The disappointment of losing to Yorkshire, the eventual winners, and narrowly missing out on progress to the Cup Final round by scoring one less try than Devon only served to strengthen the resolve of the squad to win all three matches on the second day and claim the Plate for Essex Rugby. The fantastic support from day one was again emulated with even more parents and relatives arriving to watch some superb Rugby played by a committed squad of players.
TRIES: Callum Howard (2), Michael Aryton
CONVERSIONS: Owen Thomas (3)
Essex started exactly the same way as they had completed day one against Eastern Counties by the athletic Jamie Bache winning the ball from our own kick off followed by some exceptional series of play with every player on the field being involved at least once before the Callum Howard scored. With the scoring side restarting as in sevens it was Essex that put Leicester under pressure and some wayward passing saw the local side slowly being forced deeper into their own half. The inevitable turnover came and some good excellent decision-making saw Essex score again By now Leicestershire were in disarray with the pressure they were under and Essex moved swiftly upfield for their third score in under eight minutes of play, each converted by Owen Thomas. Half time came with the score 21 – 0 and looking as though it would only increase. Several changes upset the rhythm of the side and whilst they were trying to get back into the groove Leicestershire scored two simple tries both of which were converted. The final minutes of the match saw all of the supporters with their hearts in their mouths not more so than when a minute from time the defence was finally caught out only for the conversion that would have sent the match into extra time to go wide.
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Semi Final
V
Somerset
17 – 0
TRIES: Owen Thomas, Sam Stanley (2)
CONVERSIONS: Sam Stanley
The errors of the previous match were quickly forgotten and after a slightly nervous start the Essex side got down to work with some breathtaking Rugby. Fighting for every last piece of possession Essex slowly increased the pressure on Somerset who finally cracked and sent a wayward pass which Sam Stanley intercepted and raced away to score. Essex never looked back with their confidence growing they played some of the best Rugby of the day with the gritty Rob Scott tackling anything in a purple shirt that had a ball. This set the stamp and with Somerset shying away from the physical approach and hard driving of Essex resorted to kicking away possession. One of these kicks was gathered by Owen Thomas who beat several weak tackles to score. Not to be outdone Sam Stanley claimed his second of the match.
Final
V
North Midlands
12 – 5
TRIES: Callum Howard, Michael Aryton
CONVERSIONS: Owen Thomas
With Essex lending their shirts to North Midlands who had a colour clash in their semi final my assurance to their Coach that they were lucky shirts could have come back to haunt me, after their scores were even at full time they went into a seven a side golden try play off only to break away and score after less than two minutes. So much for them tiring themselves out with the extra time, but my prophecy of ‘lucky shirts’ came true as wearing them in the final we were able to beat them and come home with the trophy!
The basis for the victory was a never say die attitude from the whole squad, every one of the sixteen had a part in the victory whether on the field or off. If they were on there was total commitment with very few tackles missed, and even less mistakes made with the ball in hand. When scoring opportunities arose they were executed with clinical precision. Off the field the substitutes supported with encouraging words and water when required. The first of two tries personified this approach when from a turnover Sam Stanley was able to step off his left foot, commit his defender and pass perfectly to Callum Howard to canter in. The Essex defence was instrumental in the final and winning score having strangled every effort that the opposition had made to escape from their own 22 they eventually took the option to kick away possession which we had proved was not correct way to play. This was underlined when Michael Aryton to the kick at full speed and ran fully sixty metres to score. This seemed to spur North Midlands to even more effort and all but the kitchen sink came Essex’s way fortunately only one got by and the final whistle saw a jubilant squad raise their arms in triumph to the applause of the mass of Essex supporters who had travelled to support them.
Regrets, a few the biggest of which was against Yorkshire who were there for the taking when the referee pulled a calf muscle and stopped play with the ball feet from the line to rob us of a 10 – 0 lead, which I doubt they could have recovered from. They would have been out and we probably could have won the main competition, that as they say is history and the record books will record the team as Plate Winners in a National competition open to all CB’s of the Rugby Football Union.
Great memories, too many to mention all but here are a few - from Jamie leaping to regain another of our kick offs, Robbie smiling as he smashed yet another opposition player into touch, but the best off all was Drew finally smiling, albeit enigmatically, as the final photo was taken of the squad with the trophy and their medals.
Good times!
