Hungerford RFC

A beautiful Hungerfordian Spring day set the scene for the U13s Berkshire Boys Youth Cup Finals. Proudly hosted by HRFC for the second year running, the day showcases the county’s best rugby talent, with 4 matches and over 200 players taking to the field.

The morning session saw Bracknell’s A team play a friendly against Royal Wootton Bassett who made worthy opponents after Windsor’s A side had to withdraw. A very well-matched pair of teams, with Bracknell just edging it 45-40. Bracknell lifted the Main Pool Shield.

The morning was completed by Maidenhead’s B team playing Windsor B in a local derby competing for the Development Pool Shield. Maidenhead had already won the Shield, but you wouldn’t know it from the ferocity of play. An absorbing encounter which Maidenhead in the end won 35-10. Superbly refereed by HRFC’s home-grown young match official Alex, who drew plaudits from both coaching teams.

After rapturous cheers from supporters when the winning teams lifted their trophies, both teams sat down to eat before departing ready for the afternoon session to begin.

In the Main Cup, Matt Galbraith refereed his second match of the day, an eye-watering clash between Newbury and Maidenhead’s A team. The teams matched each other’s physicality and silky flowing rugby even when the rain started midway through the first half. With full-time looming and regulations forbidding extra-time, both teams were acutely aware that it was 20-20 and balanced the desire to go for broke with the need to defend. Neither team broke the deadlock and at the end of the match, it remained a draw. Newbury won the tie based on the first-try-wins rule and lifted the cup in front of a horde of supporters.

In the Development Cup, Reading played our very own Hungerford watched over by Stefan Wrzesinski. This was a repeat of last year’s final. Reading started strongly before Hungerford answered back. The rain played its part in causing chaos and HRFC faltered a few times, allowing Reading to profit. No heads dropped, but Reading’s strength and unbeaten cup run showed itself for them to beat the hosts to the Cup 35-10.

An incredible day of rugby at The Triangle Field, watched over by the Ian Wilson, Chair of Berkshire Rugby and Sean Gale, Chair of Berkshire Boys Rugby and the Mayor of Hungerford Helen Simpson who presented the four trophies to the winning teams.

A huge thanks to everyone who came and supported, and an even bigger thanks to the volunteers whose largely unseen work made the day a big success.