Ly scores winning try for Tigers
OMAR Ly scored the match-winning try as Cheltenham edged out Smiths 31-28 to lift the Cheltenham Combination Senior Cup with an injurytime score with the last play of the match.
Cheltenham started the game in confident mood, with a catch and drive try, Joe Mann emerging from a pile of bodies to claim the score converted by Curtis Neal.
Ly then grabbed an interception try, racing the length of the field, Neal with the extras.
Smiths’ response came from Marcus Raymond with a penalty to make it 14-3 - and Cheltenham had not taken into consideration the metronomic boot of Raymond, who kicked a conversion of scrum-half Dan Jarvis’s well-taken try, and a further six penalties, including one monster kick from his own half, as Cheltenham continued to infringe.
Ryan Bradnam crossed for the Tigers and Ly darted in for his second, Neal adding a conversion, but with time running out Raymond slotted his last effort through the posts to give Smiths a 28-26 lead as the home side sniffed victory.
With the referee checking his watch, Cheltenham made one last sortie, passing the ball right as the Smiths defence held firm.
However, a second-phase ball and a last-gasp tackle produced a ruck right on the Smiths line, and Stan Folks-underhill found Ly in space on the blindside for the winger to dot down and claim the spoils for the Tigers.
Cheltenham Saracens were comprehensive winners of the Junior Cup, running in 10 tries in their 67-7 win over Smiths II.
Keane Mazowiec crossed twice, with the others from Harry Collier, Connor Mcdaid, Tyler Martin, Aaron Connolly, Fred Griffin, Ed Hampshire, Ryan White and Marcus Latchford.
Griffin kicked three conversions, with Joel Birchmore booting four and a penalty.
Jack Davies scored the try for Smiths, with Sam Williams converting.
Old Patesians III won the Minor Cup with a 26-13 win over CCS Warpigs II, who scored a try through Chris Pockett, converted by Ross Stevens, who also kicked two penalties.