Syston RFC toast County Cup double at Welford Road

Defending the trophy won in convincing style against Belgrave in 2018, Syston beat Oadby Wyggestonian 33-27 in the men’s match after their colts had edged out Market Harborough 26-22.

Two tries from flanker Redd Oxley set the Colts on their way to victory before Harborough fought back from 14 points down with a try worthy of the occasion, a sweeping attack from their own 22 which ended with scrum-half Joe Laferty finishing under the posts.

The conversion put them ahead for the first time at 15-13.

Syston fought back with tries from Will Hutchings and Will Westwood to lead 26-15 before Harborough struck again to cut the gap to just four points.

But Syston held on to complete the double, having also won the Colts League, as skipper Jamie Hudson lifted the Laurence Fenton County Colts Cup received from Leicestershire RU president Steve Rice and Michael Kapur, Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

The men’s game was similarly close, with Oadby Wyggs making the most of their first final since 1981, going within a score of upsetting the holders in a dramatic late fightback.

Syston led 10-0 before conceding tries from Elliot Keable and Byron Measure when they found themselves a man down after receiving a yellow card while defending their own line.

A Laurie Harries penalty put Syston 13-12 ahead at half-time.

They stretched their advantage in the second half, using their forwards to maintain pressure in attack as the lead reached 28-12 and then 33-17.

But Wyggs, semi-final conquerors of Melton, were never completely out of the game.

Two tries in the final five minutes, as their own forwards gained momentum close to the try line, set up a grandstand finish, but Syston closed out a cup double-header on the evening.