Blast from the Past #11

To close the 2013/14 season for Sedge we are taking one last trip down memory lane, and boy is this a special one. It is further back than we have travelled before! This time we are revisiting when Sedge got through to the Bradford Cup final in 2003 (Where, would you believe it, a promising young forward by the name of Robert Bahan scored in an 18-10 loss to Queeny). And this is how we did it, with a rampant win away to higher ranked Vic Rangers in the Semis. It’s quite amusing looking how things have changed in the local RL scene in just over ten years, with some teams in this report from the T&A archives no longer in existence – but despite this article being a decade old there are a fair few names people will recognise,…

Match Date: 19/11/2003
Competition: Jack Senior Bradford Cup (Semi-Final)
Result: Victoria Rangers 15 Odsal Sedbergh 44

Birky are bombed out by Charlton
Report by Bradford Telegraph & Argus

Queensbury will meet Odsal Sedbergh in the Jack Senior Memorial Bradford Cup final at Odsal Stadium following two absorbing semi-final encounters. Holders Queensbury always had the upper hand against fellow Premier rivals Birkenshaw but they had to battle all the way to gain their 7-0 success. The turning point of the game came with the only score of the first half. Loose forward Lee Charlton hoisted a huge bomb to the posts and Birky full back Morton Robinson lost the ball under pressure. Opposite number Steve Eyles gratefully snapped up the resulting gift to score. The clinging mud made certain both defences were well on top and it took a drop goal from substitute Mark Craft plus a late penalty from stand off Paul Drake to clinch the tie.

Odsal Sedbergh gave Victoria Rangers a lesson in cup rugby as they coasted to a surprise 44-15 win at Newlands Sports Ground. Sedbergh made a mockery of their underdogs tag, racing to a 22-1 half-time lead. Sedbergh scrum half Darren Collins bossed the show, posting two tries and four conversions. Centre Steve Brown roared in for a hat-trick, while Gavin Buckley (2) and Bob Chapman (2) also crossed. Rangers restored some pride with tries from Saqib Murtza, Dave Newhall and stand off Mick Sigston.

Thornton booked their first-ever final appearance with a 16-6 win at Odsal Sedbergh A in the Hudson & Foster Supplementary Bradford Cup. Thornton led 8-6 at the break following touchdowns from Damien Birkett and Guy Dunn and they didn't wrap up the game until ten minutes from time when second row forward Paul Kubanski powered over. Dunn added a further two goals.

Clayton stopped Division One title-chasers Thornhill Trojans in their tracks with an 11-8 success at Lidget Green.The Villagers gained ample revenge for their 62-0 away defeat when a superb long pass from Craig Pickthall put Richard Wood over the whitewash. A brilliant second-half effort from speedy centre Jason Brooksbank plus a conversion and a drop goal from wily hooker Peter Milnes made sure of the spoils.

West Bowling A were given a fright before a late try from Eddie Womersley earned them a 20-16 win against Keighley Town at Bankfoot. Forward Bob Benn also made the whitewash and Paul Priestley rounded the win off with a try and four goals. At the bottom of Division Two, Dudley Hill Eagles posted a much-needed win 19-16 at home to Queensbury A. The Division Three basement clash saw Undercliffe complete a double over Wyke with a 26-18 win. Paul Coates, Craig Scott (2) and Paul Phillips crossed for the black and whites while Richard Harrison, Alex Scargill and a cracking hat-trick from Liam Jordan earned Undercliffe the much-needed points.

Silsden Park Rangers have been in awful form lately but they breathed fresh life into their promotion challenge with a 24-10 win at Todmorden. Player-coach Jon Gwilliam was delighted with the result saying: "We changed the team round a bit and gave them a rollicking after last week's performance and it seemed to do the trick." Man-of-the-match Danny Horn, Matt Bowness and Chris Sutcliffe scored Silsden's tries.

You can read over all the Blast from the Past articles HERE (and with no rugby for a few months there's no excuse not to have a gander!)

Updated 10:25 - 5 Sep 2019 by Jonathon Ward