17/05/2025
Topsham 47-26 Lutterworth
-Topsham are National Champions!-
The boys have done it! What a match! What an occasion! A brilliant performance from 1 to 22 and we're bringing home the cup! A superb day out was capped off in style by the boys producing one of their best ever performances as they saw off Lutterworth at Twickenham. Despite our incredible season the opposition had won every game of their season up to this point and hadn't lost in their past fourty outings, many had them tipped as favourites. Having soaked up every ounce possible of the atmosphere a fever pitch crowd welcomed the boys through the famous gates and then out onto the pitch at 3pm.
All the talk before the first whistle was how we'd react under the microscope at rugby's most famous ground. The answer; just like we were back at Bonfire Field. Robin Edbrooke played a huge part early on scoring the game's opener before a gorgeous offload put fellow flanker Erin Inglis over just minutes later. In a first twenty minutes dominated by us we raced into a 14-0 lead which also included Marcus Cottle being denied what looked a perfectly legal try. Lutterworth as expected grew into the game and they scored two tries of their own the final one on the stroke of half time. A missed conversion meant we headed for the sheds 14-12 up.
The second period saw us start fast again, an incredible score from Austin Crow saw him leave his man on the deck before tip toeing down the whitewash to score. Lutterworth despite struggling for much meaningful possession again levelled things up both in terms of tries and the scoreline. Moments before this we had sliced a relatively easy penalty wide with the possibility of opening a ten point gap up missed. Not once did our heads drop though despite the inability to shrug the opposition off. Having worked it into their 22 James Mattin was hit high and they lost a man for ten minutes. From the resulting penalty we called for a scrum and with the front row milking them for another penalty we fired our shots. Mattin spun it out to Lewis Webb who nonchalantly chipped over the top for a delighted Joe Cave to put us back ahead.
Again though they came back at us, a loose offload in our own 22 was punished and in the blink of an eye the game was tied at 26-26. However this was the final points they'd score as we took control. Joe Cave scored his second of the match and half as he finished off another sweeping Topsham attack, 33-26. As was the pattern of the game Lutterworth fought back but this time their equaliser never came. Defending on our five metre line Jack Perry flew out the line and caused sufficient disruption to force the ball loose. From there Shane O'Hanrahan gathered it round by his ankles and raced the full length of the Twickenham pitch for a Topsham sixth. With Lutterworth now effectively three scores down due to the fact a tied game would go the way of the side that scored first they had no choice but to start forcing things. This allowed us all the space we needed and when Max Hammond dived in at the corner the job was done.
The ref's whistle brought about wild celebrations from the Topsham support which was plentiful with the players dropping to their knees as they completed a stunning cup win.
Commiserations to Lutterworth who were brilliant on and off the pitch and we wish them all the success next season.
A day all who attended and watched from at home will never forget. Thanks to everyone, players and supporters who made it such a special day.
Tries:
J.Cave x 2, E.Inglis R.Edbrooke, A.Crow, S.O'Hanrahan, M.Hammond
Conv:
J.Mattin x 6
