Kettlethorpe dethrone Rovers with last gasp try
Added 21st Mar 2010
Ketty celebrate win
Kettlethorpe 16
Sharlston Rovers A 15
KETTLETHORPE provided a thrilling late show to come from behind and dethrone Sharlston Rovers A as Wakefield ARL Physiowise Cup holders.
Steve Cardall's last-minute try was converted by a cool Stuart Thorpe to see CMS Yorkshire League 'Thorpe edge a close contest and lift the cup at College Grove last night.
Pennine League Rovers A looked on course to retain the trophy after powering into a 16-5 lead before Kettlethorpe stormed back to bag glory in the last ten minutes.
The Weeland Road club, who defeated Wakefield City in last year's final, made a great start to the defence of their trophy when Stuart Bailey powered over early on, Chris Hill adding the conversion.
But Kettlethorpe had the advantage of playing down the slope in the first-half and made it count just four minutes later when Tom Burns crossed the whitewash and Thorpe added the kick to level.
The Yorkshire League side had most of the ball in the first-half but it was Rovers who edged their noses in front at the interval.
Hill added a penalty goal after 'Thorpe were penalised for holding down before veteran Rover Stan Smith kept the points ticking over with a drop goal on the half-hour mark.
Sharlston carried their momentum into the second half and looked favourites to retain the trophy just three minutes in when Chris Shaw crossed the whitewash.
Chris Hill added the conversion to give Rovers a nine-point cushion, but the points were to be the last of the match for the holders.
They looked to be enough until substitute Joe Driver got 'Thorpe back into the contest with an unconverted try on 71 minutes.
Kettlethorpe piled the pressure on the Rovers line in the closing stages and were rewarded when Cardall scored the all-important try on the stroke of full-time.
Thorpe was left with a match-winning kick and he kept his cool to convert and give Kettlethorpe the trophy.
Kettlethorpe's Craig Derrick was the man of the match
