities, Colleges and work commitments all over the UK to both train and play, but for creating the atmosphere of success amongst their peers. The camaraderie continues and the opportunity now exists for similar young high performance players to step into the breech next season.

A period of analysis is ongoing alongside recuperation and whilst some may turn to the sound of ‘leather on willow’, the wheels are in motion to achieve the marginal gains required for next year’s ‘boots on grass’competition.

Particular thanks must also go to the travelling contingent of Cheshire supporters, players and parents who made the Twickenham journey providing vocal support and encouragement when it was most needed.

The challenge has now been set for next season, the infrastructure, standards and hard yards have been done, Next year’s campaign (as with this), will not be for the feint hearted. Although the squad may be back at the start line for the next race, how they prepare and get ready will be important, but have belief… This is an achievable task !

Well done U20’s team of 2013

Nick Jones
Cheshire RFU