Whitchurch Colts completed a highly successful weekend for the Edgeley Park club after battling their way through to the North Mids Cup final – the first Whitchurch side to achieve that honour since 1987.
To the delight of coach Ron Giddings, the Whitchurch teenagers turned on the style to see off a strong Moseley side, who reached the last eight of the National Colts Cup, 12-7 on home soil on Sunday.
Danny Nicholas, a first team regular, kicked four penalties for the young Reds, with a converted try coming too late to save Moseley from defeat.
“We dominated the game and Moseley hardly came into our half,” said happy Whitchurch president John Gregory, who is now waiting to see who comes through the other semi-final to provide the opposition in the final at the end of the month.
The great cup win added to the feelgood factor sweeping the club after Whitchurch’s first team sealed a return to winning ways with a 41-12 mauling of Nuneaton Old Edwardians in Midlands One West 24 hours earlier.
It was a real boost to Ginger Wills’s side following four successive defeats which threatened to undo much of their good work earlier in the campaign.
“We needed that and it was a good lift for the lads,” added Gregory, impressed with Whitchurch’s display which saw them lead 22-7 at half time.
Winger Lee Blackhurst, who has recently returned from Australia, went over for the first try before captain Chris Hares, centre Mike Gardiner and No 8 Richard Baxter also crossed for the hosts, Hares also adding one conversion.
Whitchurch continued to pile on the points after the restart with winger Tom Crank grabbing a brace and centre Jimmy Mullock also touching down, Hares completing the home side’s tally with two more conversions.
Whitchurch are striving to arrange their Shropshire Cup quarter-final against Ludlow, ideally for this Saturday at Edgeley Park (3pm), with their final league game at home to Bournville the following weekend.
By Stuart Dunn