Papa Johns Community Cup Roundup 2024
Grassroots Rugby was in the spotlight as the final weekend of the Papa John's Community Cup drew to a close
DAY ONE
Heath break Barnstaple hearts
Heath claimed the Regional 1 Championship with the last play of the game, beating Barnstaple on first try scored after a pulsating 35-all draw.
Heath, as would later prove crucial, hit the front inside two minutes when Calum Harriott-Brown touched down in the corner.
That early try proved a false down, however, with Barnstaple in the ascendancy for much of the first half, and they notched their first points courtesy of a penalty from Tyler Gordon-Oke.
A fine run and finish from Barnstaple full-back Jordan Petherbridge edged his side in front and they were firmly in control after Will Topps latched onto a perfect cross field kick from Gordon-Oke.
Heath dug deep and reduced the deficit to just a point at the break after second row Saif Boussaada struck from close range and Christopher Johnson fired over his second conversion of the game.
Erza Hinchliffe assumed kicking duties with Johnson sin-binned and after the centre had knocked his side 17-15 in front, fly-half Johnson returned to edge Heath five points ahead.
The momentum shifted with two Barnstaple tries in quick succession, the first from the ever-lively Gordon-Oke before Sam Roberts capitalised on some Heath indecision to dot down.
The pendulum swung Heath's way again as prop Chris Moore bulldozed over to make it a two-point game with 15 minutes to go.
Johnson kicked Heath ahead again before two penalties from Gordon-Oke looked to have won it for Barnstaple.
But with the clock in the red, wing Jack Malthouse proved the hero, touching down in the corner to hand Heath victory in remarkable fashion.
Southend Saxons sizzle for Regional 2 glory
Southend Saxons produced a sensational display of attacking rugby to beat Northampton Old Scouts 35-26 in the Regional 2 Championship final.
Southend looked sharp early on and opened the scoring inside five minutes through hooker John Kenward but Northampton responded quickly through lock Jack Evans.
Full-back Tom Sly’s mazy run and finish pushed Southend back in front before Northampton hit back for a second time through Bobby Bland.
Sly’s tricky feet were proving too hot to handle for the Northampton defence and his second try made it 19-14 10 minutes before the break.
Ben Lloyd’s penalty pushed Southend further clear and they kept their foot on the gas into the second half, with a fourth try through centre Chris Vaughan.
But the Southend lead was cut to six points after a sublime score from George Barrett and well-worked try for prop Matt Meek either side of a wonderful team try for Southend’s Harry Branch.
Lloyd kicked another three-pointer to push the lead to beyond a score and Southend held out for their fourth trophy of the season.
Longlevens battle past Widnes
Longlevens edged an almighty tussle with Widnes 25-19 to claim the Counties 1 Championship.
Centre James Butler got Longlevens off to a flier before Matt Smith tore a hole in the Widnes defence to score a second try at the midway point of the half.
After weathering the initial Longlevens onslaught, Widnes grew into the game and were on the board when prop Matt Lawton burrowed over.
Back came Longlevens and they restored their two-score cushion when No.8 Steve Phillips crashed over in the corner on his 200th appearance for the club before Brad Wilkins kicked a penalty to push the Gloucester side 20-7 in front with the last act of the first half.
Defences were on top for much of the second period, while Wilkins wasted a rare points-scoring opportunity, pushing a penalty kick just wide.
That miss was punished just moments later when Widnes centre Jamie Patient found room on the outside to score and reduce the gap to eight points.
Longlevens rallied and sealed victory with a late try from Tom Barton before a consolation at the death from Widnes’ Allan Breeden.
Rampant and ruthless Old Rutlishians
Old Rutlishians powered to glory in the Counties 2 Championship with a 43-31 victory over Brunel University.
Old Rutlishians hammered at the Brunel defence early on and came close through Ben Navosailagi before Jamie Collins made the pressure count with a simple penalty.
A 50:22 looked to have given Brunel a foothold in the game, but Old Rutlishians countered with a sublime end-to-end score through Sam Smith.
Ben Jones dotted down on the midway point of the half and Navosailagi then scorched round the outside of the defence to extend the lead to 20 points.
Joseph Baccarini pulled one back on the stroke of half time to give Brunel hope and the second row muscled over again at the start of the second period to cut the gap to 11 points.
Collins kicked a third three-pointer to settle Old Rutlishians nerves before prop Louie Davies darted over.
Full-back Collins was again on target and a try from Robert Cecil made sure of victory for Old Rutlishians, though Brunel did reduce the deficit late on with a penalty try and two more tries from the towering Baccarini.
There was plenty more action elsewhere on Saturday, with more finals being played at venues across the country.
At Sixways Stadium, Workington ladies beat Westcliff Ladies 22-10 to win the Women’s Junior Plate, Oxford Harlequins Women beat Horden and Peterlee Women 59-26 for the Women’s Intermediate Plate, Stoke on Trent saw off Leek 34-17 for the Regional 1 Men’s Shield, while Oundle ran out 24-12 winners in the Regional 1 Plate against Wirral.
