Staffordshire Owen Cup Final Winners 2004 / 05
Bloxwich 17 vs Trentham 12
Owen Cup Final – Match Report Sunday 8th May at Stafford R.F.C
It was joy and jubilation for players and supporters as Bloxwich captured the Owen Cup in thrilling fashion.
It was a fair reward for the hard work all season by the players and club coach Gary Taylor.
Two 52 seater coaches full of family members and supporters followed the players coach to Stafford, and made their presence felt in a nail biting game. So much so that the President of Trentham RFC commented “Your supporters were great and really added to the occasion…… they were worth at least 10 points”
Bloxwich started well, with the forwards gaining the initial edge around the park - beating Trentham to the ball and possession. However, early attacks into the Trentham twenty-two didn’t bring any points.
When Trentham launched an attack of their own they found room out wide, and took this to score in the corner to lead 5-0. Bloxwich stepped up a gear and forced their way back into the Trentham half with some powerful running and quick hands. The reward was Leon Hodgkiss finding his way through the defence, off a well worked penalty move, scoring a try from close in. Adam Bowater made the conversion to take Bloxwich into a 7-5 lead. Encouraged by this, Bloxwich seemed to relax and started to play some flowing rugby - with flanker Richard Forrester working tirelessly to shut down any Trentham attack with his resolute tackling.
The second try showed vision from Kev Pitt as he chip-kicked the ball over the Trentham back-line and with a fortunate bounce collected his own kick, beat two surprised defenders and raced fifty yards to score.
A stunning try for Bloxwich. With the conversion, this made the half time score Bloxwich 14 Trentham 5.
The second half started with a controversial decision, as a Bloxwich forward was judged by the linesman to have been too enthusiastic with his rucking. Without seeing the offence the referee produced a red card and reduced Bloxwich to fourteen players. Undetterred, Bloxwich went on the attack but were denied a try scoring opportunity when a Trentham player was adjudged offside. Adam Bowater calmed the nerves of the players and supporters when he converted the resulting penalty to lead 17-5.
Eventually, the man advantage Trentham had started to show as they scored a second try, plus conversion. The score was narrowed to 17-12. With ten minutes left on the clock, Trentham launched waves of attacking rugby only to be met by the fourteen men of Bloxwich - tackling for all they were worth. When the final whistle blew, spectators and players alike sighed relief. The Owen Cup had a new club as worthy winners, Bloxwich.
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