Kendal Junior Colts produced a fine comeback to win the Under-17s County Cup final at Wigton.
Despite being 10-0 down within the first ten minutes they recorded a memorable 42-15 victory over Penrith Junior Colts to lift the trophy.
The score line perhaps doesn’t reflect the closeness of the contest and Penrith Colts certainly played their part in what was an excellent final.
The Kendal tries came from Charlie Lowther (2), Connor Lees, Oliver Yarker, Barney Coxon and Luke Atkinson.
They were backed up by a faultless kicking display off the tee from Aaron Stephens (five conversions) and Coxon, who converted Yarker’s try, the last of the game.
The victory stemmed from a true team effort, with some fine attacking skills on show and a solid defence which all players, parents and coaches were extremely proud of.
The man of the match award deservedly went to Charlie Lowther.
It should also be noted that four of the regular (U16) squad members missed the final as they were on duty with the Newcastle Falcons Academy
Under-17’s County Cup winners squad first met nine years ago, as Kendal Under 9s, when mini and junior rugby was introduced at the club.
They have been coached from the start by Dan Stephens and Jez Middleton, both ex-players at the club and whilst the team has lost and gained players along the way, their friendships and team camaraderie has kept them together, especially during the COVID pandemic.
The squad exemplifies the RFU core values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship, as well as integrity, passion and solidarity.
This season, Kendal like many other clubs, merged its Junior and Senior Colts to ensure a playing squad that could fulfil league fixtures.
During the season, these were mostly senior Under-18 Colts fixtures, so a significant number of the squad were ‘playing up’ an age group.
This combined squad finished the Senior U18 Colts Conference season as second top of the table and are still in the Halbro Colts Cup (Senior Plate) competition, with a quarter final fixture at Preston Grasshoppers on Sunday.
The family nature of rugby at Kendal was highlighted by the fact that four players in the squad were supported by their former Kendal player fathers: Billy Coxon and son Barney; Dan Stephens and son Aaron; Colin Wolstenholme and son Patrick and Mike Kincart and son Robbie. A new generation takes over as the wheel of time turns!
Four of the Under-16s regular Colts squad members were selected to represent Newcastle Falcons Academy at the same time as the Cup Final.
The Academy matches took place at the Sale Sharks training ground at Carrington near Manchester.
The other teams involved were Sale Sharks Academy and the Yorkshire Academy.
The Falcons Academy selects players from Cumbria, Northumberland and County Durham and the lads travel to Newcastle twice a week to train, which is a huge commitment for them and their families.
They are Ben O’Halloran, Reuben Dyer, Will Meaden and Reuben Parsons.
