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Semi Final Triumph
arron chorley22 Mar 2015 - 18:26
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Egremont Seal final place with a 18-8 victory over Widnes St Maries in the Barla National Cup Semi Final
25 years since last triumphing in the prestigious BARLA National Cup Egremont Rangers were seeking to reach the final once again. Standing in their way was Widnes St Maries who themselves had cup dreams and aspirations.
It was a sunny day in Cheshire as Egremont travelled down the M6 to tackle the tough semi-final. Boded by confidence for earlier performances in the cup Egremont were looking forward to what should have been an entertaining game of Rugby.
The game as expected got off to a physical start with both teams not wanting to let the other take advantage however after the Widnes side kicked out on the full on the back of their first set. It was Egremont who were gifted field position, after failing to break down the St Maries defence in the first 4 tackles it came down to a beautiful low kick from stand off Matty Henson allowing Loose forward Kieran Glenn to collect after a slight deflection to cross for the first points of the game in only the 3rd minute 4-0 to Egremont. The Resulting Conversion was unsuccessful so the score line remained 4-0.
From the restart an Egremont mistake gifted St Maries Possession in a good attacking area, however strong Egremont defence stopped the Widnes side from posting points on the board. The game once again went back into the battle however it was soon evident what the St Maries game plan was with them constantly trying to slow the Egremont Play the Ball down stopping the roll on at times there was fine line between great tactics or awful rugby league. However with the Referee seemingly ignoring it the Widnes side continued, slowly turning the game into a war of attrition which was like watching paint dry at times.
Never the less Egremont still were able to march their way down the field and on 10 minutes extended their lead when a superb bullet pass from Hooker Daniel Telford allowed Winger Jack Stainton to cross in the corner to stretch the lead out to 8-0, once again the resulting conversion was missed. 8-0 to Egremont the Score remained.
The game then went back to the grind and still continued in a like watching paint dry fashion as the script for the rest of the game well and truly written. Egremont were slowly getting frustrated with the way the game was going and on the back of numerous mistakes St Maries crossed for their first points of the game on 17 minutes when they managed to poke there nose through the defensive line with a scoot over try; 8-4 now with St Maries also missing their resulting conversion.
The Game was now well and truly a battle of two game styles it was only a question of who would crack, just when it looked as though the Widnes side were tiring a break from the 30m line after a short line pass set up some wonderful field position and after a couple of plays across the field allowed the St Maries winger to cross un apposed in the corner. 8-8 with the kick to come, the kick was yet again missed 8-8 with 35 minutes on the clock.
The score remained the same until half time.
The second half continued in the same fashion with slow play the balls and no expansive rugby it was like going back to the 70s/80s to watch a game of rugby not 2015, with both crowds getting behind their team and on the back of the referee but nothing seemed to change it wasn’t until the 16th minute of the second half when the next points were finally posted after a rare penalty was awarded to Egremont, with the game being so close the Penalty Kick was opted for, the kick was swiftly put over by Ross Brookes 10-8 to the Mont.
Both teams were still going hammer and tong with each other both trying to breach the others defence however it was on 62 minutes when yet another penalty kick was swiftly put over by Ross Brookes to extend the lead out to 12-8.
The crowd now were on the edge of their metaphoric seat, not for the Rugby that was on show but with the fact that nobody knew what was going to happen yet. However the game was finally sealed and that all important final place booked when Man of the Match Prop Forward Tom Horner battled his way to the line on the 80th minute. The conversion was successful by Ross Brookes 18-8 to the Mont. Full time and the celebrations commenced as Rangers booked their place in the prestigious cup final 25 years after winning it.
It was a sunny day in Cheshire as Egremont travelled down the M6 to tackle the tough semi-final. Boded by confidence for earlier performances in the cup Egremont were looking forward to what should have been an entertaining game of Rugby.
The game as expected got off to a physical start with both teams not wanting to let the other take advantage however after the Widnes side kicked out on the full on the back of their first set. It was Egremont who were gifted field position, after failing to break down the St Maries defence in the first 4 tackles it came down to a beautiful low kick from stand off Matty Henson allowing Loose forward Kieran Glenn to collect after a slight deflection to cross for the first points of the game in only the 3rd minute 4-0 to Egremont. The Resulting Conversion was unsuccessful so the score line remained 4-0.
From the restart an Egremont mistake gifted St Maries Possession in a good attacking area, however strong Egremont defence stopped the Widnes side from posting points on the board. The game once again went back into the battle however it was soon evident what the St Maries game plan was with them constantly trying to slow the Egremont Play the Ball down stopping the roll on at times there was fine line between great tactics or awful rugby league. However with the Referee seemingly ignoring it the Widnes side continued, slowly turning the game into a war of attrition which was like watching paint dry at times.
Never the less Egremont still were able to march their way down the field and on 10 minutes extended their lead when a superb bullet pass from Hooker Daniel Telford allowed Winger Jack Stainton to cross in the corner to stretch the lead out to 8-0, once again the resulting conversion was missed. 8-0 to Egremont the Score remained.
The game then went back to the grind and still continued in a like watching paint dry fashion as the script for the rest of the game well and truly written. Egremont were slowly getting frustrated with the way the game was going and on the back of numerous mistakes St Maries crossed for their first points of the game on 17 minutes when they managed to poke there nose through the defensive line with a scoot over try; 8-4 now with St Maries also missing their resulting conversion.
The Game was now well and truly a battle of two game styles it was only a question of who would crack, just when it looked as though the Widnes side were tiring a break from the 30m line after a short line pass set up some wonderful field position and after a couple of plays across the field allowed the St Maries winger to cross un apposed in the corner. 8-8 with the kick to come, the kick was yet again missed 8-8 with 35 minutes on the clock.
The score remained the same until half time.
The second half continued in the same fashion with slow play the balls and no expansive rugby it was like going back to the 70s/80s to watch a game of rugby not 2015, with both crowds getting behind their team and on the back of the referee but nothing seemed to change it wasn’t until the 16th minute of the second half when the next points were finally posted after a rare penalty was awarded to Egremont, with the game being so close the Penalty Kick was opted for, the kick was swiftly put over by Ross Brookes 10-8 to the Mont.
Both teams were still going hammer and tong with each other both trying to breach the others defence however it was on 62 minutes when yet another penalty kick was swiftly put over by Ross Brookes to extend the lead out to 12-8.
The crowd now were on the edge of their metaphoric seat, not for the Rugby that was on show but with the fact that nobody knew what was going to happen yet. However the game was finally sealed and that all important final place booked when Man of the Match Prop Forward Tom Horner battled his way to the line on the 80th minute. The conversion was successful by Ross Brookes 18-8 to the Mont. Full time and the celebrations commenced as Rangers booked their place in the prestigious cup final 25 years after winning it.
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