EDF ENERGY INTERMEDIATE CUP FINAL - 12th April 2008

BIRKENHEAD PARK - 18

CHESTER - 21

Winger Matt Sheen applied the match-winning finish as Chester beat Birkenhead Park to claim the EDF Energy Intermediate Cup at Twickenham.Chester were on the ropes in the last 10 minutes of the game but Sheen stole the ball and ran 90 metres for the 73rd minute score that settled the contest between the Cheshire rivals.

Centre Liam Lawton had kept them in the game in the first half with fly half Tom Foden – brother of Sale Sharks star Ben – adding a conversion and three penalties.

The defeat was tough on Birkenhead Park, who controlled long spells of the game without ever turning their dominance into points.Lock Dave Blyth picked up the man of the match award for his two contrasting tries with fly half Tony Handley kicking a conversion, drop-goal and penalty.North One side Park went into the game as favourites by dint of their status a league above Chester in the English Clubs Championship.They played like the senior team, too, as they edged an entertaining first 40 minutes without ever pulling away.

Handley’s second minute drop-goal and fourth minute penalty gave them an early lead – and he missed two more shots at goal before the break.

Chester were the more enterprising, though, with less possession and were rewarded for some slick handling when they claimed the first try through Lawton in the 25th minute.Birkenhead responded within five minutes, though, sending big lock Blyth galloping gloriously away to score from 30 metres out.Handley’s conversion made it 13-5 but Chester, through a combination of their more composed handling and Foden’s accuracy, worked their way back in front.Foden cut the lead a minute before the break, then added penalties in the 42nd and 53rd lead to give his side the lead for the first time.They were pushed back again by a series of direct attacks which ended in Blyth crashing over from close range for a second score.And closing out the win looked a formality when Chester were forced to defend close to their own line for another long spell going into the last 10 minutes.But another attack broke down when Sheen intercepted and raced the length of the field to touch down under the posts with Foden adding his fourth successful kick, giving veteran centre Simon Verbickas of lifting the trophy.

Chester: Tom Weightman; Matt Sheen, Liam Lawton, Simon Verbickas (captain), Simon Abiero; Tom Foden, James Farrell; Richie Moore, Steve Roberts, Nathan Sandland-Jones, Jonny Beckwith, Johnny Piggot, Gareth Martin, Matt Bellamy, Ross White.

Replacements: Michael Hughes, Andy Moore, Rob Miles, Dave Legat, Simon Love, Tom Chappell, Guy Davenport.

Tries: Lawton, Sheen. Conversion: Foden. Penalties: Foden 3.

Birkenhead Park: Peter Hart; Gary Lunt, Mark McKeon, Gavin Scott, Andy Trotter; Tony Handley, Steven Lowry; Phil Reynolds, Christian Jones, Matt Ibbotson, Dave Blyth, Paul Hellier, Njike Tchakoute, Jon Shudall, Jon Sewell (captain).

Replacements: Gareth Jones, Dave Hall, Dave Ibbotson, Stuart Crampton, Colin Campbell, Stuart Brown, Chris Saidi.

Tries: Blyth 2. Conversion: Handley. Penalty: Handley. Drop-goal: Handley.

Referee: Andrew Vertigan.