On a scorching hot May afternoon, Sheffield ‘s undefeated U18 Colts came up against Tynedale RUFC (complete with the son of Dean Richards in the side and his father watching) in the semi final of the national cup.
A tight, tense game that had ebbed and flowed throughout was looking promising when Sheffield went 17-10 up with 20 minutes to go and optimism abounded. But a final devastating spell by Tynedale meant that Sheffield were to chalk up their first defeat in 2017/18 and were denied a place in the final eventually losing 38-17. While the score flattered Tynedale, in the end the better team won.
But that is not to take anything away from Sheffield who up until the 60th minute competed well and were deservedly in the lead only to see fatigue set in and for the team to lose concentration at key moments that eventually cost them the game.
However they have performed magnificently over the course of the year and have taken big scalps along the way including epic victories against Lymm (last years U17 cup finalists) and Bromsgrove (last years U17 Vase cup finalists) to end up amongst the last four teams in an English cup competition. It is a fitting tribute to this group of fine young men who have only lost three times in three years and have won the league for the last three years and the Yorkshire Cup for the last two which again should be a source of great pride to the club and it’s supporters.
Sheffield have one last hurrah when they take on Old Rishworthians in the final of the Yorkshire Cup on Thursday night at Sandal RUFC which hopefully will be a fitting send off to this superb team.