Saturday 12th April 2003

Old Alleynians 16 Shipston-on-Stour 10

    A hazy, lazy April morning as Dulwich decamped en masse, swapping SE21's 'House of Pain,' for 'Fortress Twickenham.' An extraordinary run in the Powergen Junior Vase had seen the Alleynians defeat all comers; many sides from leagues above, ready to face Shipston-on-Stour, two rungs above them on the Rugby ladder.

Though the start was unseemly early, an ebullient crowd of nearly five thousand saw the hometown favourites storm into a three-nil lead with a fortuitous penalty goal from Tim Sandars, that bounced over off the crossbar. There followed a period of sustained pressure from Shipston-on-Stour, their heavier pack gaining the upper hand and despite resolute defence, something had to give. A series of rapid pick-and-drive rucks from the Shipston eight led to their hooker being driven over the line. The simple conversion made the score 7-3. Where some sides might have sought out the nearest towel, this side, emulating their skipper James Franklin, responded with a display of dashing brio.

    The guile and grace of Tims' Dux and Sandars, the hard running and juddering tackles of Mike Joy and Mark Easter led wave upon wave of attack. As Shipston felt the direction of power shifting the penalty count against them grew. Still, the Alleynians were not able to translate this first-half territorial advantage into points, twice electing for scrums close to the Shipston line when points were on offer.

    After glory-boy Chris Parke had spurned the most blatant overlap since Mark Taylor against England, Shipston briefly broke the Alleynian's vice-like grip to convert a harshly awarded penalty. At 10-3 down were we seeing the flattery inherent in deception?

    The second half was to provide the answer. The first Alleynian try came after more fine work from the tight five. Matt Vale and John Nurse superb in the lineout, the front row more than holding their own in the scrums; all prompted and conducted by the sublime skills of man-of-the-match Tim Dux at crum-half. A hoisted Sandars bomb caused confusion amongst the Shipston back three, the full back completely misjudged the bounce and wing Jon Hanna collected to crashed over in the corner. Sandars could not convert from a tricky angle. By now, everything was flowing the Alleynian's way. After serial rucking phases and bulwarking forward drives, from a ruck under the posts the ball was spun out via back rowers Giles Burris and Tom Harding to Jon Hanna, who glided in for his second try.

    13-10 up and with victory in sight Tim Sandars coolly slotted a drop goal, having fluffed his lines with a previous attempt more akin to a Bill McLaren haggis-based metaphor. 16-10 and the game was up for Shipston. A day where guile and passion combined with dogged determination to produce a performance that will live forever.

    The crowd roared and sang themselves hoarse, as (Yarni strode onto the field) James Franklin collected the trophy to the strains of Pueri Alleynienses and then got on it in one almighty fashion.