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Norfolk RFU 2002/2003 Barclays Youth Cup
Competition - U13 David Blizzard Memorial Trophy
Preview: Wisbech v Diss - Cup Final 30 March 2003
Wisbech coaches Andy Anderson, Leonard Veenendaal & Chris White have taken a leaf out of the Basil Fawlty's "Don't mention the war" book in talking down their side's chances of the first ever County Cup win for a Wisbech side, and rightly so, given the way
Diss dispatched of West Norfolk 56 - 0.
After dispatching of old foes Holt away in the quarterfinal 29 - 13 they went one better by convincingly beating the highly rated North Walsham 24 - 12 in the semi-final played at Wisbech on Sunday the 9th of March 03. Although the rugby on display was by no means a spectacle, this was a significant win and even more significant score line given that these two sides have previously this season met twice, home and away, both resulting in a draws. Bu the win was vital to see them through to the cup final.
Diss made their way to the final after overcoming Wymondham in the quarterfinal followed by West Norfolk 56 - 0 in their semi-final. They come to Wisbech as a "unknown quantity". The last time these two sides met was back in March 2002 as u12's in the final of the North Walsham Festival, Wisbech then the defending champions. On the day Wisbech were in a different league and comfortably winners by 21 - 0.
[For more on that game click here]
But undoubtedly this will be a different Diss side and the Wisbech coaching staff will be quick to point out that so is the Wisbech side.
"The team have worked hard, there is a good positive team spirit and everyone is exited and looking forward to the game. But we have to stay level headed and focused" Wisbech skipper
Darryl Veenendaal commented.
Wisbech have over the years have earned the reputation as a formidable force in their age group. Except for the two occasions that they where knocked out in the semi-finals, they have always been finalist in every competition they competed in. The North Walsham Festival twice, West Norfolk Festival and the Six Counties 7-a-side championship, to name but a few. Several players have earned various scholarships and will be leaving Wisbech at the end of this season. Most significantly skipper
Darryl Veenendaal who has been awarded a major sport scholarship to
Sedbergh School in
Cumbria, a traditional rugby school that have delivered 39 England caps, names that include Will Carling, Will Greenwood, James Simpson-Daniel and James
Forrester not name but a few.
But for now it is all eyes on the final and a Wisbech victory would undoubtedly be their sweetest victory and arguably their biggest triumph yet. An ambition well within their reach…
Wisbechrugby.org.uk prediction: Both teams have come off significant wins and both teams possess brilliant backs. The only real difference is that Wisbech seemingly have a better set of forwards, in particular
it's formidable backrow of Prestidge,
Pettit and
Coe. Because we have to make a prediction, this is where we will hedge our bets and say that the Wisbech forwards will provide them with an edge - the boys in Red to win by about 10 points.
[Click
here to read The Wisbech Standard comment]
The Wisbech team: (To be announced)
Date: 30th of March 2003
Kick-off: 11.00
Venue: Wisbech Rugby Club
Referee: (Norfolk Society Referee to be appointed)
Touch judges: Mr Jim Kennaway & Paul Wilson (Cambridgeshire Referee's Society)
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