Falmouth u14s 45, Wadebridge 41

WITH a total of 86 points scored, 14 tries, and only 4 points separating the two teams at the end of a high tempo and thrillingCRFU Bowl final, the game was truly a spectacle for all spectators, with a nailbiting finish.

Falmouth got the game under way, and before there was time to settle, Wadebridge gladly accepted the ball and set out their stall with a strong drive back into the Falmouth half.

With quick ball the blind side was exploited and the scoreboard started ticking over, little did it know how busy it was going to be!

Wadebridge were quickly into their stride and some mistimed tackling allowed them in for their second, but two missed conversions at this early point was going to cost. The young Eagles needed a reply before their opposition got too far ahead.

From their own 22 the ball was spread along the back line to Isaac Adewole who stretched his legs and showed how much of a threat he poses any defence to get Falmouth into the game, with Harvey Martin adding the conversion.

The restart was short, but Falmouth were caught napping and Wadebridge pounced to reassert their lead, again the conversion was missed.

Fifteen minutes into the game and Falmouth found themselves 15 to 7 down and stuck in their own half. They were awarded a penalty on their own 22 which they choose to run, and in a repeat of their opening try allowed the ball to move through the hands for Isaac to beat the cover and score his second.

Although Wadebridge managed to dive over from close range, with successful conversion, the end of the first half saw Falmouth put increasing pressure on their opponents, keeping them pinned in their own 22, but unable to add any more to their own score with the half ending 22 to 12 in Wadebridges’ favour.

Falmouth knew that they needed to get on the scoreboard early in the second half and did so straight from the kick-off, holding onto possession and driving back into the Wadebridge half. The ball went left then cut back right, down the blind side, and Guy Brooks managed to elude several would be tacklers to bring Falmouth back within a score.

However, this wasn’t to last as Wadebridge turned over the ball, as Falmouth attempted to clear their line, and drive through some weak tackling to maintain their lead.

The Eagles then put together some great forward drives, recycling the ball quickly and moving down field, until the ball was released along the back line to Isaac who did the rest to round the defence and score his hat-trick.

With the game still finely balanced Wadebridge hit a rich vein and scored two unanswered tries, first from a kick through and the second from a turnover as Falmouth tried to run out of defence from a quick penalty.

This put Wadebridge clear at 41 to 24 with less than 10 minutes remaining, surely the result was clear now. However the young Eagles are not a team to drop their heads and roll over, they had to score tries, and score quickly. Some tenacious hounding of loose ball regained possession and allowed Falmouth to attack straight through the middle resulting in Guy breaching the last defender to run in between the posts; importantly Harvey added the extra points.

From the restart Falmouth secured possession and again ran hard straight down the middle, drawing in the defence and creating space and holes that were exploited by the determined Falmouth back line. After some determined rucking from the Falmouth pack, to retain possession and keep the momentum going, Guy again found himself in the clear and rounded off his hat-trick of tries under the posts.

The game was nearly up, the clock had just about run its course, but still time for the restart, Falmouth possession and the last roll of the dice. Was this really going to be the fairytale finish, or the heartbreak at the end of a long and tough season for the young Eagles?

Tired legs and waning energy levels at the end of this fast paced and enthralling game saw gaps opening up in the Wadebridge defence but with such a huge prize on offer Falmouth came again and drove hard up field. Incredibly, as defenders were swept aside, Falmouth tucked the ball up their jumper with only one destination in mind. With the last play of the game, and after some solid build up by the forwards, the backs cut loose and Guy broke the last line of defence to run in for Harvey to convert and make the score 45-41 in favour of Falmouth, bringing the curtain down on an incredible game.