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COLCHESTER UNDER 14 FESTIVAL – SUNDAY 22nd APRIL 2007
Colchester Rugby Club hosted its annual Under 14 Festival last Sunday at Mill Road on a very warm and sunny day; with the lack of recent rain the pitches were hard and dusty, but with a good covering of grass.
Nine sides travelled to Colchester to join Colchester’s 2 squads. Unfortunately, strong club Norwich declined to take part feeling that the pitches were too hard. Colchester is very fortunate to have a huge squad at Under 14 level, and were able to field 2 teams, joining with Ipswich in representing Suffolk. North Walsham and Diss made the journey from Norfolk, and with Saffron Walden from Cambridgeshire completed the contingent of clubs from Eastern Counties. Clacton made a huge effort in raising an Under 14 team for the first time this season, joining with Harlow and Westcliff to represent Essex. Old Elthamians from Kent completed the participants.
In the morning, all clubs played four others, in 7-minute each way games, to determine which clubs played in the Trophy and Plate competitions. Ten points were awarded for a win with one bonus point for each try scored (up to a maximum of 5 per team per game).
Colchester’s ‘A’ squad were unbeaten in the morning, defeating Westcliff 19-5, Old Elthamians 15-0, Ipswich 22-0 and North Walsham 24-7. The ‘B’ squad also had a good morning, losing only once to Diss by 7-0, but defeating Harlow 19-0, Saffron Walden 24-5 and Clacton 22-0. Both Diss and Westcliff (to Colchester ‘A’) lost only one game each, to join both Colchester squads in the Trophy competition.
Harlow and North Walsham both won 2 games to join Ipswich and Old Elthamians, who had earlier shared a nil all draw, in the Plate competition. Both Clacton and Saffron Walden struggled to trouble the scorers, but were game in defeat, and contributed to a hugely enjoyable morning.
After 4 rounds, the league table was as follows :-
P W D F A Bonus Points
1st Colchester ‘A’ 4 4 78 12 14 54
2nd Colchester ‘B’ 4 3 65 12 11 41
3rd Westcliff 4 3 48 31 8 38
4th Diss 4 3 36 7 6 36
5th N.Walsham 4 2 38 48 6 26
6th Harlow 4 2 19 36 4 24
7th O.Elthamians 4 1 1 12 29 2 17
8th Ipswich 4 1 1 7 41 1 16
9th S.Walden 4 0 10 50 2 2
10th Clacton 4 0 7 48 1 1
Saffron Walden claimed the Spoon, defeating Clacton by 5-0
In the Plate semis, Ipswich improved on previous form to beat North Walsham by 12 points to 5, and joined Old Elthamians who defeated Harlow, to replay their previous scoreless draw. This was a much better match, and Old Elthamians put together some flowing rugby to defeat Ipswich by 12-5 to take the Plate back to Kent.
In the Trophy semis, Westcliff held off the challenge of Colchester ‘B’ by 10-7 to join Colchester ‘A’, who defeated Diss, in the Final. The Trophy Final was an excellent match, and with Westcliff raising their defensive game, the outstanding Colchester side had to work very hard at the end of a tiring day to score 3 tries to win by 17-5. Colchester captain, Tom Crozier collected the John Motum Plate. Colchester Flanker, Ben Wakefield collected the award for Player of the Tournament, voted by the referees
Thanks must go to the referees, Andy Docherty, Martin Goodman, Ross Cowie and Don Fisher of the London Society for their contribution to the day. Further thanks to Liz Merrick and Ian Succamore, Physiotherapist for tending to (thankfully few) injuries during the day.
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