March 26, 2008
St Benedict’s School, Ealing, have a pair of double dreams to fulfil as they look forward to a first appearance in the final of the Daily Mail Schools Under 18 Cup at Twickenham on Wednesday April 2.
Having won the Under 15 Cup at the home of English rugby in 2004, St Benedict’s are hoping to repeat the achievement of Bradford Grammar School who won the U15 Cup in 1990 and followed up with the U18 Cup in 1992 and 1993.
St Benedict’s have also been nominated by the RFU to represent England in the 16-team Sanix World Rugby Youth Invitational Tournament in Japan from April 29-May 5, and the west London school’s coach Jesse Coulson said: “That's the ultimate dream: to win at Twickenham and do well in Japan as Daily Mail champions.
“The Daily Mail Cup has been our main focus since the first day the boys got together last summer and now, 10 months down the line, we are on target.”
Led by dynamic flanker Rowan Halsall, St Benedict’s are England’s top-rated schools side with 22 wins in 22 matches – most recently when they scored 60 points against a Surrey Select XV last Wednesday (March 19) under lights at Sutton & Epsom RFC.
That took St Benedict’s to 1029 points for the season and in the U18 Cup they have already gone one better than last season’s semi-final defeat to the eventual winners, Warwick School.
“We have a unique style of play in this day and age,” said Coulson.
“A lot of teams build up their players in the gym and rely on size to see them through. We don’t rely on size in our game plan. We make other sides’ size work against them.
“We’ve played two teams in the quarter- and semi-finals who were bigger than us in Filton College and Barnard Castle and shown that you can beat the big guys with speed and moving them around.
“The boys have worked so hard and now I hope they can use the Twickenham stage to highlight what they can do and what they are all about.”
The St Benedict’s boys have been in for training most days during the Easter holidays and two players are back from international duty.
Hooker/flanker Arthur Ellis – younger brother of England U20’s Grand Slam captain Hugo – was excused England U18 duty against Scotland in Melrose to play for his school in the 19-6 semi-final win over Barnard Castle.
Since then Ellis has taken part in the U18 AER Championship and he was the starting hooker for England when they secured third place by beating hosts Italy 21-5 last Saturday (March 22) in Treviso. Centre James Stephenson played at flanker for Ireland in the same tournament.
St Benedict’s scrum half Michael Simpson has recovered from a debilitating bout of glandular fever last autumn to play his part in the later rounds of the Daily Mail Cup and his combination with fly half Stuart Pearham is one to look for.
Sussex Downs College, who will play QEGS Penrith in the final of the Daily Mail Schools Under 18 Vase, are reaping the benefit of the rugby programme established at the then Lewes Tertiary College 10 years ago.
The programme has grown from an initial 11 students to the current figure of 45 who study three or four A level subjects and receive six hours rugby coaching and playing a week, funded out of the school’s ordinary curriculum budget.
Sussex Downs have sent two props on to Premiership club Harlequins – Alex Rogers and current England Under 18 squad member Joe Marler – and are hopeful of many more top players to follow, in addition to all those playing for their local clubs.
Fly half Charlie Terry scored two tries in Sussex Downs’ 17-5 Vase semi-final win over Marling School from Stroud.
Langley Park School for Boys made it through to their second Daily Mail Schools Under 15 Vase final in three years in the most dramatic fashion when they won a sudden death place kicking competition in the semi-final against Woodlands School.
There can be no repeat at Twickenham on April 2 as the respective trophy will be shared if any of the four finals finishes level on tries and goals from tries.
But James Parkinson, the No.8 whose calm left-footed kick settled the semi-final at Broadstreet RFC and gave sent Langley Park the chance to repeat their 2006 Vase triumph, has been the recipient of countless pats on the back for his effort, according to coach David Johnson.
“James was only on the bench for the semi-final as he had just recovered from a groin injury he’d suffered the night before the quarter-final, so we could not have been more delighted for him,” said Johnson, who hails from Kelso in the rugby hotbed of the Scottish Borders.
“I am coaching this team through from year seven to year 11, and I have asked the coaches of the 2006 side all about how the day at Twickenham runs. It’s useful knowledge to have.”
Parkinson would not have taken the make-or-break semi-final kick if fly half Ben Hollister had not limped off with a twisted knee during the match.
Hollister has been having intense physiotherapy and is hoping for the go-ahead tomorrow (Thursday) to take part in the final.
Langley Park, a school of 1500 pupils in Beckenham, Kent, will have new kit for the final paid for sponsors William Dulcie Ltd, a furniture design company owned by the father of one of the players.
Daily Mail Under 18 Schools Cup
Semi-finals:
St Benedict’s School, Ealing 19 Barnard Castle School 6; Wellington College 10 Warwick School 6.
Final (Twickenham, April 2, 3.30pm):
St Benedict’s School, Ealing v Wellington College.
Daily Mail Under 18 Schools Vase
Semi-finals:
Sussex Downs College 17 Marling School 5; Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith 3 Reigate Grammar School 0.
Final (Twickenham, April 2, 2pm):
Sussex Downs College v Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith.
Daily Mail Under 15 Schools Cup
Semi-finals:
Millfield School 19 Old Swinford Hospital School 0; Oundle School 3 Wellington College 23.
Final (Twickenham, April 2, 12.15pm):
Millfield School v Wellington College.
Daily Mail Under 15 Schools Vase
Semi-finals:
Langley Park School for Boys 15 Woodlands School 15 - Langley Park won place kicking competition 1-0; King's College School, Wimbledon 12 Calday Grange Grammar School 19.
Final (Twickenham, April 2, 11am):
Langley Park School for Boys v Calday Grange Grammar School
Ends
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