Metro 4 Final – Old Wesley (4s) 25 – Old Belvedere (3s) 17
Old Wesley Colts/4ths brought home the first bit of silverware of the season winning the Metro League 4 final against Old Belvedere. In fact it is eight years since their last league success.
Conditions were immaculate in Ollie Campbell Park albeit on the back pitch to make way for their J1s playing their league final, Old Belvedere were hoping to make it 3 league titles for Senior, J1 and J2. Unfortunately for them, the Colts didn’t get the memo. Old Wesley came out of the blocks early and following strong carries by Chris Finnegan and Zach Furlong got in within 5 metres of the Belvedere line – scrum half Charlie Kennedy sniped at the fringes and dotted down for the first score of the evening. 7-0. The Colts’ tails were up and in defence there was no question of the game plan to keep players on feet and tackle low. Winning the ball back countless times over the jackal through Jack Deasy and Chris Gilmer. A penalty won under the posts was duly converted by kicker Ben Wiseman. 10-0
The next score was crucial and in this case special – when Jack Fish and Chris Finnegan linked up in midfield and sprayed the ball out to winger Ben Wiseman who skipped past 4 defenders from 50 metres out to race over the line and score the second try of the evening. 15-0. Mistakes in the backfield led to Belvedere getting a 5m scrum and eventually scoring to make it 15-7 at the break.
Following the break, replacement Tom Power was red carded for what was deemed a leading forearm, meaning Old Wesley needed to hold on for 25 minutes with 14 men. Replacements Conor Skerritt and Ian Logan held the 7 man scrum well as well as Kameron Moran in the backfield who replaced Gabriel Dunne. A try against the run of play brought Old Belvedere back within 3 points with 15 to go. 15-12
Old Wesley responded well with a good chase off the kick off managing to keep pressure on; a lovely kick from Charlie Kennedy put Wesley on the Belvedere 5m line. Pressure was huge on the thrower for Belvedere and Ian Logan’s one man lift of Jack Deasy allowed him to catch the ball and then run in to keep the Colts 8 ahead. 20-12.
Experience looked to play a massive part in the last 10 minutes as Old Wesley were able to settle the game through scrum dominance and kicking game. A penalty led to Wesley getting within 5 metres of the line. Following a line out move Wesley went into pick and go mode when Charlie Kennedy spotted skipper Fergus Noonan on the blindside who walked in their final try of the night. 13 points ahead with 5 to go.
There was time for another score for Old Belvedere but unconverted meant they required 2 scores in as many minutes. Following a penalty, the ball was tapped and kicked out and the Colts were named champions of Metro 4.
Tries: Charlie Kennedy, Ben Wiseman, Jack Deasy and Fergus Noonan
Conversions: Ben Wiseman (1)
Penalties: Ben Wiseman (1)
Squad
- Warren MacWilliam
- Chris Gilmer
- Jack Fish
- Jake Brownell
- Chris Finnegan
- Zach Furlong
- Jack Deasy
- Fergus Noonan (c)
- Charlie Kennedy
- Luca Clinton
- Ben Wiseman
- Jamie Fish
- Luke Fitzpatrick
- Leo Wyer
- Gabriel Dunne
- Andrew Egan
- Ian Logan
- Conor Skerritt
- Tom Power
- Kameron Moran
- David Flower
- Jack Finnegan
