Chargers Harry Jepson hat-trick

Harry Jepson presents the trophy to the Chargers

South West London Chargers made history by becoming the first club to win the Harry Jepson Trophy three times following their 46-10 victory over Bedford Tigers in the final at Corsham, Wiltshire.

It was the Chargers third successive triumph but they had to work hard to overcome a stubborn Bedford team in the first half before powering to victory in the second. Centre Josh Reid, who scored two tries, took the man of the match award. Skipper Kane Stannard, full-back Ben Hird and fellow centre Joe Briggs all touched down twice with Brady Stewart converting six and Andrew Boller wrapping things up with the final conversion.

The Chargers didn’t get off to the best of starts, an error allowing Bedford’s Jack Peachey to race 40 metres for the opening score after just two minutes. The Londoners worked hard to get back into the game and had two tries disallowed with Briggs losing the ball in touching down to deny them another.

However, after 32 minutes the pressure finally told when Stannard crashed over from close range and Stewart added the extras. On the stroke of half-time Briggs scored straight from a tap penalty, Stewart’s conversion giving his side a 12-4 lead at the interval.

The Tigers had a try disallowed early in the second half and soon after the Chargers went further ahead when Hird snapped up a kick, which the Tigers’ defence failed to deal with, to score. Two quick-fire touchdowns from Briggs and Stannard then put the Londoners firmly in the driving seat midway through the half.

Scott Aspinall gave the Tigers some hope when he went over from Karl Sindak’s pass with Rob Ashton converting but Reid strode through the middle of the defence on a 60 metre run to the line to re-establish control and it was all over when the powerful centre scored again with four minutes left.

Hird then claimed his second try and Boller had the final say, converting with the last kick of the game.

Teams:

TIGERS: Josh Spearing; Khrys Speed, Ollie Fountain, Ed Strand, Sean Tribbeck; Jack Peachey, Paul Ryder; Karl Sindak, Jordan Marshall, Mike Scott; Scott Aspinall, Del Tribbeck; Rob Ashton (capt). Interchange: Ollie Francis, Rich Sinclair, Ben Jones, Sandlo Parias.

Scorers: Tries: Peachey, Aspinall Goal: Ashton
 
CHARGERS: Ben Hird; Brady Stewart, Joe Briggs, Josh Reid, Liam McGee; Sean Cookson, Jake Schofield; Deon Stephenson, Kane Stannard (capt), Mark Clune; Liam Duffy, Dan Williams; Andrew Boller. Interchange: Matt Dudley, Tom Poole, Craig Monteiro, Luke Haslam.

Scorers: Tries: Stannard (2), Briggs (2), Hird (2), Reid (2) Goals: Stewart (6), Boller
 
Referee: Malcolm Holmes