Well it might be the final that everyone predicted with Old Centralians and Coney Hill set to lock horns at Kingsholm on Sunday, but the two big-hitters have not had it all their own way in this year's North Gloucester Combination Senior Cup, writes Emma Smith.
After ekeing out a one-point win in the first round over Matson, Hill were then given a scare by Hucclecote – a team that play three leagues below them – and while the margin of victory over Gordon League in Tuesday's semi-final was more comfortable, the Hempsted Lane club matched their visitors for possession and territory.
With only five minutes to go until half-time, Hill were only leading 5-0 thanks to a try from Dan Spencer-Tonks and League hooker Luke McMahon had missed two penalty attempts.
The visitors gave themselves a little breathing space just before the interval though when they sucked in League with a driving a maul and a series of rucks before Patrick Knight darted over and added the extras to his own try.
Then, from the second half kick-off, Hill struck again. With League under huge pressure on their own line, a charge down fell to Knight to score and convert for a 19-0 lead.
League's response was immediate as forwards and backs combined in a powerful, organised attack and the ball was moved out smartly for second row Matt Price to score. McMahon missed the conversion.
Hill's riposte was equally rapid as they scored a try, with Knight adding the extras.
League then began to get on top though and won a succession of penalties, with Hill's discipline letting them down at times, culminating in a sinbinning for prop Simon Ellacott.
Credit to the Metz Way men though, they were superlatively organised in defence and with League's execution also somewhat lacking, they could find no way through for a long spell.
Centre Rich Williams did eventually breach the Hill rearguard to score, McMahon converting to cut the gap to 26-12, but they were then immediately shredded for pace as Hill attacked from deep and Spencer-Tonks got over again. Knight failed to convert.
A late score for Hill – Luke Morgan touching down after a scintillating Knight break, the latter converting – added the gloss and sealed a 38-12 success.
A much stiffer challenge now awaits with holders Centralians, their South West One East colleagues, waiting for them at Kingsholm, but not before both clubs play league games on Saturday. With the end of the season so congested, it has certainly been a long road to this final.
Hill coach, Chris Hall, said: "We had to put out a weakened side last Saturday to prepare for this game, and we'll have to use a mix of players against Windsor this Saturday too.
"It's a tough ask and we've had some tricky games along the way. This year's competition has really shown that any of the city's clubs can beat each other.
"There's a lot of sides out there who are fast improving, and teams like Hucclecote and Gordon League have some exciting young players, so they are only going to get better. The playing field is definitely levelling itself out.
"We're a young side too and we've improved one hell of a lot over the season. I'm proud of the boys for coming this far and we're looking forward to the final now."
League coach, Nathan Carter, said: "This season has been a big learning curve for us. We've got seven or eight players under 20 and we've managed to get to the Senior Cup semi-final and ensure we stay up in Gloucestershire Premier.
"There are some really good signs for the future. We need to get the right blend of experience but playing against a well drilled side like Coney Hill, who play two leagues above us, will only do this team good.
"A few missed first up tackles cost us, and they had the pace to exploit it. Coney Hill deserved their win but this will be a great springboard into next season for us."
Like Hill, Centralians took some time to entirely stamp their authority in their semi-final too, but eventually ran out 39-8 winners over Chosen Hill, who play a league below them in Western Counties North.
Loosehead prop Sam Preece grabbed a try double, using his strength to power over from driving mauls, winger Rob Jones also weighed in with a brace of tries, while powerful rolling mauls also reaped scores for scrum-half Rich Preece and replacement second row Dale West. Conor Gwilliam slotted a penalty and three conversions.
A penalty from full-back Ashley Lewis provided Chosen's first-half points as they went into the interval 19-3 adrift, and they cut the gap further early in the second half when winger Ed Higgs crossed in the corner after a good break from scrum-half Pete Gyde. Lewis was unable to add the extras.
Both teams then both had a player sinbinned and Centralians coped best with the disruption, pulling away with three more tries.
Still in with a chance of promotion in South West One East despite a five-point deduction, Centralians could be in for a cracking end of season finale.
They look unlikely to outstrip league leaders Bracknell, who face mid-table Bletchley this weekend, but even if second placed Centralians fail to see off third placed Reading on Saturday, they are guaranteed a home promotion play-off against the South West One West runners-up.
That should at least ease the selection headaches a little ahead of the final at Kingsholm.
