On Thursday, 25 January 2018 Weaverham High School played Birkenhead College in the final of the Cheshire cup at under 14 level. The game was played on the Astroturf pitch of Burnage Rugby Club. Weaverham had qualified for the final back in November but the final had been delayed by the schools in the draw being unable to play their matches due to the poor weather.
The 10:30am start may have seemed a little unusual for a weekday but Weaverham were wide-awake and fully fired up for the final. From the kick-off Weaverham players looked like they meant business and as the first attack of the game went through stages Weaverham cut through the Birkenhead half of the field. The midfield and backs moved fluently, Charlie Hyde took the ball over the line and Weaverham were ahead! The extra points for the conversion were kicked confidently by Logan Lynch and Weaverham were off to a dream start. This easy start had the impact that Weaverham relaxed and became complacent in their attitude to the game. A number of errors began to creep into their game including frequent knockoffs, infringements at the breakdown and uncharacteristically the Weaverham scrum appeared suspect.
Result of all these unforced errors was to put Weaverham on the back foot and for them to concede any territorial advantage as soon as it was gained. Defensive tackling became the order of the day while Mr Goodall roared instructions from the touchline. Every Weaverham player was called upon to make tackle after tackle and the try line was defended at all costs. Any forward momentum on Weaverham’s part was only achieved by Jude Lightfoot, Charlie Bancroft or Jack England crashing through tackles before the ball was conceded by yet another mistake.
Against the run of play Weaverham suddenly found themselves with ball in hand. Instinct took over and the ball was quickly shipped through midfield by Alex de Keyser and then through the hands and along the back line. This was done and speed and Weaverham found themselves rapidly progressing beyond Birkenhead 10 m line. Elliot Arnold took the ball and beat his man to find his way to the try line clear but having crossed the line had the presence of mind to head towards the posts before touching down. This made Logan Lynch’s conversion job much easier and with much relief Weaverham ended the half 14 points ahead.
After half-time team talks the match resumed in the manner of the first half. Weaverham made few mistakes Birkenhead reverted to a tight game of “pick and go”. This again put Weaverham on the defensive and meant that every player had to make their tackles. Weaverham reduce their errors and saw more of the ball but Birkenhead reverted to “pick and go” and again were in the Weaverham half. When Birkenhead charged down a kick they found themselves uncharacteristically in broken play. One of the few occasions in the half they moved the ball wide and found themselves in an overlap situation. With men to spare they beat the last Weaverham player and touched down to score a try. The conversion fell short but it’s impact stung Weaverham into life.
The game saw Weaverham’s big players making hard yards from the breakdown before the ball was moved wide. Fluency was not helped when Alex the Kaiser limped off the field and Joe Kolita took over at scrum-half. Birkenhead offered little beyond tight forward play while with ball in hand Weaverham were able to show their greater imagination and wider range of tactics. Having scored a try Birkenhead barely threatened the Weaverham 22 again. Bobbie Taylor, although rarely seen in an attacking role make sure no ground was lost down his line, and on those few occasions when Birkenhead made headway past Jude Lightfoot, Charlie Bancroft or Jack England, Daniel Hogarth was waiting in the centre to send them backwards.
The game been played increasingly in the Birkenhead half, you sensed it only needed Weaverham to avoid mistakes before they scored again. As the game headed towards its close Daniel Hogarth received the ball, beat his man and found himself in acres of space. Although over 30 m from the touchline there was no one in the way he made certain that no one was going to catch him. Touching all down and delete the post it was an easy conversion for Logan Lynch but having set the ball up on the tee and retreated to his mark could only watch as the ball wobbled off and had to be tamely kicked to the opposition.
In time for the restart Mr Goodall brought on his bench and facing some unfamiliar faces Birkenhead began aggressively. The Weaverham defence held firm and although a couple of mistakes prolonged the play there was no way Weaverham would allow themselves to concede. When the final whistle blew Weaverham found themselves worthy champions by a comfortable margin of 19 points to 5.