Liverpool Collegiate’s Under 14s squad took the first County trophy of the season, the Lancashire Under 14s Development Tens Trophy.
In what is believed to be a unique competition for clubs, members of both the County Under 14s and also the county’s three District Development squads are ineligible to take part. Playing ten-a-side, the clubs’ lesser lights have an opportunity to shine in a county tournament that provides them with more room and time to display and develop their skills.
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In addition to player development, this annual ‘tens’ festival was designed to encourage junior referees and junior volunteers. Whilst Craig Price, hooker with the Lancashire Under 18s Development Squad, took charge of the Liverpool Collegiate v Southport final it was 16 year-old Ryszard Chadwick who particularly caught the eye.
A member of the Collegiate club, Ryszard put in an assured performance throughout the day, seizing this opportunity to step up from refereeing in Mini rugby and take centre stage at Junior level. With his own club involved in the final, he took charge of the 3rd place play-off.
John Tully, advisor to Lancashire’s Junior Referee scheme and watching the young official for the first time, was impressed. “Such was his confidence, without knowing the background, the spectators would not have realised his relative inexperience. A very promising start”, he concluded.
Staged at West Park, Collegiate took the 2007 trophy (won in the competition’s first year by Preston Grasshoppers). Having dominated the earlier stages of the competition, the Liverpool side went ahead in the opening minute of the final through a sparkling run from winger, Ben Wilson, converted by Jonathan Hennessey.
Southport worked their way back into contention with excellent work from Nathan Hume, who put Danny Ferreria on his way to the try-line.
Danny Banks slotted his kick to equal the scores at 7 – 7. Brothers, Danny and Jamie Kraft worked hard as did Will Scott-Adams, but when Collegiate’s James Hall exploited a gap in Southport’s defence on the stroke of halt-time, the Liverpool side opened up an unassailable lead.
Paul Jones, Shaun Rahman (with two) and Louis Maxwell grounded the second half tries. Hennessey’s final conversion, his 17th of the day giving a 77% success rate, took the result to 38-7.
Ormskirk beat the hosts, West Park, in the third place play-off.
Picture: Collegiate’s skipper, Jack Buckton leads his successful team through Southport’s tunnel on route to the medal presentation ceremony.
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