Hosting Stockport U18 Colts in the quarter finals of the Cheshire Cup was a great test for the lads, who like everyone else knew they were taking on a team at the top of the NW Colts League.

From the kick off, Stockport headed into C&N territory intent on taking an early score, but the home team had a different plan and kept the physically larger team out for a good fifteen minutes with a massive defensive effort. Eventually though the pressure mounted and Stockport forced over to take a hard earned first try, which was quickly followed by a second to see Stockport lead by 12.

As the game worked towards the break, Stockport were committed to playing in the C&N half. A kick return up the left from Ben Digby broke the gain line and popped up an off load in the tackle to a charging Jacob Belfield-Upton that was not to be stopped. with the extras not taken it was 5 – 12 at the break.

Stockport came out for the second half determined that their challenge for overall Cup honours would not be derailed by C&N, who came out with a desire to show that they would go toe to toe with anyone and the result would be what it would be.
Stockport took the first score, relying on a direct route from their big carriers to put C&N on the back foot, this quickly followed by another when a C&N lineout 10 metres out was not well used.
With the result gone, C&N still kept up their effort and took on the challenge of keeping Stockport at bay. A tackling performance that earned the lads high praise from the visitors’ coaches and parents was rewarded by a great team try that was finished by a moment of individual magic.

From a well worked lineout 5 metres out, the ball came to the middle of the pitch to a ruck. Coming in at 9, a fast-thinking Dan Applin picked up, stepped the defence and went over under the posts for a great try. With Toby Evans taking the extras, the score was 12 – 38.
The time ran down with Stockport having the better of it, the game finishing at 12 – 50.

In the end, age and size had the upper hand for a team of all U18’s.

The physicality and desire of our U17’s & U18’s drew admiration from all sides though, the lads should be proud of themselves.

Well done to Stockport, good luck with the rest of their season.

For C&N, we go again in the League and have a Cheshire Plate semi-final to look forward to.