Suffolk Chadacre Cup semi-final: Mersea Island 16 Stowmarket 65

STOWMARKET booked their place in the Suffolk Cup final against Colchester with a comprehensive victory on the coast.

With both sides swapping league places next season, there was initially little to choose between the teams in the opening stages. Stowmarket were the first to record points as they raced into an early 10-0 lead with tries scored by centre Hill and a fine individual effort from No 8 Clarke.

Scrum-half Fifield scored a third try after spying a gap and dancing his way past Mersea defenders, before the home side looked to respond with a penalty a few minutes later.

But Stowmarket increased their lead through full-back Garrard with Searles making his first successful conversion. The scores kept coming with Burch transferring the ball out wide to Hogg, who then found his full-back who raced in to dot the ball down over the try line.

As the visitors relaxed, Mersea pulled back a penalty and then another try but the recovery did not last long, Moi storming over for an away try with Searles adding the two points.

Replacement winger Cross and centre Hill added more tries before full-back Garrard scored his third try which was again added to by Searles.

With Stowmarket now out of sight at 55-11, the crowd witnessed the try of the match when loose-head prop Martin Shaddick latched onto the ball a great many metres out from the try line, but he danced his way though and raced over to score a remarkable try.

The sides shared out the final two tries, Stowmarket’s scored by Moi (his second) making the final score an impressive 65-16. Stowmarket can now look forward to meeting Colchester in the final of the Suffolk Cup in two weeks time.