Marautaki treble sets up Tigers for final-game win
CHELTENHAM completed their Western Counties North League campaign with a 48-29 win at Old Bristolians.
They produced, at times, an entertaining fast game of rugby with a side showing end of season selections, with a few players missing and others playing out of position.
Cheltenham went behind to an OB’S try against the run of play, but then Semiti Marautaki crossed twice in his own inimitable style of speed and quick feet with one conversion from Curtis Neal from out wide to give Cheltenham a 12-5 lead.
Next to cross was Naps Koro, who was enjoying space on the wing Neal adding the conversion, and the bonus point was secured when a dominant Cheltenham pack rolled a maul over the line and Jack Petelo emerged from the heap of bodies, Neal slotting the extras for a 26-5 lead.
Old Bristolians also looking to play a wide end of season game themselves crossed on the stoke of half time for a converted try.
Cheltenham began the second half in the same vein - first Marautaki left the defence for dead for his third try, then Ed Spetch scored the try of the game.
Cheltenham swept down the slope from their own 22, as the ball passed through numerous pairs of hands, and after Koro was hauled down metres short of the line, Spetch was in support to claim the score.
Next to go over was Flinn Roberts, who had put in a massive defensive game all afternoon, when he collected a Neal chip through right on the touchline and, after stepping inside two covering defenders, scored an excellent try by the posts with Neal converting.
Old Bristolians reduced the deficit
with a try but Koro then intercepted a pass to run in unopposed from halfway to score in the corner.
With time running out, Old Bristolians ran in two tries, one of which was converted.
Cheltenham II also made the trip to Old Bristolians and could not emulate their first XV’S win, and lost a very high-scoring entertaining game 60-43.
Cheltenham North ended their season with a 62-22 loss at Midsomer Norton, and finish bottom of the table, as do Old Patesians in South West One West after their 46-12 loss to promoted Lydney, Fin Mellis and Damian Dinwiddy scoring tries, the latter’s score converted by Jack Parks.
Pats face Stow on Saturday at Cheltenham North in the Cheltenham Combination Senior Cup final, one of three finals at Stoke Road.
Stow also booked their place in the Junior Cup final against Cheltenham II after beating Bredon Star 36-0.
Archie Hayward opened the scoring before Connor Shoemark went over, converted by Corey Shrimpton, for a 12-0 lead.
James Milhench added a third before half-time, Shrimpton converting, and he added a second try after the interval.
Giles King made it 29-0, his try converted by Shrimpton before Shoemark’s second try rounded off the win.