EDF Energy Cup - : All becomes clear after semi-final tussles

EDF Energy Intermediate Cup finalists Chester

All becomes clear after semi-final tussles

19 March 2008, 10:16 am

By Jonathan McConnell

What do Chester, Wheatley Hills and Castleford have in common? They will all be playing for silverware at Twickenham Stadium in the coming weeks.

Chester are through to the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup final after beating Newport 34-6 on Saturday. The other semi-final, between Bracknell and Birkenhead Park, was a much tighter affair, with away side Birkenhead holding their nerve to secure a 12-16 victory.

Rob Foden, Chester head coach, said: �They (the players) were quite superb today. They tackled, supported each other and kept the pace of the game high, which resulted in the team scoring five superb tries.�

Chester�s half-time 12-3 lead was extended within two minutes of the restart, when they scored their third try of the game, which was duly converted. A penalty for Newport took the score to 19-6 before Chester stepped up another gear, putting a further 15 points on the board to secure a 34-6 victory.

And so Chester and Birkenhead Park complete the line up at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, April 12, when the EDF Energy Cup and EDF Energy National Trophy finals will also be held.

There were two very contrasting semi-finals in the EDF Energy Senior Vase also. Hartpury College were too strong for Sutton Coldfield, winning 3-40. But it was a close encounter between Wheatley Hills and Cullompton, with the home side eventually taking it 15-13.

In the EDF Energy Junior Vase, Doncaster Phoenix secured an 18-13 victory over Chiswick to set up an enticing local clash with Castleford, who are through by the narrowest of margins after they went to Tewkesbury and secured a 6-7 win.

The EDF Energy Senior Vase and EDF Energy Junior Vase finals will be played at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, May 10, when the Under 20 final will complete the bill.