At Darlington Mowden Park, Wallsend beat Tupton 26-5 to win the Counties 3 North Plate, Ripon beat Ashborne 31-14 for the Counties 2 North Plate, Bradford Salem claimed a high-scoring Counties 1 North Plate 54-41 against Aldwinians, while Lutterworth beat Malton and Norton 41-28 in the Regional 2 North Plate.
At Shaftesbury Park, Worth Old Boys beat Widden Old Boys 53-14 for the Counties 3 South Plate, Smiths Rugby edged Harrow 41-30 in the Counties 2 South Plate, Kingsbridge downed Twickenham 36-28 in the Counties 1 South Plate, while Reeds Weybridge won 42-29 against Drybrook in the Regional 2 South Plate.
DAY TWO
Tigers rise to the occasion
Cheltenham Tigers delivered a five-star showing to claim the Women’s Championship Playoff for a second successive season with a 42-10 triumph over Thurrock.
It was one-way traffic in the first half, with Tigers scoring four tries for a 29-0 lead at the break.
Mary Ann Gittings started the scoring spree with a penalty before Georgia Davey claimed the first try of the day two finale.
Zoe Heeley then ran half the length of the pitch to score in the corner before Georgie Daniells powered through the middle and Emma Hennessy scorched round the outside to build an imposing half-time lead.
Thurrock threatened a comeback with a sensational solo score from Jessica Pettafor and a fine try soon after from Hannah Thornhill, but replacement hooker Penny Bevan hit back with a five-pointer to settle Tigers nerves and seal victory.
Old Albanian break Lichfield hearts
Lucy Lawford-Wilby was the match-winner as Old Albanian left it late to come from behind and beat Lichfield 12-7 in the Women’s Intermediate Cup.
A cagey first half saw just the one try scored, with Lichfield making the most of a two on one out wide as full-back Eleanor Udall set up wing Hattie Roberts to go over before Udall added the extras.
The second half was a similar story with very little to split the sides. Old Albanian got themselves on the board when Emily Eves’ pinpoint cross kick found Madelene Vaughan-Johncey, but an unsuccessful conversion attempt left Lichfield a nose in front.
Then, with just two minutes remaining, centre Lawford-Wilby struck, sneaking round the blind side undetected to dot down for a dramatic victory.
Thurrock 2s round off unbeaten season
Thurrock 2nd XV led from start to finish in the Women’s Junior Cup, downing Sheffield Tigers 36-14.
Thurrock came racing out the blocks and were ahead after just two minutes through prop Rosie Bennett.
Sheffield hit back through No.8 Ella Ewins, who converted her own try to push Tigers ahead for the first time.
But Thurrock led 15-7 at half time after further tries from Ella Loveridge and Olamide Abegunde.
Centre Loveridge crossed for her second three minutes into the second half, with Hannah Girdlestone adding the extras, before Sheffield reduced the arrears to eight points through a converted try from Stephanie Tharme.
The second half was on a knife-edge with little between the teams before late tries from flanker Elsie Burns and full-back Tashana Goode clinched victory for Thurrock.
Old Elthamians power past Wigan
Old Elthamians cruised to victory in the Counties 3 Championship after running in seven tries for a 45-22 victory over Wigan.
Old Elthamians raced into a 19-0 lead but led by just two points at the break after a spirited Wigan fightback.
A maul score from hooker Chris Sweet, powerful drive from No.8 Reis Norman and third try from centre Evan McDonald appeared to have given the Chislehurst side a commanding lead.
But Wigan responded superbly with tries from Oliver Morgan and Jack Proffitt before a penalty from Zack Barker, added to his earlier two conversions, made it 19-17 at the break.
Nearly half an hour of the second half passed without a score until Old Elthamians’ scrum-half Will Davies darted over from the back of a scrum to push his side two scores clear.
The floodgates duly opened and three tries in quick succession sealed victory as wing wizards Sam Scott, George Robinson and vice-captain Joe Leigh all got in on the act for Old Elthamians before a late consolation from Wigan’s Jacob Dugdale.
There were eight more games on Sunday, with Darlington Mowden Park and Shaftesbury Park hosting four high-quality finals.
At DMP, Ashton beat York 35-28 for the Counties 3 North Shield, Dinnington downed Huntingdon 72-24 for the Counties 2 North Shield, Beverley saw off Peterborough 58-33 for the Counties 1 North Shield and Keswick lifted the Regional 2 North Shield after a 20-17 success over Olney.
At Shaftesbury Park, Old Glynonains edged Cranleigh 22-21 for the Counties 3 South Shield, Saracens Amateurs were crowned Counties 2 South Shield winners after beating Cirencester 44-16, Midsomer Norton claimed the Counties 1 South Shield in epic fashion with a 38-37 win over Ashford, while Newbury Blues took home the Regional 2 South Shield with a 25-8 triumph over Gravesend.
