This was a great win for the final game of the season which was a fantastic season for Northwich 3rds

5th in the league, the highest position ever achieved by the 3rd team.

Bowden 3rds 10 v Northwich 3rds 36

This was a great win for the final game of the season which was a fantastic season for Northwich 3rds ending up 5th in the league, the highest position ever achieved by the 3rd team.
Initially this was a hard fought game and Northwich gained a penalty outside Bowden’s 22 metre line which Tom Sparks converted. Tom, who normally plays in the forwards, in this game played fly half a position which he took to very well linking up with Nathan Johnson and Andrew Stokes.
It was an arm wrestle between the two packs whereby Bowden on a number of occasions stripped the Northwich forwards of the ball as they didn’t protect the ball or manage to get it to the back of the maul. This could have been a real problem for Northwich if it wasn’t for Northwich’s courageous tackling. Northwich had two occasions where they could of and should of scored but just lacked a bit of confidence.
The first try came from Billy Cole receiving the ball just inside Bowden’s 22 metre line and making a dash for the try line, converted by Tom Sparks. The next try then came after 25mins where Tom Williams scored a well deserved try, again converted by Tom Sparks.
Bowden then scored an unconverted try. During the last 10mins of the first half and the first 10 of the second half as per usual Northwich switched off and Bowden scored their next unconverted try.
After 60mins the captain Steve Taylor scored a very well deserved try. Now Northwich began to dominate the game and on the 75min Liam Hampson picked the ball up just outside Bowden’s 22 metre line and scored a try, converted by Tom.
I do not know how Andy Stokes and Nathan Johnson did not score.
I could name every player individually who at some point had a major impact on the outcome of the game but it was truly a team performance.
The last minute of the game Robbo powered his way over to score a great try, converted by Steve Taylor.
Talking about Steve Taylor he will really be missed, he’s been a great motivator, leading by example and that is just on the pitch. The biggest attribute is the work off the pitch he would always ring round to make sure we had a team each week- a true clubman. But I hope he follows the same retirement plan as Chipper!
From a personal note I would like to thank every person that turned up and played for the team this season. It’s been a real privilege to be involved with the 3rd team, especially this season, where we have achieved so much. I personally believe that if we could have fielded a full squad each week we could have ended up higher. We have a nucleus of a great team for next season and look to the new season ahead.