Middle of March, Mothers day and the Bath Premiership Rugby Land Rover Cup, what a treat for all Mums!! A day full of sunshine, Gin & Tonic, spent with their rufty tufty little boys!

The tournament is arguably the pinnacle of U12 rugby; mini rugby’s Blue Riband tournament. Run nationally by every Premiership rugby club. Bath’s leg of the tournament was no exception the quality of the 16 teams mustering was exceptional. It was clear over the course of the day to win, a team was going to have to put in some special performances to lift the cup, and win the trip to Twickenham for their squad to parade in front of 82,000 spectators at the Premiership final at the end of May…

Chew Valley playing in group A against Melksham, Corsham and North Dorset, First up Corsham. Chew were out of the blocks fast, focussed and determined, and within a few minutes of the 12 minute match, they scored, pay off for building phase play, combining powerful rucking with assured handling, the match continued in this pattern camped in the Corsham half for the rest of the match, scoring two more tries.

Next up North Dorset, A side we have wanted to play for a while but location and busy timetables meant we’d never got the opportunity. Probably one of Dorset’s best teams, big, physical and skilled, it was shaping up to be a great clash. Once again Chew focussed on their roles the patterns they had practiced and the intensity that they want to bring, it was indeed a bruising encounter both sides defence quite astonishing it took some superb handling and running angles to break the deadlock and Chew scoring in the corner after some powerful forward play. Chew continued to dominate the forward battle counter rucking and then ball retention. Another excellent win, Chew 2 from 2.

Next up Melksham, who had suffered a few injuries so we played 10 a side with 3 man scrums. The game was open and flowing and with 4 less people on the pitch there was space for us to play an expansive running game, quickly scoring 5 tries in the first half. The second half was much the same two more tries quickly scored and the game finished a little early (RFU 7 try difference rule)
Chew achieved the first hurdle to win their group and take on the runners up in Pool B…

Quarter finals, next up Devizes, again another team we have never played and knew very little about. Never the less, preparation was to be the same, execute the game plan that had been so successful in the group stages. Once again Chew dominated possession and territory, and at half time were 2-0 up playing great rugby. Then came a wobble… they conceded their first try of the tournament, an interception against the run of play, and from this, lunchtime pork pies, crisps and apple pies took over and Chew went to sleep and panicked a little, Devizes scored another very good individual try. Wake up time… and wake up they did, they slowed the play down concentrated on what makes them so strong and after some fantastic handling they scored the winner in the corner with a minute or so to go.

Semi finals, as the teams became fewer and fewer, matches came around very quicky! Not a lot of rest time and we were back on the pitch again to play Bradford on Avon. Nervy times? Yes for the coaches, clearly not for the players! Defence was solid, handling was again excellent and after a long 12 minutes although we hadn’t met the standards from the group stages, we had won 1-0 – Final time!!!

Who would it be Clifton or a very useful touring team from Bucks – Olney RFC – we watched the last half of their semi-final, ouch, brutal and bruising! The Final was not going to be a stroll in the park, top class rugby, Olney coming away with the spoils after a defensive master class 1-0.

Chew Valley v Olney what a script, perhaps Bucks finest V Somerset’s finest. 12 minutes of rugby winner takes all.

Chew Valley ten minutes before kick-off warming up, utter silence; absolute focus; each player going through their individual role to create the team. How much did they want this cup?

The whistle blows for kick off…

…what happened next was perhaps the teams finest 12 minute performance they have ever put in. Olney were immediately on the back foot, no ball to play with, all ball they did have was quickly turned over with the most ferocious, powerful rucking they had come up against, ever! From this forward domination the backs came to the party and with sublime running angles, handling skills and pressure they scored, then soon after another. Half time, 2-0 up, still focussed?...

…6 minutes of rugby to play, would the pork pies, crisps and apple pies come back? Nope! 2nd half started where they left off, play camped within 15 meters of the Olney try line. Olney’s defence was fantastic and a great match for Chew’s wave upon wave of attack… ooops a break away try… surely the pork pies…. Chew swallowed the hic-up and just to show it, powered over for a 3rd and final try. A minute later… the final whistle and Chew had won 3-1.

Bath Premiership Rugby Land Rover Cup Champions!

Next stop Twickenham!

Chew Valley v Corsham W 3-0
Chew Valley v North Dorset W 1-0
Chew Valley v Melksham W 7-0

Chew Valley v Devizes W 3-2
Chew Valley v Bradford on Avon W 1-0
Chew Valley v Olney W 3-1