NICK Halse helped himself to a couple of tries as New Cross wrapped-up the season with a 21-7 win over Old Technicians in the final of the Devon Junior Bowl.

New Cross defended superbly when they had to and were more clinical and made fewer mistakes than Techs in a physically demanding game. Techs had plentiful possession – and territory – towards the end of the first half, and in the second period, but could not turn it into points.

The game probably turned with New Cross scoring a controversial try right at the end of the first half when Old Techs thought they had advantage for a knock-on. New Cross took the lead in the 11th minute when the experienced Nick Halse scored a converted try following a tap penalty move initiated by Matt Pitcher.

After a couple of near misses Techs got on the board when Connor McQueen got over. Billy Evans added the conversion for a 7-all scoreline.

New Cross flanker and new dad Julian Hull hacked through a bunch of bodies to score under the posts to put his side 14-7 up at the break. Techs thought the referee would bring play back for knock-on advantage in their favour, but the whistle never came.

After the break New Cross went 21-7 up when a probing kick by Halse was retrieved by captain Ryan Wotton metres from the try line. The forwards tied in the home defence and a wide pass put Halse in for his second. Wotton converted.

With 20 minutes to go there was time for Techs to fight back and that is what they did.

‘Techs used their big forwards to slowly make good ground and it took a fantastic defensive effort to keep them out – including holding them up over the line twice, with Pitcher and Huskins leading the way,’ said Wotton.

‘Old Techs continued to pressure – and full credit to them for not giving up – but we saw the game out to pick up the trophy.’

Wotton said full-back Harry Rowe was the New Cross man of the match.

‘Harry made metre after metre and was only denied a couple of tries thanks to fine, last-ditch tackling,’ said Wotton.

Wotton added: ‘I would like to extend our thanks to Old Techs for being great hosts and giving us a really hard game.’

TEIGNMOUTH went through to the last four of the Papa Johns’-sponsored Regional Shield without putting their boots on.

The Teigns were due to entertain Wimborne in the second round, but walked through when the Dorset side pulled out of a trip to Lower Bitton due to team-raising problems.

‘Apparently, they had a number of players on a stag weekend,’ said a Teignmouth official.

Teignmouth will be at home to Newbury this Saturday.