Steely Sheffield claim the Vets' spoils
A watertight defence and razor-sharp attacking prowess helped
Sheffield to win the Barclays Wealth Veterans' Super 10s tournament
at Jersey RFC.
In the 15th running of the annual event, Sheffield became the
first ever northern winners of the Super 10s after a hard-fought
14-7 win over the holders, Gloucester-based Gordon League, in the
final.
The winners were good value for the trophy, racking up 223
points and conceding only three in their five games en route to the
final. Gordon League, featuring former Gloucester full-back Tim
Smith in their line-up, did manage to breach the Sheffield try-line
for the only time late in the final, but by this stage it was too
little, too late following two early tries for the
Yorkshiremen.
The win followed a near-miss for Sheffield on their first visit
to the Super 10s in 2009, when a missed penalty goal in extra time
in the final handed a get-out-of-jail card, and the title, to
opponents Chippenham.
Jersey-based Gareth 'Big G' Davies was a member of the
victorious squad, playing alongside several of his former college
team-mates. The trophy was presented by Richard Corrigan of
Barclays Wealth, a major supporter of rugby in Jersey and sponsor
of the Super 10s for the second year running.
The event attracted 13 teams, including four Channel Islands
side, seven English clubs plus Denbigh from Wales and the Super
Frelons from Rennes in France. All players had to cope with the
searing heat of Jersey's Indian summer, exacerbated for some by
sore heads brought on by the lively 'après-ski' that is a feature
of the weekend.
Sheffield, Leeds Corinthians, Gordon League and Cornish side St
Agnes were easy winners of their respective groups on Saturday, and
quarter finals the following morning, before the semi finals saw
Gordon League pip St Agnes 14-7 while Sheffield won the Yorkshire
derby 21-3.
In the Plate for lower-ranked teams, Jersey Wanderers had a
strong second day to claim the silverware courtesy of a 28-19 win
over Wimborne from Dorset, with JRFC Club Secretary William Church
among the try-scorers.
The Bowl event for losing quarter finalists featured a final
between Guernsey and the Super Frelons, with the Sarnians
prevailing 24-7.
