Combination Cups

Stow take the senior prize while Cheltenham lift two trophies

STOW completed a league and cup double with a 41-0 Cheltenham Combination Senior Cup final win over Old Patesians at Stoke Road.

The Southern Counties North champions got off to a flying start as they opened the scoring in the fourth minute through Craig Chapman, with Tom Eddolls adding the extras.

The try was followed up with an Eddolls penalty in the 12th minute and two minutes later, Chapman got across the line again with Eddolls adding the extras to push the score to 17-0.

Another good build-up saw Stow back in Old Pats territory and from the resultant line-out and launch plays, Will Debenham got over for an unconverted try in the 36th minute to leave Stow 22-0 up at half-time.

Stow made another fast start to the second half as the kick reception was moved through phases, with good support lines to put Gus Hayward in for the fourth try with Eddolls adding the extras.

The Corns attacked from deep again and put together multiple phases which got Will Marks across the line, but the referee called it back for a forward pass.

With a penalty coming from the resultant scrum, Eddolls kicked to the corner, where a driven line-out saw a forwards try with Ben Canning coming up with the ball and Eddolls adding another two points to make it 36-0.

The final try came after Thomas Rose was held up just short but Toby Stayt drove into him to secure the ball to flop over for the score.

But Stow were denied a cup double in the Junior Cup final, as they lost 34-30 to a late Cheltenham II try.

They led 10-0 early on with a Charlie Slatter try, converted by Corey Shrimpton, who also kicked a penalty.

Cheltenham got on the board with a penalty, but Mark Ingham’s try put Stow 15-3 up.

Cheltenham hit back with a converted interception try but Slatter’s second try, converted by Shrimpton, saw Stow 22-10 up at the break.

But Cheltenham started the second half well, with two tries cutting the gap to 22-20 and they then took the lead with a converted try.

But back came Stow again and Shrimpton made it 27-25 with a penalty before Slatter’s third try put Stow 30-27 in front, before the late Cheltenham try and conversion gave them the cup.

Cheltenham’s third XV won the Minor Shield for the first time in the club’s history.

Three first-half penalties from Marcus Evans against a try and penalty from Norton gave the Tigers a 9-8 lead at the break.

Norton were first on the scoreboard in the second half with a well-taken try to lead 13-9, then there was a period of tit for tat scoring.

Henry Kirchner crossed with Evans adding the extras to make it 16-13, Norton then crashed over to restore their lead at 18-16, and then the experienced Cheltenham side took control.

The evergreen Richard Athey went over for a try, Evans with the conversion as Cheltenham led 23- 18.

Evans then crossed twice in quick succession and with his reliable boot took the score to 37-18.

Jack Petelo made the game safe with a late score, which Evans also converted for 44-18.

Norton, to their credit, had the last say with a converted score at the death making the final score 44-25.