1/4 Final glory for Sharks

Today saw Gordano Sharks U16s meet North Bristol U16s in the Bristol Junior Combination (BJC) Cup 1/4 final at 'Fortress Caswell Lane".
The sun was shining, the pitch was in good nick and a large crowd turned up expecting to be entertained.
Sharks lined up as follows:
Front row = Tom Instance, Callum Corcoran, Curt Southey.
2nd row = Zach Wall, Harry Purnell.
Back row = Charlie Geary, Louis Wall, Sam Hodge.
9 = Lew Leaker
10 = Lewis Eaves
Centres = Finn Murphy (Captain), Sam Ashbee
Wings = Ben Beacham, Harrison Topps
15 = Shay Ford
Subs = Eddie Tovey, Connor Fairclough, Sam Fear, Joe Bell
Injured players in attendance = Jack Pope, Jordan Mitchell, Alex Reynolds

Within 5 minutes the pattern of play from both teams was established. North Bristol have big, strong forwards who are well drilled in the art of mauling and pick & go. To counter that, Gordano relied on the awesome jackling skills of their back row to win ruck after ruck and to set free their mercurial backs. Soon Gordano were 7 points up as Murphy set Ashbee free out wide to dot down, and the imperious Leaker converted from the touchline.

North Bristol scored next before Topps broke free with Leaker again converting.

The lineout was a bit of a lottery, but as the game wore on, Gordano achieved parity in the scrum and then slowly started to take control of the set piece.

Man of the match Lewis Eaves was marshalling his backline to perfection and it wasn't long into the second half before Z Wall burst over the whitewash with Leaker converting.

Gordano were now 11 points clear but mysteriously started to lose their discipline at the breakdown as a yellow card was followed by two tries to the visitors to put them one point ahead with 3 minutes to go.

Gordano butchered a penalty on the visitors' try line before, with the last move of the game, Finn Murphy powered over to secure a famous victory.

On to Wells for the semi final later in the month.