Marlow is the man (From Gazette Series)

Marlow is the man

Stroud Junior Cup Semi-Final Wotton-under-Edge 15 Royal Agricultural College 12

WOTTON took a dramatic victory to go through to the final of the Stroud Junior Cup thanks to a last minute penalty kick from Rob Marlow.

The away side came full of running and eager to breach the home side's defence but the Men in Black were resilient and had a clear advantage in the forwards, which carried them through.

The first half saw much of the play camped in the students' 22 but relentless forward pressure could not convert into points.

Two great chances from pushover scrums were missed and the Cirencester side's back line was solid in defence.

Wotton had to beware of the pace of their younger opponents as they broke from deep and the students actually opened the scoring.

The Men In Black continued to batter away at the line but could not find a way through until a jinking run from winger Robin Drake succeeded where others had failed, which made it one try apiece.

The second half saw more of the same, with Wotton putting some phases of play together but never really firing on all cylinders.

Wotton did manage to take the lead when a combination of Brown and Barton, drives culminated in the latter scoring to give his side a crucial advantage.

Again the students fought back though and they found no-one at home as their second row pounced on a loose ball to make it 12-12 with two minutes left to play and extra-time beckoning.

Desperate to ensure that they gained possession and did not let anything slip, the Wotton pack gathered the ball and drove back into the visitors' half, where an offence was committed at the ruck and a kickable penalty was awarded to the home side.

Up stepped Marlow to coolly slot the kick and put his team through to their first ever appearance in the final of the Stroud Junior Cup.

The side will now focus back on this week's away league fixture with Bristol Telephones as places for the cup final will now be up for grabs.

The final is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at Stroud Rugby Club.

l New players wishing to join Wotton should come to training at KLB School on Thursday nights (7pm) or phone Tim Brown on 07976 652508.