Windsor U14's at The Worthing 7s Tournament
30th April 2006by Dr FT Bosh
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The Windsor U14's hold the Plate Trophy aloft.
Fresh from the presentation of their Berkshire League trophy at Reading Abbey on Saturday. The Windsor 7’s squad travelled to old friend’s Worthing RFC for their end of season 7’s tournament in high spirit’s. Playing open and expansive, champagne 7’s rugby all day, they came away with more silverware, at the end of their most successful season ever, when they won the Plate Final.
Drawn in a very tough group with Kent Champion’s and last year’s runaway winners Medway, Worthing’s specialist 7’s outfit Worthing Reds and unknown quantities Heathfield and Waldron, Windsor got off to a very solid start with a 22 – 7 victory over Heathfield and Waldron. Early tries for Russ Chester and Josh Casey settled Windsor’s nerves and scrum half Joel Turner’s superb blindside break to score Windsor’s third put the game beyond doubt. Heathfield and Waldron came back with a score of their own, but Russ Chester had the final word with an electric run and score near the end of the second period.
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Windsor fared less well in their next two matches. A tough, physical encounter against Medway was truly a game of two halves, in which Medway smashed 4 tries past Windsor before Windsor could get to grips with the game. But as they grew in confidence they competed well with the eventual winners of the tournament. Although failing to score, Windsor came close with runs from Casey and Chester, but they were kept out with excellent “try saving” tackles. Medway scored twice more, against the run of play, and were deserving 36-0 winners. Worthing Reds proved to be almost as tough a challenge for Windsor. Turner was ruled out with a foot injury and Worthing Reds played a very fluid and attacking game. Weak tackling against the counter attack let in two early tries and once again Windsor struggled to find their composure in the early stages. When the Windsor Faithful were penalised for over enthusiastic disagreement with a refereeing decision, the players gave up another try. Somewhat incensed by this, they raised their game. Strong runs from Dean Hadderall Jack Clemance and Russ Chester netted territory, but no points. When Hadderall was tackled hard just short of the try line, it was the end of his tournament. With the ball trapped under him as he landed he was taken to hospital with suspected broken ribs. A typically bullish run from Casey got Windsor on the score sheet afterwards and Windsor lost out 22 – 7.
This put Windsor into the semi final of the Plate competition, where they came up against their hosts Worthing. Windsor had left their best rugby till last. From the outset they contained the opposition and kept hold of the ball when in possession. Two early scores for hard working Max Wilson and one for Josh Casey put Windsor in the driving seat. With the game won they threw the ball around and Russ Chester got another. With 2 minutes to go Windsor ended up with a 3 man overlap, but Chris Laidler sidestepped inside his man and scored Windsor’s 5th to help Windsor win 29 – 0 and go to the final against early opposition Heathfield and Waldron.
It was 14 tired players who took to the field for the Plate Final, but Windsor seemed the more motivated. From the kick off, Chester caught the ball, cut to the outside, drew the last defender and off loaded to a looping Josh Casey. Casey made short work of the next 40 yards and Laidler made sure of the conversion. Heathfield and Waldron made their presence felt in the loose, but Windsor refused to become engaged in a “pack” game. Sam Windmill, Jack Clemance and Max Wilson continually secured possession and the ball was spun away from the breakdown. Windsor’s next two scores came from Chris Laidler, the first in good support of a Josh Casey break and the second from close range after a scrum. In the second half there was a real crowd pleaser when “Jam” Ingham got himself on the score sheet. Having not missed a tackle all day the gutsy winger got his chance when Casey’s run was closed down, supporting well, he received the off load and jinked in to score. He was also involved in the next score when a superb piece of interplay between Ingham and Alex Devereux made 30 yards into Heathfield and Waldron territory. Devereux took in two defenders and his under arm off load to Jack Clemance stuck like glue and the big second row was in to score. Windsor probably felt they had it wrapped up, but Heathfield and Waldron are a determined side and put two very good tries past Windsor in the dying minutes. But it was too little, too late and Windsor ran out 29 – 10 winners to take the Plate trophy.
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Our thanks go to all at Worthing who organised and ran a typically excellent tournament. See you all next season.