Topsham U17 Colts fall just short in U17 National Cup SW Final

With only 12 true U17s available and the U16s playing a tough Fishermans Cup game against Ivybridge in the morning and both squads struggling with injuries and illness, numbers for the U17 line up were decimated.

But true to form the Topsham players stood up and played strongly throughout but just lacked the finishing they needed to sneak the win.

The Trowbridge ground provided excellent facilities and the pitches were true and flat, the weather was good and Tops started playing into a constant breeze.

As expected Chinnor were out of the starting gate fast and hard, with strong runners particularly at 15 and 14 they caused Tops problems from the start and scored within the first two minutes but missed the conversion 0-5.

Tops got back to business and through good rucking and mauling gained good ground before the ball passed through hands and out to George Howill who still had a lot to do but a great step in and out and blistering pace around the defender to score in the corner. Gwyn Parks took the conversion into the wind from just inside touch and although a good strike was on target the ball dropped short, 5-5.

Chinnor know they’re in a game now and again Tops make ground against the wind and get the pressure down through line out, mauls, pick and goes and backs moves until finally Will Counsell scores a great individual try jinking and spinning through, breaking tackles to score under the posts and Gwyn converts. 12-5.

Chinnor react well and come back immediately after Tops make penalty mistakes inside Chinnors half and they tap and go twice and run hard to gain large territory that gets them to 5m and through pick and go they batter through the defensive line to score near the posts, apparently the conversion hit the outside of the post when it looked as if it went through and the touch judges flags went up so score moved to 12-10.

The game is tight and tense and both teams are working hard with Chinnor determined to take back the lead they succeed with their strong running 14 who somehow manages to get down the touch line and through tackles and from a long way out he scored wide left. The conversion is missed and the score at half time is 12-15.

The second half was a game of attrition but with Tops having significant territory and possession they just couldn’t find the ‘go forward’ they needed.

It was sensed that if Tops could get the score Chinnor would fold as their tactic of defend the advantage was likely to backfire and Topsham would then take advantage playing with the wind and having the momentum.

Sadly the momentum they were building kept breaking down with stoppages for injuries to Tristan May, Will Counsell, Fin Marks and Oz Martin and other delaying tactics being employed disrupting the ability of Topsham to build the pressure.

This compounded with the little errors being made meant that the boys never quite got within decent striking distance and credit to Chinnor for defending well.

So with no score in the second half the final whistle saw Chinnor the winners. On another day the score would have been reversed but the boys can be proud to be a top two team in the South West and in the top 8 in the country.