These two teams overcame a car boot sale that blocked the entrance to the stadium, over zealous stewards who stopped the game in the third quarter to make the official re-park their cars, a whole host of minor incidents to put on the best Youth Final for many years.

The Rams took the ball from the kick off and made steady progress with their solid running ground only to cough up the ball on their own thirty-two where it was recovered by Bath's Simon Drake. The Cardinals, on their first play from scrimmage swept right on an option, where quarterback Henry Allen dumped off to Steve Onditi, for the latter to romp in untouched for the opening score with the game less than five minutes old. With Chris Hunt's kick being unsuccessful the Cardinals had shocked the Rams who suddenly found themselves 6 - 0 in arrears. Keeping their composure the Rams worked their way back into the game and looked to have at least levelled the scores on an Adam Donaldson forty-three yard run which was called back for one of the more obvious holding calls of the day. However the North Lanarkshire side stuck to their game plan and Donaldson stepped into the end zone from the one to tie the scores. Kyle Matheson kicked the extra two points to claw the Rams into an 8 - 6 lead. The rest of the quarter saw both defenses stiffen but yet again Donaldson managed to see a seventy-eight yard run called back as the Rams contrived to shoot themselves in the foot.

The Rams defense continued to thwart the Cardinals offense at the start of the second and only a touchdown saving tackle by Matt Jenkins prevented the Scots side from going further ahead. On the next Ram drive, Onditi, who seemed to be in on every tackle Bath made, recovered another Ram fumble, only for Sean Murphy to sack Allen to nullify any Cardinal advantage. As the quarter wore on the Cardinals set up their first decent drive of the game. Chris Turner finally burst up the middle from nine yards out, fumbled the ball over the goal line and then dived on it for one of the more bizarre scores of the season. The normal reliable Chris Hunt found his kick blocked as Bath edged their way back into the game 12 - 8. In what was rapidly proving to be the best Bowl game in recent memory, the Northern Conference representatives rounded off the scoring for the second period when Donaldson broke off right tackle and dashed in from twenty-six yards out to restore the Rams six point advantage

The Cardinals drove to within field goal range early in the third only for Hunt's kick to sail wide left from forty-one yards. There were signs the smaller Rams squad were beginning to weaken and with Donaldson, easily the best player on show, having to leave the field injured they struggled to move the ball with the authority they had previously shown. The Bath defense, and Onditi in particular, picked up their game to stifle the Rams. A Tom Evans twenty-three yard end around score was nullified by a holding call as the Cardinals came more and more into the game. The quarter ended with the Rams holding onto their 12 -14 lead but with Bath looking the stronger.

Bath has shown in their short history that they always find ways to win; the mark of true champions. Allen once again worked the option play, rolling to his let, pitching the ball over a despairing defenders fingertips to Turner who blazed down the left sideline and stepped inside at the last second to give the Cardinals the 18 -14 lead.

The last two minutes became a real cliff hanger with the Cardinals managing to stop the final Ram drive a yard short of the first down mark. After a series of miscues, Henry Allen kept his cool and scampered the seventeen yards to gain the first down that ensured the West Country outfit could run out the clock.

Both sides deserve credit for serving up a superb game. The Rams proved to be a well coached, organised and well disciplined team. Bath is determined to back in the championship game next season. It would only be fitting if they took on the Rams again.

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