3rd Final For Syston U17’s.

Syston 31 – Wirral 24.

Wirral kicked off and due to indecision and poor handling by Syston went straight on the attack. From a scrum Wirral’s scrum half made a break, he was stopped just short of the line, Wirral forwards drove the maul over to score the first try. The fly half converted 7 – 0 Wirral with less than 5 minutes gone. It was taking time for Syston to settle. They need some ball to put them on the front foot. This came from winger James Wheeler who collected a chip from Wirral’s fly half just out side his 22, he stepped off his left foot and set off up field being brought down on the on Wirral’s 10m line, this sparked Syston into life. The next 20minutes was all Syston a number of forward drives took them within 15meters of Wirral’s line Matt Ardron then took a short pass off scrum half Stewart Cox he ground inches short hooker Ali Shaw picked the ball up and dived over. David Torr converted 7-7. minutes later Syston were again within striking distance, quick hands by the backs  right to left and a long pass found No8 Aaron Lockington on the left wing who out paced the cover to score in the corner. David Torr converted from the touchline 14 – 7.
From the restart Wirral reclaimed the ball and drove into Syston 22, a number of attacks through the forwards and backs came to nothing. Syston had the ball in a ruck but a loose boot shot the ball out over the try line and Wirral scrum half dived on it to score the conversation was missed. 14 - 12

This did not put Syston out of their stride, Wirral were turned over midway between their 22 and 10m line the came to fly half Tom Collier who took off blind pace and quick feet took him passed 4 defenders, the full back was the last player to be beaten with a side step off his right foot to score underneath the posts again Torr converted. 21 – 12 at half time.

The half time team talk was about more of the same but lets play the Rugby in there half and lets make sure we get the next score. This all nearly went straight out of the window as from the KO the Wirral No8 broke through the whole of the Syston pack only to be brought down by a great cover tackle from Stewart Cox. Syston 10mintues into the second half Syston had a scrum just outside the Wirral’s 22m on the right side of the pitch. A set move saw the ball go from Collier to outside centre Blake Tressler a dummy run by Torr and a loop round by Collier saw him in space a simple pass to full back Jack Illston, who had a clear run. Conversion was missed 26 – 12.

Wirral were not going to loose there unbeaten record with a fight and through everything they had a Syston there bigger forwards were starting to get on top but there backs were getting the same results and a number of attacks were stopped by great defending. Wirral went over the Syston line only to be adjudged as being held up. From a penalty Wirra’ls No3 final broke the defensive line to score which was converted 26 – 19 with 10minutes to go. From a kick down field Wirral knocked on and from the scrum 15m out Aaron Lockington picked up and went blind the winger came in to tackle, wide pass to Ryan Liquorish on the right wing saw Syston go 31 –19 up. The last few minutes it was all Wirral and from a penalty the No7 went over conversion was missed the final whistle blew. Syston win 31 – 24.

They now go on to play Bristol U17’s in the National Plate at Worcester on the 4th May – KO 2.30pm.

PS – Melton U17’s also beat Wetherby in the Bowl Semi final.