Penrith Pumas Wheelchair Rugby team travelled to Fenton Manor in Stoke on Trent to complete the final stage of their three round Rugby 5’s Premiership.
Following the first two rounds they were placed in a competitive position to challenge for the Premiership title. Facing teams from Help for Heroes, North East Barbarians, Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers, with Tigers being the main team in pole position after the first two rounds and therefore the challenge for the Pumas was simple – beat all the teams in the last round, which would give them the Premiership title.
In their first match they faced the Help for Heroes team and from the start Pumas showed their intent with a try coming straight from the starting tip off scored by Rhys Wheeler. Fron then on the scores from both sides followed through the first half with Pumas holding on to a two point lead. Strong players in the first half for the Pumas were Rhys Wheeler, Byron Durkin-White, Tom Folwell and Ian Wightman who all contributed tries which saw Pumas move to a half time score of 12-11 in their favour. Once the second half commenced Pumas showed their dominance and began to extend their lead. Scores from Folwell, Wheeler and Mike Lewis saw them extend their lead to 19-14. Strond organised defence was also in evidence and it was from some good work by Ness Galbraith which saw her pass to Lewis returned to her to score following a swift move up the court. As Pumas further asserted themselves in the driving seat a further sweeping move between Wheeler, Lewis which ended in a precise reverse pass from Durkin-White saw Lewis cross over the line to make the score 20-14. Reciprocating scores continued but as the game reached its closing moments Pumas fitness and techniques saw them extend their lead to a final 29-18 score.
In their second match Pumas again showed their fitness and their superior techniques with Folwell, Wheeler and Lewis dominating the scoring for Pumas and the game concluded with a 24-13 victory for Pumas.
The match against Northampton Saints started pretty much like the previous two, with Wheeler again winning the starting tip off with Lewis collecting the ball to feed Sarah Burrows to cross over for the initial score. As the scores progressed equally Saints showed some determination in trying to contain the Pumas and after some solid pressure they nudged ahead putting the Pumas in a position of not leading their matches for the first time on the day. This was about to change and was the catalyst for Pumas to turn the game around with scores from Folwell, Durkin-White, Wheeler saw them to a half time lead of 12-8. Into the second half and Pumas again showed their resilience and fitness and although Saints initially stayed in touch with the scoring they began to fail and Pumas rolled on to an impressive 24-13 result.
This set up the final match as a season decider. Both Pumas and Tigers had gained victory in all of their matches on the day. Whoever won this match would clinch the Premiership title. After a deadlock of a start to the game some good patient possession, which resulted in Tom Folwell piercing the Tigers defensive, line to start the scoring for Pumas.
Good defence was always going to be a major factor in the game and strong midfield challenges by the Pumas kept the Tigers at bay and as a result scores by Wheeler, Durkin White and Folwell gave Pumas a 4-1 lead. A good team move by Tigers created a scoring opportunity with the Pumas defence stretched they went over unchallenged to claw the score back to 4-2. From that point the scoring was end to end with the Pumas just keeping their heads in front. A great interception by Folwell created a score by Durkin-White. As the game progressed Pumas just started to implement their dominance. Strong incisive play saw Folwell force his way through the Tigers defence and score a couple of quick scores. However, the gap between the two sides never changed and as the match continued there was never more than a four point difference and although the scoring increase for both sides the Pumas defence was under constant pressure from the attacking Tigers. The game rumbled and towards a tremendous conclusion with both sides throwing everything at each other with the noise from both team’s supporters and the appreciative neutrals the game came to a terrific climax with the Pumas hanging on to a 21-17 victory.
The Pumas have only been playing in the 5’s league over the last four years and in that time have achieved promotion through winning the Championship and then in this their first campaign in the Premiership, where it would have been considered a good result just to remain in that league, to win it was a major feather in the cap for the club – taking on and beating the big name, established clubs was fantastic.
Congratulations to the team, the Coach (Byron Durkin White) and team Manager (Megan Fearnley) were given by the organisers of the tournament and both Byron and Megan conveyed their thanks to the back up teams on the day and across the club’s season who without their backing things would not be possible for the club to function. Pumas squad; Sarah Burrows, Matthew Smedley, Xander Evans, Ian Wightman, Ness Galbraith, Tom Folwell, Byron Durkin-White, Rhys Wheeler and Mike Lewis. Volunteers on the day were Nichola Smedley, Kellie Evans, Kaitlyn Lewis, Jeremy Norman and Ron Richardson.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
