Our U16 cherubs are full of tricks as we take off our hats and salute our 3-time Bucks champions

Milton Keynes may well have been home to plastic cows and quite a ridiculous number of roundabouts, but Polo Mint City is now synonymous with Chiltern success as we pay homage to a group of boys who have excelled for a very long time. As next year’s Colts, we can only now look forward in hope of a quadruple of Bucks Cup wins and a number of fresh initiations to senior rugby at A&C.

Nothing beats a bus on a warm Spring Day. The smell of suntan cream - factor 50- for the fair-headed and a supply of cold cider sitting in ice within a collection of ice boxes. A repeat of last year’s U15 cup final, the pitch was firm, dry and ready to support the champagne rugby that was to follow. Amersham and Chiltern versus High Wycombe - never for the faint-hearted, and the crowd stood in universal expectation.

The toss was important as the pitch sloped. HW won the toss and chose to receive. A&C chose to run up the hill - in a Kate Bush kind of way - whilst they were fresh, with the plan to then run down the hill in a charge for victory. Very Wise!!

And so to the action. HW penalty (0-3). A&C took a deep breath before running up that hill and scoring the best try of the day with George W putting winger Oscar B into a gap before diving over. Seb S converted (7-3). HW were up for it though and soon scored their 1st try with a slick move from a lineout. Duly converted (7-10). Noa F then got our 2nd try cutting through a diminishing defensive line and going for glory under the posts - duly converted by Seb S (14-10).

HW, though, wouldn’t roll over, and with A&C being a bit naughty on a few occasions, HW ensured some sustained pressure to get their next try from close range and a well-deserved (14-17) lead at half-time. A&C had played up hill. The 2nd half charge was planned.

15 mins into the 2nd half was the nerviest period, and a single score came by way of a penalty for the trusty HW stand-off (14 -20). They were just making things exciting as the moment came and the charging ensued (just like Braveheart on the Bannockburn field). Theo D finished off a terrific running move, scoring in the corner with Noa F, then stepping up and converting (21-20). Oscar B then does what he does and turned the HW inside out before scoring under the posts - converted Noa F (28-20). After all this backs play the forwards then started to rumble before Fabian J-M received a fine off-load before diving over (35-20) conversion Seb S. Fabian J-M then was on a roll and presented Theo D with a chance to use the afterburners from inside our half before bursting clear and scoring another. Seb S converted (42-20).

All credit, though, to HW, they never gave up. Some more naughtiness and poor game management by A&C saw 2 good late tries from HW as a deserved reward. Final Score 42-34

A&C U16’s Joint Head Coach Richard Clifford commented, “I am so proud of everyone involved in the age group, players, coaches and parents. They are such a special group and fully deserve this ending to their time in Junior rugby. Massive credit also has to go to High Wycombe for their performance today and in last year’s final. I hope their players are proud of how they played”

Rob Elms, A&C Junior Chairman, remarked, “Huge congratulations to the U16s on winning their third Bucks Cup in a row, what an achievement! And what a way to finish their time in the Juniors. We wish them all the very best as they move on up to the Colts next season”

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