On Sunday, 27th March at Farnham Rugby Club, Barnes Colts played Weybridge Vandals Colts in the final of the Twickenham Chairman's Cup. The Colts were in buoyant mood ahead of the game despite having already lost to Weybridge in the first round of the competition.

That had been a very scrappy game where Barnes had abandoned their free running style of play and got into an arm wrestle with a bigger, more physical side and had come off second best. This time, though, it would be different …

On a rock-hard pitch, it started as a battle of the forwards with neither team being able to impose themselves. Unfortunately for Barnes, we had two early injuries: first, inside centre Harry left with an ankle injury; and then fly half, Joe, landed heavily on his back and had to leave the pitch after 10 minutes of treatment from the Farnham paramedic. The first half remained a nervy, stop start affair and finished 3-3.

Despite the referee being from Weybridge Vandals himself (although he is a London Society Ref), it was the Weybridge team who could not maintain their discipline and consistently fell foul of his whistle, receiving 3 yellow cards through the game. Conversely Barnes kept their cool and their discipline and kept on the right side of the referee and were praised at the end of the match by him for their positive and constructive interactions. Credit for this must go to Shea, as captain, who managed the Barnow Colts well on the pitch, and has been a thoroughly impressive and mature leader throughout the season.

After a rousing half-time talk by coach Cameron Ruddock and some key substitutions, Barnes started the second half in determined fashion, playing a positive, free flowing attacking style of rugby. Our game changers certainly contributed well: Tristan came on to take up his loosehead role, Owen moved back into the 2nd row, Stan took over the scrum-half duties and our No9, Daf, moved to fly-half. With these changes we looked the more cohesive team, executing the jab and punch structure that Cam has been drilling into them all season. In fact, shrieks of joy could be heard from him after spotting a perfectly executed drag call.

After 5 mins of constant attacking play by the Barnow Colts in the Weybridge 22, Tris made a huge impact, carried well and crashed over for his first try of the season, and the Barnes touchline erupted!

Our Club photographer, Jonathan Knight, captured the joys of everyone involved, including the coaches on the touchline. Shortly after on the same wing, it was fitting that our Captain, Shea, got the next try after wonderful forwards and backs interlinking on the right wing.

Weybridge heads were down, and within another 5 minutes Heaver, just back from three months off with injury, was next on the scoreboard, rounding the flagging Weybridge defence to show great pace and power to score. Hal was last on the scoreboard for Barnes as the no 8 chipped the Weybridge defence, caught the ball and used his long limbs to stretch over the line.

Daf’s kicking from the tee was very impressive and finished the day with 9 points and an 80% success rate. With the game won, the Barnes team’s intensity dropped for the last 5 minutes giving the Weybridge Colts the opportunity to mount a last attack. Weybridge certainly dug deep, and they should be congratulated for not giving up and pushing until the final whistle. In fact, they dug so deep they managed to get 2 consolation tries.

This has been a long season for the Barnow Colts, and results have not always gone the way we would have liked but this was a great end to the competitive season: runners-up in the Surrey Waterfall Cup and Winners of the Chairman’s Twickenham Cup (organised and sponsored by Quins). The coaches have all enjoyed working with this group of boys and whilst pleasing to see them play such a positive brand of rugby, it was their discipline, maturity and togetherness that was the most enjoyable to watch.