THE Chase Year 7 rugby team retained the Malvern Gazette-sponsored Super 12s Trophy in a dramatic final round of matches played at Malvern Rugby Club on Saturday.

Prior to the start of the day's round of matches, The Chase and Hanley Castle were locked in pole position on equal points with only the try count in favour of The Chase to put them in top spot.

First on were Hanley Castle and Dyson Perrins. Despite making a mistake when all of their chasing forwards ran in-front of the ball at kick-off, Dyson Perrins rallied well.

Hanley Castle were more disciplined in ball retention in open play and by the break were ahead by 10-0.

Dyson continued to press forward, but unforced errors in the final phases were their undoing. These were punished by Hanley Castle ,who swiftly replied with well executed counter-attacks. At the final whistle, Hanley Castle had won by 20 unanswered points.

The Chase knew that they could not afford to slip up against Dyson Perrins and right from the off, the Geraldine Road outfit made their presence felt. Within minutes of kick-off Dyson were two tries down as The Chase established total dominance of the match with some awe-inspiring rucking and support play. By half-time Dyson were 26-0 for the worse against their traditional rivals.

Nevertheless, Dyson stubbornly refused to give up the fight and they persisted right up to the end when a sloppy Chase pass was intercepted by the Dyson skipper. His dash to The Chase line and the subsequent try between the uprights brought the biggest cheer of the day from the supporters of all the school present. Nonetheless, despite conceding the converted try, The Chase were winners by 39-7.

There was all to play for in the final match between Hanley Castle and The Chase. Hanley got the match underway and from the off both teams showed adventure and flair and a determination to get the upper-hand. Hanley's efforts to keep The Chase forwards tied into at the breakdowns were initially quite successful, but this exposed the Hanley flanks which The Chase exploited with effect. With their defence stretched, Hanley Castle hung on for the first quarter, but eventually the speedy Chase backs managed to round the Hanley defence and score two converted tries and were 14-0 up at the break.

Hanley Castle responded well and a for a short period it was The Chase who were on the receiving end of probing attacks.

But the tackling from The Chase was on-song and try as they might, Hanley could find no way forward to the Chase line. Eventually, the threat from Hanley diminished and the Chase ran-in two more converted tries later to wrap-up the game and claim the 2004-05 Super 12s championship by 28-0.

Councillor Clive Smith and Mark Hammond from Malvern Hills District Council awarded medals to all of the participants from the three schools, before Coun Smith presented the Super 12s trophy to The Chase on behalf of the Malvern Gazette.