Shelford secure a Final Date

 Cantabs v Shelford II

Cambridgeshire County Cup Semi Final

The Shelford Nomads traveled a short distance from Cambridge Road, Shelford, to Long Road, Cambridge, to face Cantabs in the Semi-Final of the County Cup. Cantabs, having finished at the bottom of the league and faced relegation, entered the game as potential underdogs, while Shelford, who concluded the league in 6th place, also made adjustments to their starting lineup, as did their opponents.

Cantabs kicked off to get the game underway, the first attack of the game saw Shelford break from their half to cross the try line to score under the post, with the conversion added as they raced into a 7-0 lead, After the start you would have thought it would be a one sided game, but the opening ten minutes saw Cantabs come more into the game, A penalty to Cantabs, where they opted to kick for the points, it saw the first points on the board for Cantabs as they scored from the kick, after pulling the penalty back it was Cantabs that went ahead having scored a try, to lead 8-7, Shelford then score again, from a line out on the right they move the ball over to the left hand side of the pitch, finding a gap with a well judged kick, and wining the race to touch down to score a converted try.

A breakaway try by the home side as they won a line out inside their own half, racing away to score. they were unable to add the conversion as the bounced off the upright,  as Shelford lead by a point, as half time approached Shelford down to 14 as they received a yellow card, but there was still time for Shelford to add to the scoreline as Shelford are rewarded a penalty, which they scored as Shelford lead at the break 17-13

First attack of the second half, and the half starts with Cantabs parked in the Shelford try line, as the home side went ahead once more, by a single point, but they failed to add the conversion, from a line out deep in Cantabs half, Shelford cross the try line from a converted try to open a 24-18 lead, but the lead was cut short once more as the home side came back again as they came back to level the scores up at 24-24

From the restart, Shelford resumed their attack and scored again, widening the gap by scoring in the corner, making it 25-29. Shelford extended their lead with another try in the corner, but the conversion was missed, bringing the score to 30-34. Cantabs responded with a try in the corner to narrow the gap, during which Shelford received a yellow card, resulting in the game restarting with a penalty, from the restart, the game came to a concludsion as Shelford were the first club in the final.

The Final will be played at Cantabs, as Shelford face Newmarket on the 26th April