Our two Colts teams travelled to Waterloo, Lancashire Cup 1st Round. First up were the U17s who were given a reality check in the form of a 43-0 stuffing. Our boys are climbing the ladder of improvement – but it’s a long ladder, they now know.

Sedgley U19s won, however, 17-12. Two Luke Woolley tries, with a Waterloo score sandwiched in between, and a Thomas Leader conversion, gave Sedgley a 12-5 half-time lead which was further stretched by a try from left-winger Shepherd Mongambeko. (Need to check this spelling – help us out, please, Shep.)

The game was refereed by an excellent Spaniard, over here to gain experience, and was a tough one played in a great spirit, with no foul play. His decision to award the home team a late penalty try did not meet with universal approval from the Sedgley camp – well it wouldn’t – and set up a nervy last few minutes.

Sedgley have a home tie against Widnes in the 2nd Round on February 3rd. Widnes progressed after an away draw, 12-12 at Manchester.

Friendly fixtures for the Junior teams this week.

The under 16s travelled to Eccles minus three Lancashire players and a further five selected for Greater Manchester but, such is the strength in depth of this squad, the team we fielded was still quite a strong one.

Strong enough, it turned out, to beat a half-decent Eccles outfit 13-7. The only score of a tight first half went to right-winger Josh Nivern, though the easy conversion was missed.

Eccles came back strongly and took the lead with a try in the left corner, which was converted. Ryan Purcell regained the lead for Sedgley with a penalty goal and Sean Marsh’s interception try stretched it to six points. Eccles pressed to the end of a good, competitive game of rugby.

Big Ryan Purcell had an immense game in the pack. Not good enough for Lancashire? Or even Greater Manchester? Yeah, right!

Some new, and relatively new, players also made a good impression.

Also at Eccles, Sedgley’s under 14s were far too strong for the home team; a disappointing mismatch.

Back at Park Lane, Sedgley Park under 15s won a physically demanding battle against their Eccles counterparts.

The only score of an even first half went the way of Eccles, but Sedgley began the second half well, eventually scoring a try when the powerful Max Chandler dragged two Eccles players over with him; Tom Egan converted and later added a penalty to make the score 10-5.

And so it remained, though Eccles threw everything they had into the final ten minutes, and were unlucky not to score in the corner; good Sedgley defending.

The coaches were relieved to hear the final whistle. Alex Ogden was the SP man-of-the-match.

Our U13s were scheduled to play Liverpool St Helens, away. No news of this game.

SP Colts & Juniors  League & Cup Results & Fixtures 2007/08

Halbro Colts League
http://colts-rugby.org.uk/halbro for full fixtures, results, tables.

Under 19 (Senior Colts League A)
02/09  Altrincham Kersal (H) L   3- 9
09/09  Preston G’hoppers (A) D 17-17
23/09  Glossop           (H) L 14-26
30/09  Leigh             (H) W 36-12
07/10  Sandbach          (A) L   3-38
14/10  Kendal            (H) W 19- 3
28/10  Eccles            (A) postponed
04/11  Caldy             (H) D 14-14
11/11  Chester           (A) cancelled
09/12  Kendal            (A)
16/12  Sandbach          (H)
23/12  Leigh             (A)
30/12  Eccles            (A)
06/01  Glossop           (A)

Under 17 (Junior Colts League C North)
02/09  Blackpool         (A) L 24-68
09/09  Bolton            (A) L  5-10
16/09  Clitheroe         (A) W 67- 0
23/09  Fylde             (H) W 33-27
07/10  Kirkby Lonsdale   (H) postponed 
14/10  Eccles            (A) L 19-29
21/10  Fleetwood         (H) L 12-19
04/11  Bury              (A) W 24-13
11/11  Warrington        (H) L  0- 7
18/11  Fleetwood         (A) L 12-14
02/12  Eccles            (H)
09/12  Kirkby Lonsdale   (A)
16/12  Kirkby Lonsdale   (H)
06/01  Fylde             (A)

Lancashire Colts Cups
http://clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/lancashire/LancashireRugbyColtsSectionCup.aspx

Under 19
25/11  Waterloo (A)  W 17-12
03/02  Widnes   (H)

Under 17
25/11  Waterloo (A)  L  0-43

Lancashire Junior Challenge
http://clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/lancashire/JuniorChallenge0708.aspx

Under 16
16/09  Liverpool Collegiate (H) W 38-19
07/10  Bolton               (H) W 33- 3
04/11  Ormskirk             (A) L  3-33*
16/12  Manchester           (H)

Under 15
16/09  Broughton Park       (A) postponed to January
07/10  Bury                 (H) L  6-12
04/11  Blackpool            (A) W walkover
16/12  Bolton               (A)

Under 14
16/09  Fleetwood            (H) W 33- 5
04/11  Tarleton             (A) W 19- 0
18/11  Southport            (A) W 30- 0*
16/12  Ormskirk             (A)

Under 13
16/09  Widnes               (H) L  0-30*
07/10  Vale of Lune         (A) L  5-24
04/11  Warrington           (H) cancelled by Warrington
18/11  Fleetwood            (A) W 37- 7*
16/12  Liverpool St Helens  (H)

* denotes ‘reported score’ – under competition rules the score difference must not exceed 30.