Senior Academy 25 Sale 18's 17

An expectant crowd gathered at the Vagrants on Sunday, to see Crewe & Nantwich Senior Academy Colts host Sale FC in the last game of the Halbro Colts League 2022.

Sale FC arrived as the only team in the league to beat C&N in the competition. With C&N already crowned Division Champions and the teams meeting again in the Cheshire Plate Semi-final in two weeks’ time, there was everything to play for.

After initial exchanges saw C&N shading the possession and territory battle, a series of C&N penalties gave Sale the first score, a quick tap and go from close to the C&N line to lead by 5.

From the C&N kick off, Dan Mckenna hunted down their receiver to put another one of his inch perfect tackles and force the penalty, which Logan Lynch slotted to bring C&N straight back to 3 – 5.

Playing into a stiff breeze, C&N pushed to keep in Sale FC half. A knock on by Sale gave C&N a scrum just outside Sales 22m, from which Harley Lewis at No. 8 picked and passed to Tom Ryle at 9. Tom’s grubber through was chased down by Harry Leech who collected brilliantly to score in the corner, this was Harry's first touch of a ball in a game since October after sustaining a nasty ankle injury in a game at Preston Grasshoppers. Logan Lynch slotted a difficult kick from the side line 25m out to take C&N to 10 – 5.

The points kept coming now, as C&N returned Sales kick off with a great break by Ollie Hollins who made 50 metres plus before forcing a penalty from Sale in front of the posts, Logan took the points again to see C&N lead by 13 – 5.

C&N had the momentum now and kept the pressure on. A Sale lineout 30m out from their line was stolen by C&N, who moved the ball wide to get Ollie Hollins again making metres before offloading to Jacob Aston O'Donovan who went over in the corner for C&N to lead 18 – 5 at half time.

With the wind behind them for the second half, C&N were expected to stretch their lead which at first they did. A steal from Sales lineout 30m out was worked hard through the forwards who carried and off loaded brilliantly to keep C&N on the front foot. With the Sale defence dragged in, Logan spotted a gap, slipped two tackles and ran in for a great team try, knocking over the conversion as well. With C&N leading 25 – 5 and the wind behind them all was looking good for C&N.

However, Sale are made of strong stuff and showed their character to keep pushing hard. As they gained territory and put C&N under pressure, the penalty count rose and Sale went over to bring the scores to 25 – 10.

Sale now had the momentum and were camped in the C&N half. Champions are made of strong stuff as well though and C&N put in a defensive shift to keep Sale out until the last play of the game, when they moved the ball wide to go over in the corner, with the extras taken the game ended 25 – 17 to C&N.

As the final whistle went C&N celebrated a fine Halbro League campaign, which has seen them defeated only once since September. Therefore engraving Crewe and Nantwich's Senior Colts name on the Leagues honours board for the first time in 22 yrs. A brilliant effort by some superbly talented young men, who will go on to be the future of the club.

Tries - Jacob x 1, Harry x 1, Logan x 1
Conversions - Logan x 2
Pens - Logan x 2