Valiant youngsters come up short in semi-final - The Evesham Observer

Valiant youngsters come up short in semi-final

Evesham Editorial 22nd Jan, 2019 Updated: 22nd Jan, 2019   0

A BATTLING display by Evesham’s youngsters was not enough to secure a place in the North Midlands Shield final.

With a number of injuries throughout the squad, Evesham’s youthful starting XV in their semi-final clash at Camp Hill featured 12 players under the age of 25 and it was no disgrace to lose 34-19.

Despite defeat, Evesham’s coaching staff were impressed with the application of their young charges, who never gave up,

All but one of those players had played in youth teams at the Avonside club so it is testament to the strength in depth and health of the club as a whole.




Camp Hill had led 24-0 at the break as their clear advantage in the set-piece paid dividends.

Evesham wasted two eminently kickable penalties within the first ten minutes but the hosts’ growing pressure was rewarded when centre Mikey Pyne burst through to score in the corner and No 8 Matt Nightingale touched down for a second try after the Evesham pack had been driven over their own try-line.


Another scrum led to Nightingale getting his second score before full-back Mark Lisle went over, converted by Barney Edwards, to leave the hosts 24-0 ahead at half-time.

Edwards finished off a fifth Camp Hill try but Evesham outscored their opponents in the second period.

Ash Icke, Will Bugg and Alex Jackson crossed the whitewash for tries, with Mike Diston slotting two conversions, while Steven Leach replied for the hosts as they booked their first final appearance since 2008.

Evesham return to league action on Saturday with a trip to fourth-placed Earlsdon in Midlands Two West (South).

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