Grosvenor went into this game as clear underdogs but surprised everyone with a blistering opening quarter which saw them score three unanswered tries and take a 19 point lead. After only five minutes Grosvenor’s pack pressed on Queens line and Mark McAnally fed Fra Graham who crashed over for the first try.
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Five minutes later Fitzy made a lovely break from the base of a scrum on half-way and fed Davy Egner on the left wing who scorched in for a super try. Scott Martin added the conversion. 12-0. A few minutes later Grosvenor stole the ball and Davy Egner put in a speculative chip up the left wing. Jamie White followed up and toe-poked the ball from under the Queen’s defender as he went down to gather. The loose ball was gathered and recycled quickly to allow Mark McAnally to score try number three. 19-0 and Grosvenor’s support were in raptures.
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Queens were stunned but quickly regrouped and their impressive half-backs started to get the ball moving along their backline which stretched the Grosvenor defence. From one such move the Queens right winger scored a lovely try in the corner. 19-5. Scott Martin then had to leave the field injured and in a reshuffled backline Matty Fitzsimmons moved to out-half while Richy Henning came on as scrum-half. Fitzy immediately slotted over a penalty to extend Grosvenor’s lead. 22-5. As half-time loomed Queens scored another try when their big centre took a crash ball on the 22 and went over under the posts. 22-12.
Jamie White left the field hurt just after the break and was replaced by Dee Jackson. But the luckless substitute was injured almost immedately when he fell awkwardly gathering a kick. Spotting an advantage Queens attacked up his flank and scored a try in the corner which was converted. 22-19. Dee left the field and in a further reshuffle flanker Craig Steele came on and Kochy moved to centre from back-row. This further disruption did not help Grosvenor’s cause but they battled valiently with Phil Hill, Peter Dawson, Fra and Mark McAnally leading the charge up front. In the backs Richy Henning and Fitzy made some lovely breaks and always kept the Queens back-row guessing while Peter McKeown had his best game of the season in the centre.
Queens got a penalty to level the scores and with ten minutes left took the lead with another penalty. Then in a heartbreaking moment for Grosvenor, a promising attack saw the ball whipped out the backs but a loose pass was spilled in the Queens 22. Their speedy winger pounced, gathered the ball and sprinted in from long range with Quinner on his heels every inch of the way. Conversion added 32-22. Grosvenor tried hard to get back into the game and Peter McKeown made a searing break but was hauled down with 15 metres to go. Queens then scored a try in injury time to seal a well deserved victory and round off a truely thrilling game of rugby.
So there was no fairytale ending for Grosvenor’s McCrea Cup run this season. Meeting a very talented Queens outfit in the final was a step too far for their injury-ravaged squad but they can be very proud of their performances and the spirit and character shown throughout.
