Hall become rugby champions

St Peter’s 8St Edmund Hall 15St Edmund Hall claimed an attritional, nerve-wrecked title decider against St Peter’s to regain the college rugby title from their old rivals. Hall handed Peter’s their first defeat in the league for over a year thanks to an inspired charge-down and gather by Freddie Lait, producing the decisive try deep into injury time.The match was set up as a perfect title decider. St Peter’s were unbeaten, and victory would have meant their third successive league season and title. Hall had lost to St Catherine’s, but they had piled up such huge scores against exeter, Queen’s and Corpus/Somerville that any win would give them them the title on points difference. Mathematically, Catz, the term’s surprise package, were also in with a chance, but this required well over a one hundred point win over Exeter which was never likely. No amount of hyperbole can express the elation and despair at the end of this game. Just like the Cuppers final in May, Peter’s had a trophy they looked to have at least one hand on for most of the match snatched away from them in the last moments by a brilliant piece of Hall skill. The pressure of the match and the fiercely windy conditions meant neither team hit their peak until the closing stages, but, despite its close-fought nature, Peter’s had long periods of attacking possession, with the ball barely leaving the Hall half for the first twenty minutes. Poor handling and a shocking number of turnovers at the scrum saw many attacking opportunities frittered away.Peter’s started the match in brutally aggressive fashion. The ball barely left the pack as they tried to pummel Hall into submission. The fact that Teddy Hall only gave away one penalty in front of the posts bears testament to their discipline. When that chance did arise, Rob Unwin made no mistake and the ball sailed over for three points. Yet for all their pressure, they went in behind at half time. With half an hour gone, Peter’s’ Michael Botcherby spilled the ball and Hall pounced. The ball shot down the line and winger Dave Saleh did the honours, sprinting to the corner. As the game grew scrappy, Hall were able to guard a 5-3 lead to half time. After the break, Peter’s were again on top. Though the Hall back row created some field position for their team with a succession for turnovers, the pattern of the previous half soon returned. At last, however, Peter’s managed to recycle a series of phases, releasing ed Botcherby for a replica of Saleh’s try in the corner. The wind made the conversion all but impossible, but Peter’s led 8-5. The try rallied Peter’s into action. Alan edington went on the charge, and Hall looked in trouble, Michael Botcherby’s surge for the line barely held up. But Hall showed their class, raising their game in search of a winning score. Peter’s soaked up all that was thrown at them but in injury time, dan Lowther’s clearance was charged down by Lait. The ball bounced favourably into his hands and he placed the ball under the posts to the delight of Hall’s fans. Rob Yates, on superb form with the boot all day, converted to leave Peter’s needing a try to regain the lead. The fans thought the game was over, but referee Kevin duffy had been stopping his watch with such frequency that 18 minutes of injury time ran just in the second half. Hall guarded their lead in the best possible way, attacking the Peter’s half and sealing victory with another Yates penalty after Peter’s handled in the ruck. Peter’s captain Dave Poraj-Wilczynski summed up the Peter’s performance: "We played well in parts." But they lacked the killer edge, whereas Hall, as captain Robbie Newman said, "did all the things we set out to do". Hall deserved their title both on the day and through the season, oozing class against all opponents. Looking ahead to next season, they will once again be favourites. But with Peter’s likely seething to have let this title slip through their fingers, and Catz looking to build on a promising season in which they were the only side to beat Hall, they are likely to be pushed all the way again.ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005