Wolverhampton Colts produced a gritty performance to win the final of this year’s Fred Rowley Colts Tournament played at Walsall’s ground in Delves Road.
Despite the atrocious conditions, both teams tried hard to play an expansive game and they are to be congratulated on producing a very entertaining encounter.
Wolverhampton,who won the trophy last year, had a 14 – 3 half time lead, thanks to tries by Sam Bahia and Tom Chard. Full back Will Jones managed to convert both scores despite being wide out and being surrounded by pools of water! But the hosts managed to finish the half strongly, and had several try scoring opportunities, but a Ben Tipson penalty was their only reward.
Walsall increased the tempo of the game during most of the second half, but some desperate defending kept them at bay. Indeed, a rare foray into opposition territory by Wolves, saw, man of the match, Bahia get a second try to make it 19 – 3. The hosts continued to pile on the pressure with Max Hughes,Alex Hawthorn,Dan Poole and Tarik Tin making powerful drives towards the tryline. But the Wolves defence held on until, eventually, full back Jevan Jarratt broke through for a well-deserved try which Tipson converted. The game came to an end with Walsall just failing to score after another sweeping attack. The final whistle was greeted by relief and despair by the respective teams, and also by a big round of applause for both teams from the large group of supporters that had braved the constant downpour.