IN the Horrabridge six-a-side football tournament, locally sponsored team 'Grub Up' won the Supplementary Cup Final against home team Horrabridge I. Captain Scott Dent was delighted to receive the cup after eleven consecutive years of entering the tournament since it started. In the Champions Cup Lakeside had their recent domination halted by Dudes in the final. Saturday's tournament was as much about the weather as it was the football as some of the worst conditions seen at the tournament in more than ten years threatened its cancellation. The fact that it went ahead and was a success was attributable to a monumental effort from the players, referees, and organisers who banded together to defy the conditions and for that the committee expressed sincere thanks to all concerned. The morning started well with a break in the rain which enabled the organisers to set up in readiness for the first group matches, which duly kicked off, albeit slightly behind schedule only for the rain to return shortly after to make conditions extremely difficult. A total of 23 teams took part from around the Plymouth area, divided into three groups of six and one of five. Of the 23, eleven were local featuring teams from Bere Alston (I,II, and U18) , Crapstone, Tavistock (Grub Up) , and Horrabridge ( The Bridgers, Devon All Stars, Horrabridge I and II, Aces, and Ronaldo School of Finishing). Matches as always were keenly contested but the teams, aware of the atrocious conditions, adapted their games to suit and the fact that only one caution was handed out is testimony to this and all teams and referees must be congratulated. The intensity of the rain increased as the group stages were approaching the final few matches. Local teams Ronaldo, Devon All stars, and Bere Alston II made it through the group stages to the Champions Cup quarter-finals, along with Lakeside 1, The Legion, Western Mortgage Services II, Dudes, and No Stars I. While third and fourth placed Grub Up, Horrabridge I and II, and Bere Alston I and U18 progressed to the Supplementary Cup quarter-finals, along with No Stars II, Royal Mail I and Red Elite. Due partly to the conditions goals were scarce as Grub up, Bere Alston U18, Bere Alston I and Horrabridge I progressed to the semi-finals where Grub Up and Horrabridge I claimed the right to the final places. Grub Up went on to win the local derby final to become Supplementary Cup Champions, beating Horrabridge 1-0. Play was end to end with chances falling to both sets of forwards but a combination of luck and good goalkeeping kept the score blank until local Horrabridge lad Craig Groombridge, playing for Grub Up, broke the deadlock, beating the diving Horrabridge keeper to give the Tavistock-based team the cup. In the Champions Cup goals were again scarce. Lakeside I, Ronaldo, Western Mortgage Services and Dudes reached the semi-finals with Lakeside I beating Ronaldo on penalties and Dudes overcoming Western Mortgages. The final was again end to end with both Lakeside and Dudes forwards going close but it was Dudes who made the breakthrough. It was this goal which separated the two teams for most of the match before Dudes clinched the Champions Cup with another goal almost on the whistle to add their name to the perpetual shield after Lakeside's recent dominance. Thanks were expressed to referees John Hookway, Dave Harding, Adam Bromley, Sandy Compton, Phil Hart, Tim Hart, Mike Kearney and Lee Dudman for their attendance on the day. Thanks also went to The Colebrook Chippy , Tavistock Plant Hire, Jewsons Tavistock, and Bidders Butchers Yelverton for trophy sponsorship and to all the teams who took part.
