Blues South reach Regional Final with win over Blues North
Despite the weather conditions the South played some spectacular rugby in the first half controlled by outside half Callum Sheedy. The forwards gave him the platform to put the home side in the right areas of the park to force the North into mistakes. When they did Sheedy was on hand to get the scoreboard ticking with two fantastically judged penalties.
When a third was awarded in front of the posts it looked odds on that in would be 9 -0, but every alert Sheedy tapped the ball and caught the defence napping to score in the corner. With the wind into their faces the North were finding it difficult to get out of their own half and when a kick was charged down hooker Harry Roberts was on hand to flop on the ball and extended the lead.
That lead was increased just before halftime when speedster Ellis Wyn Benham ghosted past his opposite number and set James Whittingham on his way for a try from half way.
Half Time Blues South 21 Blues North 0
With the wind behind them the North were looking to be the next to score, and they pressed the South line in the opening minutes of the second half. But when the ball went loose Sheedy spotted the flyers outside and set Whittigham loose inside his own in goal area. He beat his man and raced to the halfway line before timing his pass perfectly to Richard Singer. He pinned his ears back and sprinted in for the try of the season.
Six minutes later and it was as good as over. A series of driving mauls and rucks had put the South in a great position in the shadow of the North posts. From the final ruck replacement Cameron O’Sullivan was shunted over, Sheedy added the extras.
The North didn’t give up and kept plugging away eventually getting a consolation try when prop Luke Jones scored in the corner. But it was to be the South’s night and they will wait to see who they play when the other semi final takes place next week.
After the game Richard Hodges said ‘as a group the team had spoken about a special performance for a special occasion and they certainly did that in the first half’
Scores
Blues South
Tries Sheedy, Whittingham, Singer, O’Sullivan, Roberts
Cons: Sheedy (2)
Pen Sheedy (3) T Williams
Blues North
Try: Luke Jones