Six of the eight semi-finals in the Northern section of the National RU Under 17 Knockout Competitions went to the wire last weekend, with only a score separating teams at the final whistle.

Nowhere was the tension more keenly felt than in the Cup semi at Altrincham Kersal, where the home side scored two tries to one, but the boot proved decisive for the visitors, who went into the final against Stockport with a 13-10 victory.

League games between the sides have usually been close and after a nervous opening it was Tarleton who went ahead with a penalty from fly-half Andrew Bushell. The visitors then had to defend desperately as the opposition exerted immense pressure and were twice held up over the line, but the combination of discipline, courage, heart and determination ensured that Tarleton held their 3-0 lead at the interval.

Despite Tarleton’s defensive heroics, an Altrincham score seemed inevitable and with only a few minutes of the second half played, quick ball to wing gave James Coulson space to cross in the corner.

Tarleton’s response was immediate as fly-half Alex Roebuck pounced on a mistake to hack the ball forward a couple of times and claim a brilliant opportunist try which Bushell converted.

Altrincham then hit back with another clever move and scored their second unconverted try from Tim James to draw level at 10-10, only for Tarleton fly-half Roebuck to strike the most important kick of the game, a 40-yard drop-goal.

Even then the tension was not over as Altrincham were awarded a penalty kick, but they elected to spurn the kick at goal that might have brought them victory on a try count and instead went for the lineout option which Tarleton were able to defend successfully to claim a place in the final.

Tarleton are now rewarded with a home tie against current Cheshire Champions, Stockport in what will be the show case Northern Cup Final. The last encounter was won by Stockport 15-10, but Tarleton won the previous game at Tarleton 27-5.

Halbro Colts League champions Stockport completed a hat trick of wins over Penrith when they emerged 12-3 winners in Cumbria.

Penrith started brightly, fly-half James Ellar putting them ahead with a penalty, but they were to regret a handful of mistakes when tries beckoned and it was Stockport who claimed the first try on 20 minutes when they broke free to score on the flank.

They held that advantage going into the second-half and though Penrith threatened to recapture the lead, Stockport stood firm and eventually sealed victory when a quickly-taken tap penalty brought an overlap and the crucial try, a conversion from wide out settling the game.

Penrith never allowed their energy and commitment to falter, but they could not find the precision at crucial moments to penetrate a solid Stockport rearguard.

Neither was there any shortage of tension and pressure as Rishworthians from Halifax booked themselves a place in the Northern Plate final against Wirral with a 13-8 home win over Lymm after an intense and physical semi final with fast running rugby from both sides.

Rishworthians opened the scoring with a penalty from Edward Cockroft, but mid-way through a fast and furious half, quick hands across the backs from Lymm saw them score try wide out to take a 5-3 lead.

The home side were clearly stung by the setback and they regained the lead by half-time thanks to a try and conversion by Cockroft to go into the second-half with a 10-5 advantage.

The second half was as entertaining as the first, Cockroft nudging his side further ahead with another penalty, but Lymm refused to concede pulled back to within a score with a penalty.

The excitement created by two very capable teams playing enterprising rugby went to thr wire, but the Yorkshiremen holding out to clinch their place in the final at Wirral, 18-0 home winners over West Hartlepool.

Cup: Altrincham Kersal 10 Tarleton 13, Penrith 3 Stockport 12.

Plate: Wirral 18 West Hartlepool 0, Old Rishworthians 13 Lymm 8.

Bowl: Thornensians 10 Wetherby 17, Blaydon 12 Sheffield 17.

Shield: Keswick 10 Barnsley 3, Darlington Mowden Park 21 Pontefract 17.

North finals:

Cup: Tarleton v Stockport. Plate: Wirral v Old Rishworthians. Bowl: Wetherby v Sheffield.

All to be played on Sunday, April 6, 2008.

Shield: Keswick v Darlington Mowden Park

To be played Sunday, April 13, 2008.