Old Centralians II 22
Coney Hill II 12
Old Centralians seconds emulated the achievement of their third counterparts by inflicting defeat on Coney Hill in the Junior Combination Cup, writes Ross Martinovic.
Much like the Glanville Cup encounter earlier in the day, Coney Hill led at half time as tries from Max Crawford and Craig Overthrow helped build a 12-9 advantage.
But Centralians were the stronger side in the second period and Alex Maton's late try sealed victory and knocked their opponents out of the competition for the first time since 2004.
Harry Preece opened Centralians' account on five minutes with a penalty.
The scrum half doubled his side's tally with a 40-metre effort six minutes later, while his opposite number Tom Knight failed to reduce the deficit as he pushed an attempt of his own wide.
Matters worsened for Hill within seconds as Adam Barnes was sin-binned for a high tackle, although a subsequent shot at goal from Preece fell short.
Numbers were even again on 22 minutes when Centralians' Alex Mathers saw yellow for straying offside under pressure, and lock Crawford touched down from the resultant catch-and-drive to haul Coney Hill to within a point.
With Barnes back on the field and Hill back to their full complement, Centralians were forced to endure an anxious two minutes two men light as Simon Price became their second player to be dispatched to the bin.
And Coney Hill made them pay as they worked through the phases before centre Overthrow crashed over under the posts, Knight slotting the extras.
Preece clawed three points back for Centralians with his third penalty shortly before the break.
His side emerged in determined mood for the second half and applied sustained pressure, before Preece edged them in front with two penalties either side of the hour mark.
And Centralians bagged the killer score 11 minutes from time as Maton went over in the corner.
The pack notched up the phases, coming within inches of scoring on several occasions, and attracted a plethora of Coney Hill defenders into the breakdown area.
Their patience opened up the space out wide, which they exploited to the full by releasing the fullback for a score converted by the impeccable Preece.
Centralians were forced to weather a late storm from their opponents, but they held firm and claimed a first Junior Cup in over a decade.
OLD CENTRALIANS: A Maton; B Turk, A Bailey, M Mathers, O Townsend; D Knight, H Preece; M Mumford, D Wallington, G Butler; D West, S Price; J Huxstable, A Mathers, K Blackmore. Reps: P Smith, G Preece, B Cresswell, M Humphries, C Anderson
CONEY HILL: G Firth; A Barnes, C Overthrow, S Felice, J Cole; T Knight, C Holder; J Dix, S Hall, M James; K Lock, M Crawford; S Griffin, C Hintchman, S Rayer. Reps: S Ellacot, G Hall, C Neal, R Trigg
Referee: Phil Hallsworth (Gloucester & District)
