County champions

COUNTY CHAMPIONS!!!!!

ST.BEDE'S 19
CHICHESTER 17

I'm sure Worthing Rugby Club has hosted some excellent County Finals in its time but I doubt it has seen many better than this! What a superb way to finish an outstanding season. The team have finished their season winning all 13 of their matches but the semi final and final of this competition were won by the slightest of margins!

In the semi-final we encountered Cardinal Newman, who were County Champions as U12's last year. We were missing a couple of players and they were not about to let go of their crown without a fight, particularly on home soil. Indeed, with both teams scoring 4 tries apiece it was only a couple of missed conversions on their part that separated the two teams in a 28-24 thriller.

I didn't think my heart could cope with another game like it but the final was even closer! Chichester have probably got their name on the honours list across all age groups more often than any other school. They are a large all-boys school, with most of their team turning out for Chichester Rugby Club at weekends.

In the final it was 3 tries apiece and only one conversion separated the two sides. In the game against Newman St Bede's showed enormous character to come from behind to be two scores ahead but the opposition came at St Bede's hard in the closing stages. St Bede's showed enough character to keep them out until the final whistle and Chichester deserve enormous credit for coming back and pushing it to the wire.

I deliberately haven't mentioned individuals on this occasion. A team can only win 13 out of 13 if everybody contributes and this has certainly been the case this season. Well done boys. You are County Champions and nobody will ever be able to take that away from you.

Chris Atherton