Last updated 12:38, Friday, 02 May 2008

Haydon Bridge High School U15 Rugby team capped a good season by winning the Tyneside Schools Cup to add to their success of winning the Northumberland Schools 10 a-side competition.

On their way to the final Haydon Bridge had defeated Emmanuelle College from Gateshead, Dame Allan’s School and Prudhoe High School.

The final against Kings School Tynemouth was always likely to be close as Haydon Bridge had only narrowly won an earlier encounter before Christmas.

Kings were the first scorers in the final when Haydon Bridge were over-adventurous when attempting to run out of defence.

A chip forward was fielded by Kings, who ran the ball back from 20 metres to score.

Haydon Bridge responded well and a series of forward drives and incisive back play led to prop Billy Stevens driving over from close range to level the scores.

Billy and Jareth Main both went close again in a period of dominance which should have led to more Haydon Bridge scores.

However, against the run of play, an errant kick by Haydon Bridge was well run by Kings, who exerted their own pressure to score a converted try for a 12-5 half time lead.

In the second half Haydon Bridge attached the short side more often to nullify the effect of the rushing Kings defence.

Attacks from good scrum and line out possession were also targeted as it was felt that these were areas of Kings weakness.

This seemed to have the desired effect as Haydon Bridge looked more dangerous and had a territorial dominance.

However a handling error led to Kings possession and a clear run to the line from 70 metres.

Michael Cunningham chased him back and pulled off an excellent try saving tackle just short of the line to keep Haydon Bridge in the game.

Midway into the half Haydon Bridge were awarded a line out 50 metres out.

Bridge won the ball and fed scrum half Rory Dixon who fooled the Kings defence by attacking the touch line channel.

On his run to the line, four defenders had opportunities to bring him down but his strength and determination told as he evaded each tackler to score a fine individual try in the corner to bring Haydon Bridge to just two points shy of Kings.

Haydon Bridge continued to press and Billy Stevens was well tackled by the Kings full back after a 40 metre burst along the touch line.

Martyn Hutton, Joe Northwood and David Baty all went close on occasions and it looked as if winger David Fry would score in the corner only to be denied by good scrambling Kings defence.

Haydon Bridge were also tested but Kings could never break through the solid tackling.

Time was starting to run out when Haydon Bridge called a four man line out 22 metres from the Kings line.

Practice and preparation told when with a well rehearsed move, Joe Northwood threw to David Baty at the tail of the line.

He fed Jareth Main, who was peeling around the line from the front, and Jareth had the speed, strength and ability to wrong foot the Kings defence and run through to score and give Haydon Bridge the lead.

With only five minutes to go both teams attacked.

Kings had a chance to score but Richard Moreland and Alex Walton snuffed out the danger.

Tom Purvis Heslop was well tackled just short of the Kings line when a try would have been a good reward for his several line out takes.

The whistle blew for a hard fought victory 15-12 to Haydon Bridge.

All the squad of 19 players had played regularly throughout the season and all played in the final without weakening the team.

With six players in the County squad and two more catching the eye of the selectors the future is promising for this hard working group of players.