Cheshire Cup 2014

We entered three teams in this year’s Cheshire Cup. Warriors and Wasps were selected from U7’s (year 2 players) and the Wizards who were U6’s (eligible year 1).

Each team played in a group of four with the final placing in the group determining whether they enter the Cup, Plate, Bowl or Vase knockout tournament.

Warriors (coached by Sarah and Alan)

Ethan, Haigh, Fraser, Holly, Harry W

The Warriors won all three of their group matches including a nail biting finish in their decider against Sale to win their group brilliantly and qualify for the Cup knockout stages. In the knockouts they drew two hard fought last 16 and quarter final matches but progressed to the Semi-finals on countback of tries in previous rounds. The semis brought them up against the eventual winners Macclesfield who had beaten the Wasps earlier in the day and a few unlucky moments early on in the match saw them drop behind by a couple of tries which proved just too difficult to recover. This was a fantastic show by the Warriors who did themselves and the rest of their Wirral team-mates proud.

Group games:

Warriors 11 : Bowden 7 (Ethan 4, Fraser 1, Haigh 1, Harry 3, Holly 2)
Warriors 9: Northwich 7 (Haigh 2, Harry 1, Holly 6)
Warriors 11: Sale 10 (Ethan 5, Haigh 1, Harry 3, Holly 2)

Cup Knockout:

Warriors 9: Macclesfield B 9 (Ethan 2, Haigh 3, Harry 2, Holly 2)
Warriors 8 : Crewe and Nantwich 8 (Ethan 1, Haigh 2, Harry 2, Holly 3)
Warriors 8: Macclesfield A 11 (Ethan 1, Fraser 1, Haigh 1, Harry 3, Holly 2)

Wasps (coached by Rich and John)

Dylan H, James, Harry Mac, David, Paddy.

The Wasps were drawn in what transpired to be the group of death containing the eventual winners of the Cup (Macclesfield), Plate (Sandbach) and Vase (Parkonians). Wasps opened with a three point win against Parkonians then defeat by the same margin to Macclesfield before drawing against Sandbach in very tight match. Great performances from all of the lads with everyone tagging hard and getting on the scoresheet. Wasps finished with the same win, draw, loss record as Sandbach so second and third places were decided on countback of tries score with Sandbach edging it by one try.

In the last 16 of the Bowl, Wasps played Wilmslow. The two teams matched each other play for play in each half scoring 8 tries each but the boys were to suffer the frustration of a scoring error giving Wilmslow (who eventually lost the Bowl final) the match 8-7. Again the boys should be very proud of their performances and take heart from the fact that like the Warriors they only genuinely lost a match to the eventual Cup winners and every team they played made a final.

Wirral Wizards (coached by Graham and Chris)

Jamie, Owen, Ben, William, Joel

The Wizards were our team comprising entirely u6 boys.

The boys were drawn in a group containing Stockport, Birkenhead Park and Knutsford. I don’t have the finer details of their matches, and can update if I get them later on, but I understand that they were pipped by only the odd try in each of their matches and performed absolutely brilliantly. Their last 16 Vase match ended in a draw but the boys went out on countback. Their coaches were delighted with how well they did. The success of next year’s U7’s looks to be in safe hands.

Overall a very successful day with some excellent performances and loads for players, coaches and families to be proud of. Finally, big thanks to all parents and families for making the trip across .