Crewe Academy 8 Stockport 12

Last Sunday saw the Crewe & Nantwich Senior Academy Colts aiming to keep their challenge for “Triple” glory alive, away at Stockport RUFC in their Halbro League Cup quarter final.

Having won their division in the Halbro league, and with a Cheshire RFU Plate final against Wilmslow to come on the 24th, a League Cup run would be another great adventure in a great season.

The week of the game started with the squad arriving back into Manchester Airport on Monday night, after a two game, four day tour of Italy. The team sheet on Tuesday was looking thin to say the least, with injuries, illness and the reality of life (jobs, education etc) taking its toll.

However, by Thursday nights training session a team was put together and the fixture confirmed. So a reduced squad with some carrying injuries turned up at Stockport, determined to give the game a go.

From the start, it was C&N who took the game to Stockport, determined to make the most of the day and push for an early score. After a long period of C&N pressure and possession, it was Stockport who found a gap though, going over from long range for the first score that was converted.

C&N went straight back into Stockport and the game became a forwards battle for a while, resulting in an early departure for C&N’s Ben Applin. The referee adjudged Ben had taken a knock to the head in one of his many strong carries at centre and was asked to leave the field for his wellbeing.

With constant pressure on Stockport, C&N kept pushing and launching the backs when possible to gain territory. Strong performances from all over the pitch saw C&N five metres out with a well supported ruck, from which Josh Sourbutts picked and drove through three defenders in typical fashion to score. The breeze and angle meant the conversion went wide, but Logan Lynch soon took the chance to put C&N ahead with a well taken penalty.

By half time, Jordan Pepper had been added to the injury list with a knock and Stockport RUFC must have wondered when, not if, C&N would run out of steam.

The second half saw possession taking a step back to territory, as both teams wanted to play the game in the others half. With a succession of kicks breaking up play, Stockport again found a gap on the return and went over to take a slim lead by 12 – 8 and might have though the game was theirs, especially when Josh wisely came off with a bump and the C&N bench was empty.

C&N are made of strong stuff though and launched attack after attack. Logan popped a sublime off load to put Jacob clear, only for the well placed referee to disagree with everyone (including Stockport) that it was a forward pass.

Stockport still could not clear their lines and as the clock ran down C&N were camped on the Stockport line with the ball, going through phase after phase but unable to break through. Finally, tired hands knocked on and Stockport took a hard-earned victory 12 – 8.

A huge effort by C&N to make the game happen was followed by a great team performance on the pitch. We wish Stockport all the best in their game in the Semi Final against Littleborough and thank them for their superb hospitality.

Tries - J Sourbutts x 1
Pens - Lynch x 1