Saltash 31 Old Cranleighan 15

SALTASH booked their place in a Twickenham final on Saturday afternoon when they saw off Surrey side Old Cranleighan in the National Senior Vase semi-final at Moorlands Lane.

The Ashes will face Wath Upon Dearne (Yorkshire) in the final at rugby’s headquarters on Sunday May 6.Wath beat St Ives of Cambridgeshire 29-7 in the other semi-final.

The Ashes, who missed out on Twickenham last season with defeat in the semi-finals, made a nervy start on a heavy pitch, with wing Sam Dormon scoring two tries, one converted by Ross Jones-Davies, in the opening 10 minutes for the visitors.

Saltash also notched a converted try but a Jones-Davies penalty sent Old Cranleighan in at half-time with a 15-7 lead.

But the home side were a different proposition in the second half with fly half Kieran Down quickly reducing the arrears with a 50th minute penalty.

Five minutes later the Ashes swept ahead as Steve Hillman burst through for a try which Down converted to make it 17-15.

It was nervy stuff at times but five minutes from time a Will Morton try, converted by Down, gave Saltash vital breathing space as the clock ticked down.

And two minutes from the end the Morton-Down combination worked again as a try and conversion put Saltash out of reach at 31-15.

There were wild celebrations on the final whistle and the Ashes players celebrated in style in their dressing room afterwards.