Sides serve up Felix Young Memorial Cup thriller

Under floodlights and with a large crowd supporting both sides, the second Felix Young Memorial Cup was played at Gatehouse Lane, having been set up in 2022 to commemorate the life of Felix, a much-loved member of the club community.All the players knew the importance of the game and Theo Young, Felix’s younger brother played the first half for Wisbech Grammar School (WGS) and the second half for West Norfolk.The game kicked off and immediately West applied pressure, with a quick break coming from the back line which almost resulted in a try but WGS defended well, turning over the ball and then applying constant pressure.A strong West defence kept them out for a spell before the speed of the WGS back line showed and their centre broke through the West defensive line, looking like a certain score but winger Freddie Rice chased down and caught the runner, putting in an excellent try-saving tackle.West gained possession but failed to clear the ball, resulting in a penalty to WGS.The visitors put the ball out for a lineout on the West five-metre line, which they won, driving over the line to score the first try of the game on 18 minutes which was duly converted.WGS kept the pressure on from the restart and with West Norfolk failing to clear the ball, WGS scored again on 25 minutes, but the conversion was missed. For the next ten minutes, it was all one way, with WGS constantly in West Norfolk’s half and West defending. Finally, against the run of play the ball came out to centre Rocky Dawe, whose quick feet broke through the WGS defensive line to make a run for the try line, passing to Freddie Rice to go over for a try, which was converted by Jack Mitchell.West Norfolk Colts trailed 7-12 going into the break.With some tactical changes at half-time, West started knowing that they had to subdue the speed of the WGS back line. From the kick-off, West Norfolk caught the ball and were awarded a penalty after a high tackle from WGS.Opting for a lineout on the WGS five-metre line, the powerful West forwards received the ball, driving over the line, with James Leman getting the ball down for the second try to level the scores. WGS knew that the West forwards were a constant threat so from the kick-off, after a West knock-on and advantage to WGS, they gained possession to once again run the ball in for their third try to leave their hosts trailing by five points.After a prolonged period of changing possession and neither team gaining ground, West were awarded a penalty on the halfway line. They kicked into the WGS half, keeping the ball in play and scrum half Kipp Charlesworth kicked the ball along the ground towards the try line and with his speed and agility, outpaced the chasing WGS players to pick up the bouncing ball and go over for a try.A missed conversion saw the scores locked at 17-17.Realising that their early lead had slipped away, WGS fired up their back line who immediately punched holes in the West defensive line, eventually breaking through to score two quick tries, one converted.With 10 minutes to go, West Norfolk knew that their strength was in their forwards and the key was to keep possession. Winning a penalty on the WGS five-metre line and taking a tap-and-go, the ball was passed to powerful forward James Leman, who once again crashed over the line to score and the conversion was missed.As the match entered the last minutes, West knew that they had to give it their all to try to draw level.Unfortunately, they knocked the ball on from the WGS kick-off which led to a WGS scrum on the West 22-yard line.The WGS scrum half quickly popped the ball out to the quick back who ran over to score again. The hosts still had their heads up, looking for the quick try from the kick-off.With a fumble by a receiving WGS player from the kick-off, West gained possession in the WGS half, driving forward, ruck after ruck and keeping possession until they pushed into the WGS five-metre line.Once again James Leman crashed over the line for his third try, converted by Jack Mitchell to make the final score 29-34.The trophy was presented to the WGS captain – also a West Norfolk player – George Purell by Julian Young, Felix’s father, in front of a cheering home crowd.