Outstanding Agrics win nine try final
INTRA MURAL RUGBY CUP
Cheeky Ladies 22
Agrics 34
AFTER brushing aside tough opposition in the semi-finals, Cheeky Ladies and Agrics faced each other at Medicals Rugby Football Club in this year’s final to remember. Cheeky Ladies, winners last season, were looking to defend their crown and were very strong favourites to do so. Playing similar styles of rugby these two sides have steamrolled their way through up to this point. Passing the likes of Gorilla Tactics and Armstrong on their way, they finally came face-to-face last week to see who would stand out victorious this year.
The game started with hard resilient defending from both sides. Agrics threw themselves around making some hard, low tackles, and Cheeky Ladies gave as much as they got in return. However, the game didn’t open up until ten minutes in, after the first spell being played purely in the ten meters either side of the halfway line. Ladies’ scrum half Tom Eddison running down the blind side put his winger through the gap created for the first real chance of the game. Agrics did manage to scramble across to halt the attack but did so illegally at the breakdown, giving away the first penalty which was appreciatively kicked for a Cheeky Ladies three point lead. Business as usual for the Ladies it seemed and with a delightful chip over a stretched Agrics defence, and a great chase to match, Cheeky Ladies put themselves immediately 10 – 0 ahead with an opening try from Number 8 Will Englander.
Agrics looked blown away and out for the count with only fifteen minutes on the clock, and adding insult to their own injury, they missed a penalty in front of the posts as well. Agrics seemed to be feeling the pressure. But, with over three-quarters of the game to go they did what any good team would do; they put the bad start behind them and fought on.
This was to be beneficial as Agrics now realised they had to start being creative. They took their early frustration and turned this into retaliation, and remarkably got on the score-sheet doing what they do best by pushing the ball into the corner like in the semi the previous week. Agrics took hold of the game by both hands and finally after long persistence drove their way to the line; Christopher Dickinson on the score-sheet the second week running. 
The game was turned on its head. Agrics were evidently late out of the starting blocks but now suddenly had Cheeky Ladies on the ropes. This, though, was partly down to the extraordinarily good kicking game from Agrics’ standoff. Without a specialised goal kicker Agrics would look to Alex Henderson to deliver more inch perfect kicks to the corner instead of going for the posts, and although their lineout wasn’t functioning the way it can, Agrics would somehow always win the ball anyway. Then, after constant pressure through the forwards, they finally decided to spread the play wide through the backs, and with awesome running lines and superb distribution, winger Liam Stewart found himself through and over the whitewash.
A somewhat familiar story was unfolding. Agrics were again taking advantage of their strong pack and lineout and were reluctant not to use their assets when penalty chances fell their way. This proved to be good captaincy by Jamie Garettet as another perfectly spiralled kick to the corner from Henderson was turned into another Agrics score as Dickenson received the ball at the lineout and drove himself over for his third try in two weeks. 10 – 17 at halftime in favour of Agrics gave holders Cheeky Ladies a lot to think about.
The second half began like the first. Another ten minute spell of hard defending kept the scores the same and with the first half being so unpredictable, it was impossible to tell which way this game would turn next. Agrics were first to get in any scoring distance. Another penalty effortlessly kicked deep into the Cheeky Ladies twenty-two you may have guessed, but this time without the end result you may come to expect. Ladies kept Agrics pack out on this occasion, but the pressure Agrics were building was undeniable. While always making inroads in their opposition’s line of defence, and offloading the ball in the manner that they were, Agrics had complete control and made this count as a fantastic period of play saw captain Garettet muscle his way to yet another Agrics try. This time converted to make it 10 – 24.
The game then, if it was possible, stepped up another gear. A few kicks exchanged between opposing full-backs stretched the play, and what was a controlled, strategic encounter now became very open and full of pace. Agrics, on the day, seemed to be by far the fitter side, and took advantage of this increase in tempo. Due to a quick succession of penalties going against Cheeky Ladies, within literally half a minute Agrics travelled fifty meters to the Ladies try-line and finally pushed second row Nick Ainscough – an inspiration all season – over for a well deserved score. This, however, was almost cancelled out by a rare visit to the Agrics’ twenty-two from the Ladies, but unfortunately for them the ball was turned and Agrics cleared to safety. You could see the frustration mounting in the Cheeky Ladies play, who by now were trying to go over the Agrics’ defence with big up and unders, since going around them appeared nay impossible. This frustration was summed up when Ladies’ scrum half Eddison was sin-binned for too much back chat to the referee; disappointing for someone who started the game with so much hope and potential.
Agrics didn’t take long to increase their lead against fourteen men, putting the inevitable overlap James Wills in and the game ultimately to rest. 10 – 34 the score now, which could realistically have been more if Agrics had chosen to invest in a kicking tee instead of attempting to drop-goal every conversion. Cheeky Ladies did keep on trucking though, and finished the game the better side. The final ten minutes, with the return of their sin-binned scrum-half and a few more substitutions thrown on, the Ladies scored two unanswered tries. These were to be only consolatory however, and with the final score at 22 – 34, we witnessed a surprising but convincing win by Agrics’ men.
Agrics lifted the cup at the end of this hard fought campaign, and were worthy champions. Jamie Garettet later described the game from an Agrics’ point of view as “a complete team performance.” I would have to agree with this as it had to be to see off a top side like Cheeky Ladies. Another fantastic season has finished with what was an outstanding rugby match. Nine tries in all says a lot for the quality in the intra mural competition.
