Cambridgeshire Under's 20 v Norfolk Under 20's

📆 17th April 2024, 🕣 7:30pm KO, 📍 The Davey Field, Shelford, Cambridgeshire U20s 🆚Norfolk U20s

The first fixture in the Eastern Counties Tri-Counties Under 20 campaign take place at Shelford Rugby Club, took place on Wednesday evening, as Cambridgeshire welcomed Norfolk RFU.  

Cambridgeshire picked their squad from the following clubs, Shelford, Cambridge, Huntingdon, Peterborough Lions, St Ives, Cantabs and Loughborough Uni, handing no fewer than 18 players their County Debuts.

As the teams warmed up the players were caught in a heavy hail shower, I wasn't as I decided to leave it five more minutes longer before I left my mum's house, just a two minute drive away, it proved the right choice to make, as when I parked up the evening sunshine took over.

The game started with both sides looking to attack and it was the home side that found themselves 7-0 down quiet early on as Norfolk crossed the try line, adding the conversion, the home side quickly leveled the scores scoring under the posts, with the conversion added.

The home side took the lead soon after, with a try, but the conversion was missed, neither side was able to get a grip of the game, with Norfolk having to make a change early on due to injury, again Cambridgeshire crossed the try line to extend their lead, again the conversion fell short, as they lead 17-7

Both sides watched as the penalty count increased, with the first half coming to end, Norfolk managed to close the gap as they crossed the line to score, with the conversion added the half score finished 17-14.

The rain returned for the start of the second half, as the temperature dropped a little, the start of the half started perfectly for the home County as the posted to quick fire tries, also adding just one conversion.

From the restart of the latest try, Norfolk managed to pin Cambs back on their try line, despite a number attacks, including one that Cambs held up the ball, giving them a chance to clear the ball from a goal line kick, but all that did was give Norfolk a chance to attack, they finally found a gap in the back line to score a much deserved try, with the conversion added, from the restart Cambs again went on the attack with a perfectly placed kick into touch, it looked to have collected at the last minute by Norfolk but at the last bounce the ball found touched, the line out throw on the right was over thrown and Cambs picked up the ball, moving the ball from right to left, finally powering their way over the line, close to the uprights, with the conversion added, from the restarted back came the visitors as they added another converted try, the scoring ebbed and flowed, as from the restart it was Cambs who added another try with the conversion added, with the game entering the last period, Cambs managed to score once more.

The final word however went to the visitors as they pushed Cambs back once more, on to their try line again, like previously a number of penalties kept them pinned back, as they eventually going down to 14 men as the official pulled out a yellow card as Cambridgeshire finished the game a man down. 

Full Time Cambridgeshire 48 - 26 Norfolk

Tries - Oscar Coppins (3), Ned Gale (3), Ollie Spencer, Jamie Chapman, Conversions - Tom Gunbie (4)