3 Feb 2008 - Nailsea & Backwell U14s 25 - Weston Hornets U14s 0

The much awaited Combination Plate Final arrived, played at Chew Valley RFC on a dry, gusty February morning.  Since narrowly losing in the first round against St Mary’s, N&B had swept all before them in their three rounds of the Plate tournament, scoring 131 points without reply, to take N&B to the final against Weston Hornets.

The first quarter was evenly contested, both sides testing each other however N&B used their big mobile forwards to establish an attacking 5 metre scrum. The front row unit of Jack McCormick, Will Tobin and hooker Andrew Montgomery delivered clean ball for flanker Elliott Cheesright to pick up and drive over for the opening score. Hornets came back strongly, attacking at pace through their well drilled backs, the N&B line held firm, with big tackles in midfield from Jack Noble and Mackenzie McCormick.  Eventually strong runs from forwards Nick Weaver and Matt Wilson set up a ruck on the Hornets line.  Once again it was man mountain Cheesright who battered his way over the line, with Hornets defenders hanging off every appendage bar one.

Next it was the flying machine, Troy Atkinson, creating havoc with a 70 metre mazy run, support was on hand and the ball quickly moved wide to put fullback Miles Pillay over in the opposite corner for a well worked try, Jack Fairs unluckily hitting the post with his touchline conversion attempt. Half time arrived with N&B 15 – 0 ahead.

N&B were immediately back on the offensive, flanker Henry Ivall and Ben Marshall combining well to take play to the Hornets line for a series of attacking scrums.  Scrum half and skipper Mitch Spencer’s clever miss pass put centre Grady Wright in under the posts. Hornets continued to battle away, gaining a good attacking position on the N&B try line. A big tackle from centre Will Jacobek forced a turnover, Cheesright gathered and again stormed 60 metres into Hornets territory before unloading to Grady who galloped in for a sensational length of the field score.

Hornets never gave up, playing great rugby, handling, passing and supporting very well, although time and again they were cut down by superb tackling.  Full time arrived with the score 25 -0 to N&B, who had not conceded a single point in the Plate Tournament and played an exciting brand of open attacking rugby.  Congratulations to every member of the squad, the coaches and parents, everybody reflecting great credit on Nailsea and Backwell RFC.