Imperious Derwent win college rugby 10s title

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Photos: Jack Western

Derwent won their third one-day college sport tournament of the year after they beat Alcuin 19-0 in the final of the rugby 10s competition.

The men in blue were dominant throughout the day, not conceding a single point en route to an emphatic triumph which sees them hold both league and cup crowns.

With Wentworth unable to field a team, and one joint Heslington East force, the tournament took the format of two groups of three teams. Group A contained Derwent, Vanbrugh and Halifax while Group B had Alcuin, James and Heslington East.

In Group A, Vanbrugh and Halifax fought out a 12-12 draw. Wallace and Collins scored for the ‘Fax, while Toni Dyke and Alex Miller touched down for Vanbrugh.

In the second match, Derwent stated their championship ambitions by demolishing Halifax 53-0, with tries from Kristian Elkheim, Phil Hammick, Josh Clewes, James Pilkington and a brace from the impressive Rob Wilson.

The third match would decide who would join Derwent in the semi-final stage, and Vanbrugh clinched it by the skin of their teeth, losing 50-0 to Derwent – a mere three points fewer than Halifax.

Meanwhile, in Group B, James opened their challenge with a comfortable 47-5 win over Heslington East. Phil Scott scored a hat-trick of tries, while Phil Clayton, David Gopinath, James Bailey and Jamie Boyd also got on the scoresheet. Will Oldfield scored his side’s only try in the first half.

But James were no match for Alcuin, who won easily 33-0. Joe Cooper and Muzzy Foley both scored braces, and there was even time for former York Sport President Sam Asfahani to add gloss to the scoreline.

The final match saw Alcuin come from behind to defeat Heslington East 35-10. The underdogs took a sensational lead through Will Kosek, but Alcuin, using their effective chip and charge tactic, took control with tries from Foley and Cooper and Alex Brightmore. James Buchanan scored a late consolation for Hes East.

The tournament thus entered the semi-final stages, with the table-toppers facing runners up from the other group.

In Derwent v James, the college rugby champions romped to a 37-0 win. They made their intentions clear with a try almost immediately, an ominous sign for anyone hoping that the match would be anything approaching a competitive one.

Luca Illing ran virtually the length of the pitch to score Derwent’s second and the third try was not long coming as Derwent made mincemeat of the James defence.

Derwent’s players seemed to be stronger in every department, seemingly able to win every scrum and lineout, shake off most tackles James could throw at them.

They completely carved open the James defence with two brilliant individual runs as Hugo Marino scored a quick brace to make the score 25-0 to put the match beyond doubt by half time.

After half time Derwent were seemingly able to operate with impunity and score tries for fun. After a routine sixth try and conversion, Rob Wilson went over for Derwent’s seventh and final try to give his side a 37-0 win.

The other semi-final saw Alcuin face Vanbrugh, and the team in red made little fuss as they stormed to a 43-0 victory.

The ubiquitous Foley opened an early lead for Alcuin, before James Evans beat most of the Vanbrugh team to go over and allow Cooper to add the extras.

At 12-0, Alcuin were enjoying themselves and Thomas Holder added a third try following Cooper’s mazy run. Vanbrugh rallied towards the end of the first half, but Alcuin defended stoutly to make the score 17-0 at the interval.

Soon after the restart, Foley touched down twice to put himself on six tries for the tournament, before Marinus Maris and Sonny Dewfall added gloss to the victory.

The final between Alcuin and Derwent was always going to be a closer affair with both sides winning their respective matches so easily.

Neither side was able to break through each other’s back row with ease but the ball was spending all of its time in the Alcuin half, suggesting Derwent were in relative control of the match.

This was proved to be so as Derwent took the lead with Kristian Elkheim going over for the opening try, which was converted to give York a 7-0 lead.

Almost immediately after this Derwent were able to score a crushing blow with a great interception and run from Alex Cochrane-Dyet who passed to Luca Illing who went over to give Derwent a 12-0 advantage.

Derwent dominated the rest of the period with the ball firmly encamped in the Alcuin half. Hugo Marino would have gone over if the pass to him was not ruled marginally forward.

However, Alcuin should also be applauded for their resoluteness in defence which was lightyears better than any Derwent had previously faced; captain Muzzy Foley in particular made some excllent last ditch tackles to keep Derwent out.

Despite being 12-0 down at the break, Alcuin were by no means downhearted and came out like a train to put the Derwent defence under immense pressure. With a number of sustained attacks, Alcuin had turned the table and came agonisingly close to the try line on a number of occasions. But the Derwent defence was formidable and each time were able to neutralise the Alcuin threat.

After this, play once again opened up with both sides having a fair amount of possession and chances. Derwent, however, now seemed to have weathered the storm and were back in some form of control. Cochrane-Dyet made a great run to set up a potential match winning oppurtunity but the attack fizzled out once the ball had been passed.

This was ultimately a moot point as Derwent sealed the win with a brilliantly worked try which after a long period of build up play. Numerous chances saw Nick Wright on the end of a brilliant pass to go over for the winner to top off a day of utter Derwent dominance in which they had failed to conced a single point.

FULL RESULTS

Vanbrugh 12-12 Halifax
Derwent 53-0 Halifax
Derwent 50-0 Vanbrugh

James 47-5 Heslington East
Alcuin 33-0 James
Alcuin 35-10 Heslington East

Derwent 37-0 James
Alcuin 43-0 Vanbrugh

Derwent 19-0 Alcuin

FULL SQUADS

Derwent: Alex Cochrane-Dyet, Joshua Clewes, James Pilkington, Christian Elkine, Will Orchard, Chris Judge, Hugo Marino, Rob Wilson, Martin Whittaker, Richard Whittaker, Phil Hammick,  Luca Illing, Kristian Elkheim

Alcuin: Muzzy Foley, Alex Finnis, Joe Waring, CJ Johnson, Sam Asfahani, Sonny Dewfall, Alex Brightmore, Marinus Maris, James Evans, Thomas Holder, Russell Woo, Jonathan Bones, Joe Cooper, Aiden Woodcock, Liam Little, Chris Edwards

Vanbrugh: Alex Miller, Jordan Perkins, Mike Petken, Michael Dryden, Tom Frost, Itai Preston Choto, Chris Hodgson, Michael Bradley, Toni Dyke, Marcus Simon

James: Jamie Boyd, Luke Lawson, Ed Pallister, Phil Scott, Ben Gardiner, Charlie Burton, Dave Gopinath, Phil Clayton, Chris Poynton, Matthew Collins, James Bailey, Tate Oulton

Halifax: Jack Whittaker, Scott Galley, Rob Wallace, Jake Baldwin, Wiz Collins, Sam Lambert, Sam Geogehen, Savid Sissons, Jordan Williams, Alex Ulyet

Heslington East: Lee Cook, Callum Collins, Josh Douglas, Alex McDonald, Chris Smith, Ben Murphy, Euan Dennis, Will Kosek, James Buchanan, Peter Walton, Will Murray, Anthonu Chui, Steve Lecorne, Nick Attwooll