SUNDAY, MARCH 16, 2008ALNWICK thoroughly deserved their cup win to bring back the trophy they had last won in 2002.
In a strongly-contested final against a hefty Prudhoe and Stocksfield side the forwards scrummaged tightly to set up quick ball for the three-quarters to open up the game, the try count was in Alnwick's favour through touchdowns by Kelly and Taylor with a goal and penalty from Alexander.
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Opposition scores came through their outside-half Russell with a try and a penalty.
Prudhoe and Stocksfield opened the game with a bang, driving hard to the Alnwick 22 area, but strong defensive work just managed to keep them out.
Alnwick steadily weathered the storm and forced their way upfield to go ahead through an Alexander penalty (3-0).
Prudhoe and Stocksfield came back strongly when Russell picked up an Alnwick clearance that failed to make touch to hammer the ball deep into the Alnwick 22.
Alexander was caught trying to run it out. In drove the Prudhoe and Stocksfield forwards who progressed in a driving maul to the Alnwick try-line, where they gained four scrums on the five metre line only to be held up by Alnwick's sound scrummaging. All the forwards battled hard to get the touchdown, their only reward being a penalty when an Alnwick player handled at a ruck. Russell added the points to draw both sides level (3-3).
In the opening minutes of the second half Alnwick stormed through, out along the threequarters, Logan to Matterson onto Kelly then switched play across to Middlemiss whose mazy run ended into touch.
Prudhoe and Stocksfield fought back to gain a foothold in the Alnwick 22, again sound scrummaging got the ball back to Alexander who broke through on a 70 metre run before linking up with Middlemiss.
Alnwick managed to get the scrum ball, Prudhoe and Stocksfield were penalised for offside, Alnwick returned hard when Russell's kick did not reach touch, was brought back at pace where wingman Kelly raced through for splendidly worked try. 8-3.
Alnwick continued to drive Prudhoe and Stocksfield back through strong mauling and devastating tackling whenever the opposition tried to batter their way through.
The pressure finally told, the Prudhoe and Stocksfield defence was finally broken when outside half Taylor completed a slick move to go over for a try, conversion points being added by Alexander 15-3.
With only minutes remaining Prudhoe and Stocksfield worked their way to the Alnwick 22 area, battered away before Russell broke through for a try. 15-8.
From the restart the Alnwick threequarters spun the ball out, Arkle crashed through, popped the ball up to Alexander whose hands let him down when he dropped the ball over the tryline. A final scrum and it was all over, the team under captain Matt Frater had won a handsome victory and the County Cup.
Team: A Alexander, J Kelly, J Logan, T Matterson, Rob Middlemiss, Steve Taylor, A Armstrong, Bob Dobson, Matt Frater, Adam Scott, Tom Bell, E Durie, A Brown, Campbell Blakey, J Burgess, D Gray, P Graham, G Armstrong, S Arkle, S Rammage, J Todd.
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