Friary 34 - Newcastle Under Lyme School 7

Friary opened at a tremendous pace and played some fantastic rugby in the opening five minutes with forwards and backs linking nicely and making Newcastle defend frantically.

Player of the season Sam Coxon opened the scoring for Friary following good breaks by James Perrins, Shaun Smith and Adam Clarke. Richard Burton added the conversion. Despite losing the restart again Friary eventually made ground and nearly put Chris Fitzpatrick clear, but he was well tackled into touch. A good attacking scrummage position after twelve minutes led to James Perrins ignoring Callum Heanan outside him to just about stretch over the line for a try to be awarded. A well struck conversion by Heanan made the score 14-0.

Newcastle really couldn't set up any real attacking positions and when they did, the Friary tackling with Shayle Flynn prominent held firm. The front five of the Friary - Stuart Wilson, Calum Hagyard, Adam Clarke, Tom Wilkins and Nigel Overton really scrummaged well and competed well in the line outs. Further Friary pressure led to Newcastle killing the ball twenty metres out in front of the post for Richard Burton to kick a penalty to lead 17-0.

Just before half time, with Midlands Under 16 fly half Dan Robson probing well for the visitors, it was Robson who broke the Friary defence to set up the inside centre to score under the posts for Newcastle. Robson added the conversion. Half time score 17-7.

Friary needed to start the second half well, and that they did, playing at a pace similar to the first fifteen minutes of the first half. Again good build up play by the Friary forwards led to James Perrins charging over for his secong try.

Soon after, a passage of play covering the full length of the pitch led to Richard Fielding scoring a try to put Friary 27-7 ahead. Playing against the wind Robson's kicking brought Daniel Hathaway and Ryan Marshall into the game and both coped admirably.

All the very patient replacements were used in the last fifteen minutes of the game, with Wayne Turnbull making two fantastic tackles to defend the Friary try line. Just before he was replaced Shayle Flynn picked up and drove over after a fantastic run by Richard Fielding with Richard Burton converting to make the final score 34-7.

We now await our opponents in the final. A great achievement to reach the final again particularly having to beat teams like Denstone and Newcastle on the way.

Remember team work has got us to the final. Train together, play as a team and success could be achieved.

Squad used: - R. Marshall, S. Fielding, D. Hathaway, L. Dune't, S. Smith, R. Fielding, C. Fitzpatrick, W. turnbull, J. Baines, R. Burton, C. Heanan, C. Ryan, S. Wilson, C. Hagyard, A. Clarke, T. Wilkins, N. Overton, S. Coxon, S. Flynn, J. Perrins & D. Harris.