It was 10 years ago The Stags last made it to the Somerset Vase Cup Final which we narrowly lost to Tor RFC but 10 years on history made whereby an epic final was won by the blue & white hoops.
The Stags had beaten Yatton twice during the season in the league encounters but that was irrelevant as Yatton proved to be tougher than thought in the first 40 minutes of the final.
The game got underway at on Weston Hornets RFC 4G pitch on Tuesday night in front of large crowd.
The Stags went 3-0 up from a Tim Piper penalty awarded for holding on in the ruck after 2 minutes of play.
Yatton had vastly improved since the league games and proved so by playing some quick attacking rugby and pushed The Stags back within there own 22 area. Yatton were awarded several penalties for various infringements and eventually opted to kick one to level the score 3-3 once they realised The Stags defence was a challenge to break.
From the restart, James Havercroft chased and plucked the ball from away from Yatton, broke through the bewildered forwards but was brought down short of the try line. The ball was lost and Yatton slowly went through many phases to play to then find themselves back in The Stags 22 area. Touch was found, and The Stags wont the resulting lineout then kicked away only back into the hands of Yatton who relentlessly hammered on the Stags door and eventually found a way through after 20 minutes of play to score the first try of the game and take the lead 3-10.
Ryan Beard did a carbon copy of Havercrofts restart and The Stags were given a penalty for offside and Piper kicked to bring the score at 6-10. Yatton were dogged in the loose and ran with ball in hand at every opportunity but the every reliable D kept them out.
The Stags regained possession to push Yatton back in there 22 area and Yatton were penalised in the ruck. Piper kicked to touch, the lineout was won, and the forwards huddled together to form a driving maul which didn’t get moving so the ball was whipped out and a couple of phases had passed then Will Hopkins somehow managed to find a small, but not that small, gap to score The Stags first try which Piper converted. 13-10.
HT 13-10.
Coach, Kev Inalls, made a couple of changes, one being Alex Watkins, who made an immediate impact, as he found himself galloping along the wing only a minute or so into the second half, to score out wide and extend the lead 18-10.
Yatton kicked a penalty a few minutes later (18-13) but it was at this point those nervous minds had settled in the blue & white camp and the players began to play some quick, open attacking rugby which Yatton struggled to deal with for the remainder of the game.
Piper found space with a chip over the top, the ball bounced kindly to Tom Chaffy who hacked the ball along and over the line to score. Piper converted 25-13.
Piper was then given further opportunities to extend The Stags lead with a couple more penalties which he did so, 31-13.
Chaffey was denied a try scoring opportunity when he chipped the ball over the oncoming Yatton player, who then obstructed him, so penalty given and Piper kicked to touch. The Stags lost the lineout and Yatton cleared away.
With time ticking and Yatton still seeking to score points, substitute Eoghan Westhoff, had other ideas as he scrambled and bounced his way through the Yatton defence from open play to score and the secure the win for The Stags.
Final Score 38-13
Safe to say that this season has been the most epic, triumphant, impressive and memorable one since the Vunipola days.
There is just one other very important fixture which awaits this illustrious group of players……….Bristol Saracens RFC in the Play off on Saturday 27th April. KO to be confirmed but likely to be 2.30. See you there!!!