City’s dream of progressing to a Twickenham final disappeared at the quarter-final stage of the National Intermediate Cup as Whitehaven side St. Benedicts proved the stronger at Hollow Drift in a very hard-fought match and ended deserved winners.

With several regulars missing , City were never able to get on top in the forwards and provide the quick ball their backs have thrived on all season and indiscipline certainly did not help their cause, three players being yellow-carded at different times. Eventually, having clawed their way back from a 5 – 20 deficit to lead 22 – 20, it cost them in the last quarter of an hour as the visitors ran in 3 late tries.

They led after 6 minutes from virtually their first attack, a St. Benedicts’ clearance being charged down after a good box-kick by scrum-half Will Paxton and full-back Phil Stewart pouncing on the loose ball to put them 5 – 0 ahead.

But the visitors pressed throughout and eventually got their reward when No. 8 Steven Nelson scored from a driven lineout and followed it up with his second try 5 minutes before the interval, beating two City defenders to score after taking a great off-load from hooker Ben Harrison. With centre Kurt Maudling then kicking a penalty, they had earned a deserved 13 – 3 interval lead.

They quickly added to it after the re-start, scrum-half Gavin Maudling scoring after a number of phases and Kurt Maudling converting to stretch their advantage to 20 – 5, but then the City fight-back began.

Winger Sam Heron forced his way over for a try after good work by Stewart and centre Bradley Pears had created the position, stand-off Paul Armstrong converted, added a penalty and with 20 minutes left they grabbed the lead at 22 – 20 when replacement Tom Hodgson picked up a loose ball and put Armstrong over under the posts for a try which he duly converted.

But down to 14 men again in the last 10 minutes, they tired and St. Benedicts re-asserted themselves to run in 3 late tries through Gavin Maudling, Mark Caulfield and Scott Wood, one which Kurt Maudling converted to secure their place in the semi-final.

For City, it’s back to league action, with the next fixture against Ryton at Hollow Drift (KO. 3.00pm).

CITY: Phil Stewart; Chris Metcalfe, Bradley Pears, Craig Dominick, Sam Heron;
Paul Armstrong(c), Will Paxton; Mike Hay, Kenny Reader, Benny Parkinson,
Tom Wilkinson, Kevin Showler, Howard Johnson, Arnie Stevenson, Paddy Dias.

Replacements: Tom Hodgson, Tim Mackay, Colin Hogg, Kyle Wilson