Forest of Dean Combination Minor Cup Final

After a tough season, it was great to see the Phoenix contest the FoD Combination Cup Minor final against Berry Hill at Drybrook on Friday 29th April.

The team arrived early, to put in a good pre-match warm up, only to find late on that kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes because three Berry Hill players were held up in traffic. Hard to say whether this would come back to bite the Phoenix but as we shall see, they did fade when we got into the last quarter.

When the match finally started, Newent kicked off into the sun and came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders. They were soon rewarded with a penalty which Jack Carpenter duly converted for a 3-nil lead.

Berry Hill then pressed and eventually were awarded a penalty which they also put between the sticks to level the scores after 10 minutes.

After a period of Berry Hill pressure Seb Venn and Jordon Devries made good ground into the Deers 22 and from a subsequent scrum, No 8 Devries picked up and crashed over for a great try. Carpenter converted to give Newent a 10-3 lead after 25 minutes.

There followed a long period of severe Berry Hill pressure on the Newent line when one felt they had to score. However, an amazing defensive effort kept them out until an interception and huge relieving kick to touch by Simeon Daniels took play back deep into the Deers territory.

A Devries yellow card followed on 35 minutes, after which Berry Hill scored a good try wide out which they failed to convert.

Half time score: 10-8 to Newent.

As the second half commenced Berry Hill were able to get the crucial next score with a try and conversion to take the lead for the first time, always a psychological boost.

A superb break by Richard Merrett from well inside Newent’s half looked certain to end in a try but the pass to Venn, steaming up in support, went astray. From the subsequent scrum, Hill were able to get the ball back into Newent territory.

Despite losing a player to a red card Berry Hill were starting to gain the upper hand, with some wise old heads in the Deers pack, some astute kicking and the pace of their blindside flanker becoming a thorn in Newent’s side.

Sean Clifford received a yellow card late on for a debatable high tackle before the Deers scored a final try and conversion.

In the dying minutes, Hill sealed the win with a penalty leaving Newent feeling bitterly disappointed at the missed opportunity of a winner’s medal.

Full Time Score: Newent Phoenix 10 Pts – Berry Hill 30 Pts.
Tries: Jordon Devries.
Conversions: Jack Carpenter
Penalty: Jack Carpenter
Team:
M Morris (Capt.), J Ormond, D Boon, S Clifford, K Linney, H Newbold-Cozens, S Daniels, J Devries,
S Venn, W Ormond, J Havard, R Merrett, O Mansfield, S Renouf-Preece, J Carpenter
Bench: B Matthews, T Gay, J Turner, T Mortimer

Comment:
Despite the loss, the excitement of a cup final in front of a good crowd on a sunny late April evening is hard to beat.
Whether the delayed start made any difference, who’s to know. Maybe the substitutions could have come earlier or been managed differently is debatable. However, nothing should detract from Berry Hills victory which was hard won in a very competitive match. Despite the loss the Newent lads should be proud of the effort they showed, and the experience will hold them in good stead next time out.