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Durham, Hampshire, and Notts, Lincs and Derby triumph in rugby finals

Durham, Hampshire, and Notts, Lincs and Derby triumph in rugby finals

In the U20s final, Durham fought back from 23 points down midway through the first half to claim a first Jason Leonard title with a 53-33 win over Hampshire.

After taking the lead early on through Magnus Broadley, Durham quickly conceded four tries in a row with Thomas Hare and Ben Griffin both crossing after slick passing from Hampshire.

Sam Vince and captain Jack Philips moved Hampshire further ahead before last year’s losing finalists hit back, first through Will Robinson.

Tom Campbell and Korede Sanusi both crossed after patient phase play to bring Durham just four points behind at the break.

After the restart, Alex Radcliffe crossed to move Durham into the lead before Hamish Yeldham dotted down having been fed the ball from a line-out to give his side a 10-point advantage.

Ted Reid produced a fine solo score to weave his way past the Hampshire defence and dive over for Durham’s seventh before Robbie Richardson added another for the victors.

Harry Rabjohn’s late score was nothing but a consolation for Hampshire as Reid went over for the final score of the day to seal the title.

Durham lock Alfie Blundell said: “It feels amazing, we have worked so hard for this, I couldn’t be more proud.

“We have never been behind like that this season, and we came together and focussed on playing as we have all campaign and turned it on in the second half.

“The set-up is amazing, all the coaches and the RFU have put an amazing tournament together, we can’t ask for anymore.

“A few guys will now look to kick on into semi-pro rugby, but even the ones going back to club rugby won’t forget this.”

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Hampshire captain Jack Philips said: “I’m immensely proud of all the boys. I’ve been with them since U15s and to get to a national final at U20s to round it all off was just incredible and it is a real honour to captain the side.

“It is brilliant to end the season with, we enjoy it so much, putting club rivalries aside and creating an immense team with the best players in the county and playing the game we love, we wouldn’t change it for the world.”

In the Gill Burns Division 2 final, Hampshire gained revenge over defending champions Eastern Counties to secure the trophy with a 53-8 win.

In a rematch of last year’s final, Hampshire flew out of the blocks with three tries in the opening 16 minutes as co-captain Natasha Bullock scored either side of a fine try from Nina Hoadley.

After converting a penalty, Eastern Counties then secured their first try of the afternoon as Danni Lee dotted down before Hampshire hit back with two late scores through Katie Wadeson and Hannah Kemish.

Hampshire picked up where they left off with two tries in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, first through Samantha Wharton before Kemish sprinted 20 metres for her second.

Eastern Counties resisted wave upon wave of Hampshire attack for much of the second half before Emma Andrews and Emelia Green crossed in the closing stages to close out a dominant victory.

Hampshire try scorer Green said: “I wasn’t a part of the side last year, but I knew that our main objective was to come out and absolutely smash this and as a team we have done that.

“Coming into the team from Under 18s has been fantastic, the women have been so accommodating, I was expecting to be on the bench a bit more so to start has been really nice.

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“My try-scoring average has been one a game and it is really nice to end it off in the final with the last try of the game.

“This is the most important thing, to get girls out playing rugby and in front of all of these people to show women’s rugby is coming up.”

Eastern Counties captain Chantelle Higgins said: “The girls put in 110 per cent but Hampshire just brought it to us, they were more dominant and we have got a lot to take from it.

“It is amazing to play in front of the supporters, they all count and they are all part of the team and it is what spurs us on to keep on going.”

In the Division 3 final, Cassie Milestone was the star of the show for Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Derbyshire, scoring four tries in their 34-22 win over Devon.

Milestone opened the scoring in a frantic first half, converting her own try before Devon responded with a try from Rosie Tidball.

A pacy score from Chloe Hill moved Devon ahead for the first time before Holly Felton hit back for NLD with a powerful score.

Milestone put her side in the lead again on the stroke of half-time, before Tidball responded after the break by completing a brace of her own to keep Devon in touching distance.

NLD’s full-back secured her hat-trick as she found a gap in the Devon defence before NLD and Devon traded tries with Abigail Lee and Sammie Harris scoring respectively.

Milestone had the final say with a fourth try at the death to avenge NLD’s defeat in the final last year.

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Four-try hero Milestone said: “After remembering the amount of pain that we were in when we lost the final last year, we have been talking about it all season and then to finally come off with that win is a pretty amazing feeling.

“I still don’t believe I scored four, but my four tries would not have come without everybody on that pitch with me.

“It is amazing to represent NLD, it is a massive area, there are loads of clubs dotted around and I feel really proud of every girl that has put on a blue shirt today and shown what we can do.

“It is unreal being able to play at these grounds with these players and the coaching staff that we have got, it feels like the whole county has stepped up a level and we have all got big dreams for the next division.”

Devon try-scorer Harris said: “We have had an amazing 10 weeks together, we’ve put in shift after shift, we have worked really hard, and today they were just the better team.

“It is a real honour to represent Devon, the girls I stand alongside are all so good in their individual ways so I am honoured to play with every single one of them.”

You can watch the County Championship Finals back on England Rugby’s YouTube channel here

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