Coulson's Column - County Cup Final Special

Worthing College travelled the short journey from Bolsover Road to Rugby Park Roundstone Lane in anticipation of winning their third County Cup final in four years. They were faced by an enthusiastic St Bedes side whom Worthing had not played for three years, on that occasion Worthing were victorious.

In the last round Worthing were away and beat Worth School 23-8 a result that added to an impressive run of results against Sussex opposition having already beaten Hurstpierpoint in the early stages of the Daily Mail.

Worthing were much larger in many positions on the field and it became clear very early on that the independent school was going to struggle to live with the power and physicality of the College side. From the kick off a missed touch from the Bedes Fly-half lead to Worthing putting 11 phases together before scoring through Peake on the right side of the pitch. Following this Worthing began to build pressure without crossing the line until a Pegg penalty on 12mins made the score 8-0. More pressure came based on a strong line out, abrasive running and an excellent kicking game from Parker, Maslen and Keith repeatedly putting the Bedes players deep in their own territory. It was from one such kick that a scrappy Bedes line out lead to Pegg putting Green in for the first of his two trys on the day.

By now the Bedes players were well aware that the game was lost as a contest as Worthing won every collision, tactical battle and pressured all areas of the set piece. This was evident when the Worthing pack won a line out on the Bedes 22 and drove over for a score finished by captain Roberts claimed collectively by the forwards.
It was a 10mins later before Mitchell broke from the back of a maul, fending and bunting his way over from 10m. Worthing now up 22-0.

With changes made at half time Worthing College continued to pressure and play some controlled rugby based on gaining field position before battering over, Luke was the next beneficiary of good approach work as he bundled over from 5 meters out. The scoreboard rolling over nicely for the College more changes came and with them more problems for the tiring but committed Bedes side.

Another turnover at the scrum lead to Luke breaking and putting a celebratory Roberts in for a 5 pointer in the left hand corner. On 38mins more concerted pressure in the Bedes 22 following a great break from Maslen was rounded off with a typically robust effort by Wigzell, dropping a couple of players off the bus before carrying the ball and three defenders over for the score. By this stage Bedes were out on their feet, tackling courageously to a man had taken its toll and the last attack of the game consisted of runs from Fastnedge, Keith, Wigzell concluding in another good pass from Pegg to Green as he crossed for his second, Worthing’s eighth and point number 51 of 51 in the crushing defeat of a deflated but honourable St Bedes side.


Worthing: Pegg, N White (Pumfrey 35), Fastnedge, Keith, Green, Maslen, Parker (Leeming 35), Short (Trencher 40), Luke (Laszlo 45), Roberts (Iurcovich 50), P White, Partick, Spring (Wigzell 60), Peake, Mitchell (Leeding 60).
Trys: Green 2, Roberts 2, Luke, Peake, Wigzell, Mitchell

Ben