Cheshire County Colts Cup Competition Semi-Final

Kersal Colts ...19

Sandbach Colts ...18

BY winning this nail-biting County Colts semi final, Altrincham Kersal fought their way into the cup final for the second year in succession.

Although they went ahead early in the match with a try by Bright from a line out close to the Sandbach line, converted by Allen, they had to give second best to Sandbach in the set pieces.

Sandbach dominated the line outs and scrums and with their play maker at number ten orchestrating the attack, they soon made up the arrears and went ahead scoring two tries and converting one of them.

Then just on half time, Kersal had a player sin binned so that they started the second half 12-7 in arrears and with only 14 men.

Sandbach could not take enough advantage to score tries but did slot over two penalties to go 11 points ahead and seemed to be cruising to victory.

The moment that seemed to turn the game then came.

Burgess, who had been threatening all afternoon, got a pass in space in his own half and, showing all his dazzling speed, outran the cover defence to score right in the corner.

The conversion was missed but it put new heart into the Altrincham Kersal side.

The game was now almost into injury time.

From a scrum in the Sndbach half, Kersal's No. 10 Murphy feinted to take the play towards the left wing and dangerman Burgess, drawing the defence from midfield.

He switched back inside, the ball went through two pairs of hands to Bright for his second try.

Allen kicked the conversion to gain the one point victory and passage into the final.