The Schools U16 Floodlit Cup Final Report
Thursday 20th March saw the culmination of the tenth U16s schools floodlit cup competition as, Farmors School (Fairford) and Burford Schools met in the final at Stow Rugby club. The two sides had met earlier in the pool stages where Farmor’s were victorious by 7 points to 6 in very difficult conditions. After both sides had won their respective semi finals fairly comfortably and the stage was set for another nail biting encounter – this time to decide the overall winners.
Both sides were highly motivated and with Burford playing into the wind the early encounters saw some fierce hits from both sides. Attacking opportunities were limited due to each team’s strong defensive work but it was Farmor’s who broke the deadlock midway through the first half.
They had been unlucky a few times following breaks from Rory Birtwistle and Max Dawe and it was Dawe who eventually broke the deadlock. Alistair Jarvis picked up a loose kick form the Burford full back and secured possession. From the resulting ruck, a well timed pass from Laurie Miller picked out Dawe who had made an excellent inside run. He pierced the Burford defence and scrambled his way over to score between the posts, Tony Clarke converted to make it 7.0
Burford kept up their good defence with some very good tackling and safe kicking but shortly before half time farmers won a penalty 30 metres out, unfortunately Clarke could not convert it and as the sides turned around the score remained at 7.0
Now playing with the elements Burford looked to have the upper hand and it seemed inevitable that they would soon have points on the board but despite their pressure, at times camping out on the opposition line a battling Farmors team kept them out . With only a couple of minutes remaining, Michael Birtwistle somehow got hold of a loose ball following a scrappy line out and broke up to the half way line. Burford were penalised in their attempts to get their hands back on the ball and Farmors were able to clear their lines, secure the line out ball and run down the clock.
The assembled crowd had been treated to a highly competitive game of rugby played by two totally committed teams, showing the just how important this competition has become since its inauguration 10 years ago by Cotswold School Rugby Guru Derek Thomas. Stow Rugby Club would like to thank letting agents Town or Village for their sponsorship and Club secretary Stuart Cherry for his dedication operating the bar and providing teas for the teams throughout the competition
Overview
For the last 8 seasons Stow RFC has been the venue for a unique sporting challenge. The Schools U16 Floodlit Cup is played between 10 or more schools from the Cotswold district with a grand final in March.
This Cup is unique because it is played through the winter months under the floodlights at the Stow RFC after school hours. The competition was the idea and has been organised since by the indefatigable Derek Thomas who is head of PE at The Cotswold School in Bourton on the Water.
This season, the Floodlit Cup is sponsored by Town or Village, a successfull property letting agency based in Islip
(Oxon) and now opening a North Cotswold office in Stow-on-the-Wold. Town or Village identifies closely with the team spirit of rugby (the owner is a New Zealander) and especially with the strong following of the Mini and Juniors section at Stow, where more than 250 kids between 5 and 17 play team games every Sunday watched by their families; it is quite a gathering.
All are welcome to the Cup games from mid October to the end of March and to any of our regular league games where you will be most welcome to enjoy the splendid location and the club house.
For more news contact Bill Cheston on 01451 830763 or bill.cheston@virgin.net
info@townorvillage.co.uk
www.townorvillage.co.uk
