Cambridgeshire Under 17's Secure Victory and Add to Trophy Collection

🏆 Eastern Counties Tri-Counties Under 17

📆 25th May 2025

Cambridgeshire 🆚 Norfolk

📍Shelford RFC

Cambridgeshire finished their Under 17 programme for the 2024/25 season with a home game against Norfolk at Shelford, a win for Cambridgeshire would see them lift the "silverware" having already beaten Suffolk with a last gasp try at Woodbridge.

Cambridgeshire picked their squad from Ely Tigers, Shelford. Huntingdon, Newmarket, Wisbech, Cambridge, Kings Ely, Peterborough Regional College, The Leys, Long Road, Comberton College, Impington College, Hills Road, Saffron Walden High School, Neale Wade, Cardiff 6th Form and Freeman College

The week before Norfolk had been involved in a close affair against Suffolk, so the Cambridgeshire coaching staff had expected a close game, within five minutes into the game, Cambridge had an early opportunity to score with a penalty kick, but the ball went wide of the upright, leaving the score at 0-0. Following the restart, Cambs quickly secured possession and moved swiftly downfield, ultimately scoring a converted try under the posts, bringing the score to 7-0.

At 12 minutes, a penalty was awarded to Cambs, who chose to kick from inside the Norfolk half and successfully added points. The score became 10-0, at 20 minutes, a quickly taken penalty put Cambs on the front foot to attack Norfolk. They went over in the corner to score, with the conversion successful the score increased to 17-0.

The next offensive drive saw Cambridgeshire score again, with another quickly taken penalty. The ball was passed swiftly and precisely from right to left through the hands of the Cambs players, leading to a successful try. The conversion was successfully added, bringing the score to 24-0.

At the 30-minute mark, Norfolk launched their first significant attack into the Cambs half. This effort culminated in a scrum awarded to Cambs, but Norfolk gained a penalty. From here, Norfolk went over, resulting in a converted try, adjusting the score to 24-7.

On the stroke of half time Cambs scored again, going over in the corner, unable to add the conversion as the score stayed at 29-7

The second half commenced similarly to the end of the first, with Cambs scoring the opening try, although they were unable to successfully complete the conversion, leaving the score at 34-7. A breakout from their own half saw Cambs set up their next try. They moved the play from right to left, allowing them to cross the try line unchallenged. The conversion was successful, bringing the score to 41-7.

Cambridgeshire dominated the field, securing victories throughout the match. They soon added another score with a try under the posts, followed by a successful conversion. A critical error by Norfolk deep within Cambridgeshire's territory resulted in another breakthrough for Cambs, as they passed the 50-point mark with another try.

Cambs scored another try in the corner, successfully converting to bring the score to 62-7. They then scored again from a scrum, with another successful conversion making it 69-7. There was time for another converted try under the posts, raising the score to 76-7. A misplaced pass by Norfolk let Cambs break from their half and score under the posts once more, with the final conversion bringing the score to 83-7.