March Bears beat Mildenhall Red Lodge in the semi-finals of the Cambs County Cup

March Bears 43-0 Mildenhall Red Lodge

After their undefeated league season, March Bears followed up their crowning campaign with a resounding victory in the semi-finals of the Cambs County Cup.

With several key players absent, March showed the depth of their squad by scoring seven unanswered tries - and more remarkably, seven individual players were on the score sheet.

The game started very evenly, with Mildenhall more than holding their own but failing to convert some decent chances near the Bears line.

But after 17 minutes, a very good feed from a series of ruck balls eventually finished in the hands of March’s Todd Chapman in the outside centre position, and he went over for the first try.

This was followed eight minutes later by a fantastic break down the right wing which saw Ethan Jones go over for the second try, but one which saw him being injured and having to be replaced.

Sam Howat then kicked an astonishing conversion from the touchline against the wind, taking the score to 12-0, and that was how it remained until half-time.

The Bears once again demonstrated their superior fitness and game management with a five-try second half against a tiring Mildenhall side who probably deserved a better scoreline for their never-give-in attitude.

Six minutes after the break, Howat scored an individual try after a persistent effort to carve his way through the Mildenhall backs, which he also converted

Shortly after this score, a simple pick-up from a set piece saw number 8 Bryn Pughsley drive hard for the line and he went over under the posts, giving Howat an easy conversion.

A third try came in the space of 12 minutes when a short penalty was taken and was swung out along the line, with prop Kris Jones crashing over for try number five.

However, March were not finished, with replacement winger Leon Tulip going through after repeated fierce Bear rucks.

That looked to be the last score, but Lee Kupyn managed to get on the scoresheet when he drove through for his side’s seventh and final try, which was again converted by Howat - who had tallied up four conversions in the match.

Jonny Larham was named man of the match after a thundering performance which saw him attack the Mildenhall line time and time again in the loose, opening up play repeatedly for the Bears’ rampage.