Richmond & Twickenham Times Curtain Raiser Cup
31st April 2005by Phil Paul
The listing was posted by
Windsor Under 8’s
Richmond & Twickenham Times Curtain Raiser Cup
Grand Final
at Harlequins Memorial Stoop Ground
Team: Jack Leach (capt), James Paul, Sam Trowbridge, Ben Story, Harry Kemball, Harry Mackenzie, Alex Lord, Henry Bates, Louis Cripps
Semi Final: Windsor 30 points Cranbrook 25 points
Tries Scored: Alex Lord 3, James Paul 1, Louis Cripps 1, Ben Story 1
Grand Final: Windsor 25 points Crowborough 15 points
Tries Scored: James Paul 2, Jack Leach 1, Sam Trowbridge 1, Alex Lord 1
Windsor Under 8’s returned to the Stoop Memorial ground for the grand final of the Richmond & Twickenham Times Curtain Raiser Cup Competition. The final was to take place on the main pitch before the crucial last match of the season for Quins against Sale, a game they had to win to ensure staying in the Zurich Premiership.
After defeat in the semi finals of the Worthing Festival the previous week, which was the only game the team had lost all season, the boys were clearly motivated to finish the season on a high. The competition is seen as one of the most prestigious mini tournaments in the country and, after progressing through the various qualifying stages where approximately 50 teams had been involved, the boys were anxious to ensure they were competitive and focussed.
The semi final against Cranbrook started with both teams clearly determined not to give any ground in midfield. After a turnover was given Windsor managed to feed the ball out to the wing to break away and score the first try. After several minutes of play with possession passing backwards and forwards Cranbrook levelled the score with a good break from midfield. The boys restarted the game but were finding it hard to pass the ball due to the opposition closing down any space and after several frenetic minutes Windsor managed to pull ahead again with a well deserved try. Half time saw the scores level with four tries each and with play commencing after the customary team talk from both the coaches the boys dug deep and managed to focus and concentrate on playing their own game. After several minutes of good handling skills the team pulled ahead only to concede a try almost immediately after the restart. With only seconds to go it looked as if the match would be drawn but after some fantastic ball control and great passing the team broke away to score the final try and win by six tries to five.
The grand final was to be played against Crowborough, a team the boys had drawn against in the semi finals. The start of play saw some anxious moments when Crowborough went ahead but after some good defensive play the boys managed to gain possession and score their first try to level the score. By half time the score was level with two tries each. The restart again saw some frenetic play with both teams anxious to ensure their defence was in place and after some great passing and running Windsor managed to score again to take the lead. Crowborough were not going to be pressured and soon levelled the score with an excellent try run in from the half way line. For what seemed an eternity possession changed from one team to the other and only after a fantastic pass out to the Windsor wing did the boys manage to take the lead. With only seconds to go to the final whistle Windsor again gained possession and scored the final try ensuring a well deserved win by five tries to three.
The boys were clearly delighted with the win and after several minutes of celebration returned to the touchline to the applause of the crowd and some very proud parents.
The team were presented with the winner’s trophy by several dignitaries from Harlequins in what was a fitting end to a fantastic season. The team had taken part in twelve club matches against Maidenhead, Ruislip, Chobham (away), Blackheath, Saracens, Henley, Ealing, Reading Abbey, Amersham & Chiltern, Chobham (home), Wasps and Bury St Edmunds and won them all. They had also entered into five inter club tournaments: Windsor, Marlow, Newbury, Worthing and the Richmond & Twickenham Times Cup having won four of them and only losing in the semi final of the Worthing tournament on a Golden Try after a 30-30 draw at full time.
Special thanks go to the head coach Adrian Leach and to Karl Trowbridge and Steve Mackenzie for their fantastic coaching skills without which the boys would not have been able to achieve so much.