RFU National Junior Vase Semi-Final
The First XV will take on the high-flying Reeds Weybridge on Easter Saturday, in the match which will determine one of the finalists of the National Junior Vase, to be played at Twickenham on Sunday 6th May.
The visitors have already been crowned Champions of Surrey Division 1, having won all 15 of their league matches to date. It has been an impressive few seasons for Reeds, who were promoted from Surrey Division 2 the season before with only 1 defeat in their 18 matches, and from Surrey 3 the season before that, winning 15 of 18! Promotion from Surrey Division 4 in 2014-15 means they will have achieved 4 promotions in 5 seasons.
But this is a different Old Cryptians from previous seasons, with greater levels of resilience and flair in equal measure, injected by the new coaching team of Jake McMahon and Gavin Worrall, who have built on the solid foundations set by James King and Phil Stanlake in previous seasons.
The First XV are still very much in the hunt for promotion from the notoriously competitve Gloucester Division 1; the Second XV are top of Wadworth 6X Gloucester & District Division 1; and the Third XV are fourth in Division 2. Being able to field three sides on almost every Saturday throughout the season has helped the First XV campaign on both fronts, by virtue of the squad depth.
Over 100 supporters travelled up to Chipping Norton in the last round to cheer on the boys and this undoubtedly helped them to their victory over a side who have dominated their own league to date. The club and bar will be open from 13:00 on Saturday 20th April for the semi-final - we hope to see as many local rugby fans there as possible to help this small Gloucester club try and fulfill the dream of playing at HQ!
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