Friday 16 July 2010

The KS Crusaders made the trip down to Boston Lincolnshire for the Stump 7's.

The blistering hot conditions was not helped by the 3 late cry offs, reducing the squad to 9 players and forcing vetern coach Ben Bourne to put his boots on.

The KS Crusaders started well beating Horncastle well and quickly found their feet, running out comfortable winners.

Next up were Oakham, the KS made hard work of the game, only winning with last play of the game with a length of the pitch try being finished off by Callum Campbell, converting his own try to make the score 14-12.

Finishing top of the group saw the KS Crusaders progress through to the Cup Quarter Final against the local RAF team. By now the KS Crusaders had hit top gear and were working through their patterns, running out comfortable winners 5 tries to 1.

The Semi Final saw the KS Crusaders pitched against Oakham - again. This time the boys were determined not to make the same mistake and flew out the blocks really taking the game to Oakham. Again, sticking to the patterns and doing the basics well helped the KS Crusaders run out very comfortable winners.

Through to the Final the KS Crusaders came up against old enemy Ronin Warriors, a back up team to National 7's team Raging Bull Ronin, with a number of their players having played in the Manchester leg of the National Series the week before for their senior team. 

It was a case of a very experianced Fijian packed team against a young raw novice team. The KS Crusaders with 7 of the players yet to turn 21 and three players still only aged 17. The KS guys stuck to their task, played their patterns and did the basics well that had done them well the in the early stages. The Ronin defence was awesome, and the KS team struggled to break through. The defence mixed with brutal physicality and that Fijian flare saw the Ronin team run out comfotable winners.

The final was spoilt slightly by the sad news that young gun Stoz broke his leg, nothing a cast & pin didn't sort out.

Team: Callum, Pete H, Aaron, Daz, Owen, Ross, Stoz, Macca, Ben.

Thanks to Boston RFC for a good tournament & their help for Stoz.