BURTON RFC academy head coach Pete Weedon is delighted yet surprised at the success the young Crofters have had in their debut year after reaching two more cup finals.
The Colts beat local rivals Derby to secure a meeting with Nuneaton in the Leicestershire Invitational County Cup final at Welford Road, home of Leicester Tigers.
The Bucks meanwhile have reached the Midlands regional final of the National Under-17s competition – where they will face Old Silhillians – after beating Evesham at the weekend.
Weedon said, “This rather blows our five-year plan out of the water!
“We had it in our heads that this kind of success might come if we worked really hard, but all the early hard work seems to be getting results already.
“I cannot emphasise how proud I am of the lads”.
On Sunday afternoon, a tough encounter was anticipated, as Evesham boasted an unbeaten season prior to kick-off.
The Bucks made an impressive start and from a line-out the ball was won and transferred to outside centre Alex Nesbitt, who beat two defenders to score a try just to the left of the posts that was converted by Simpson.
Evesham hit back two minutes later when the young Crofters were penalised in front of their own posts and the kick was successful.
The home defence was being tested regularly, most notably by number eight Harry Roddick, who made several powerful offensive runs, and the next score came when Louis Sanders found some space on the narrow side and cleverly linked with right-wing Ed Wainman, who finished strongly to score a deserved try in the right-hand corner. The conversion went just wide.
Once again Evesham hit back with another successful penalty to reduce the deficit, before the Bucks were awarded one of their own just before half-time.
Eddie Nicholls found touch with an excellent kick and after Ben Wileman won the line-out, Burton drove the resulting maul over the try-line and Christian Todaro touched the ball down.
Simpson added the conversion from wide out to increase the lead.
In the second half, Bucks moved the ball quickly left through the backs’ hands and Nesbitt scored his second try of the game, which went unconverted.
A combination of excellent forward drives and strong running by the backs then eventually lead to Kieran Hall scoring just to the left of the posts, and Simpson converted to make it 31-6.
Burton were then guilty of taking their foot off the pedal and Evesham scored a converted try near the posts.
Bucks responded with some ferocious defensive tackling and aggressive running from the pack, but the hosts were the next scorers when, following another penalty award, they moved the ball quickly right and scored an unconverted try on the right-hand side.
However, Burton were to have the final say in the game with arguably the best try of the day, as the ball was moved swiftly through to Cameron Gaunt, who showed lightning pace and determination to beat the opposition defence and run in under the posts. Nesbitt slotted the conversion to complete the scoring.
