Walsall Colts produced a battling performance, in difficult conditions, to win their Fred Rowley Trophy semi-final. The heavy rain had made playing conditions very testing, but the home team played a well-controlled game and always looked to be the strongest team.
They opened the scoring with a simple, but superb try after fifteen minutes. Lock forward Alo Bankolu secured the lineout ball, and then the Walsall pack bound together well before driving an incredible thirty five meters. Eventually, man of the match, Alex Hawthorn calmly dropped over the line to secure the touchdown. Outside half Ben Tipson did well to put over a difficult conversion. Tipson made it 10 – 0 early in the second half with another well struck penalty kick.
The hosts continued to press forward with Hawthorn, Matt Craddock and Dan Poole securing some good possession. While Joe Brown and Liam Fussell had several defence busting runs. Fussell was also one of many players, who made superb tackles at crucial times. Indeed, it was the young full back and the ever present Max Hughes who created the vital final score of the game. Hughes supported well and then broke through three tackles before running in a try from twenty five meters. Tipson’s conversion secured the victory and his team’s place in the final against Wolverhampton.