Aston won the toss and elected to kick off on a sunny morning at Dudley Kingswinford. Much like the opening rounds of a championship boxing match both sides spent the first 10 minutes testing each other’s close defence on or around the half way line. Both sides tackled ferociously and both teams completely forget to play for any territory. As the first half continued, Aldridge gave away the first of series of penalty infringements for repeated offside and breakdown infringements. Aston struggled to take full advantage of these penalties and having kicked to touch and won the lineout chose to crash the ball through the centres into a very strong Aldridge midfield defence. A yellow card against the Aldridge 15 was eventually forthcoming following a cynical infringement which prevented a Aston try. Aston kicked to the corner but made the wrong tactical decision to run the ball wide on first phase. Such tactical errors were becoming a key theme in Aston’s performance. Aldridge cleared and via smart kicking from their 10 managed to work their way up-field. Following a long clearance to the Aston 22’ there was an attempted quick throw-in which resulted in a disastrous turnover and penalty to Aldridge. Penalty converted 3-0.

The rest of the half petered out into a tactical stalemate whilst Aston failed to utilise territory and were paralysed on half way. The second half started poorly for Aston with a penalty conceded immediately from kick off. Aldridge kicked to the corner and began a period of 10 minutes of intense pressure on the Aston try line during which Nick Whiteman received a yellow card. Aldridge eventually took advantage of this and spread the ball wide to score an excellent try under the posts. Conversion scored 10-0. The introduction of Darren Gardner injected some much needed energy into the Aston players and Aston immediately gained some territory from the kick off. Following several good kick’s Aston won the ball in the Aldridge 22’ and a penalty was conceded. Ethan Channer converted to make in 10-3. Momentum was well and truly with Aston for the next 15 minutes and Aston finally started to play for territory. Chevel Taylor and Kieran Burke were superb in this period of play by chasing every kick and placing the Aldridge back 3 under immense pressure. After a strong period of play in the Aldridge 22’ another penalty was conceded and despatched over the posts by Ethan Channer 10-6.

From the kick off, Aston cleared downfield. Ian Lyons coordinated a superb period of attacking rugby which led to Jerome Jaddoo feeding the ball to Chevel Taylor to score in the corner. Conversion missed and 11-10 with 5 minutes to go. Aldridge’s 10 put in a superb kick off and Aston fumbled to restart to immediately gift Aldridge a penalty. With minutes to go Aldridge’s 15 kept a calm head an despatched the penalty over the posts to make it 13-11. Despite this disappointment, Aston came back strongly and won a penalty with a minute to go. Unfortunately the penalty struck the post and Aston were left considering what might have been. An obvious disappointment for a young side but it is a good achievement to make a final. Aldridge played well and stuck to a game plan which Aston failed to do. An honourable mention should go to Aston’s front row who scrummaged superbly all game.