Rugby Football Union - Community Rugby Detail

Wellington complete unique double as St Benedict’s fall short

by Hugh Godwin


	Wellington's Rob O'Donovan and Charlie Norton photo by Gerry McManus

April 2, 2008

St Benedict’s , Ealing 3 Wellington College 7

Wellington College became the first school to win the Daily Mail Schools Under 18 and Under 15 Cups in the same year – on the same day at Twickenham, no less – by inflicting a first defeat of the season on St Benedict’s, Ealing.

St Benedict’s had won 22 matches out of 22 before today’s final, scoring 1029 points, but they were kept tryless by a fantastically energetic, unyielding performance by a very fit Wellington side.

The only try, as it turned out, went to Wellington’s Welsh fly half, Chris Lewis-Pratt, early in the second half, and it rewarded his side for staying resolute during a testing campaign.

Wellington’s quarter-final was delayed after they had been beaten in the sixth round by St Peter’s, Gloucester – who were then disqualified from the competition for fielding ineligible players.


Wellington celebrate a unique double photo by Gerry McManus


	James Stephenson on the attack for St Benedict's photo by Gerry McManus

Ultimately they improved on the performance of RGS High Wycombe, who reached the U18 and U15 Cup finals in 1998 without winning either one.

St Benedict’s fly half Stuart Pearham demonstrated his side’s intent to run almost anything with an early break off a scrum though he could not link with his outside backs.

A late tackle by Guy Armitage – the fourth brother in the rugby-playing dynasty spearheaded by London Irish’s England Saxons back Delon – on scrum half Michael Simpson allowed Pearham to kick St Benedict’s into a 3-0 lead after 16 minutes.

And the first half continued with St Benedict’s – give or take the odd Pearham punt out of hand – playing at a ferociously high tempo.

Not that Wellington’s hugely determined forwards were content to stand and watch their opponents play. It took all the ingenuity of the St Benedict’s back row – Arthur Ellis, Rowan Halsall and Stefan Rowell – to engineer any space.

Quick tapped penalties were one tactic, with St Benedict’s scrum half Michael Simpson starting one attack which ended with Halsall, the captain, hauled down just short.

Ellis, the England Under 18 hooker in the recent AER tournament but a flanker for his school, had another tap-and-go which got Wellington back-pedalling until St Benedict’s second row Michael Dolan knocked on in midfield.

Armitage briefly got clear himself on the left wing until halted by a smashing tackle from Simpson.

The crucial score came four minutes into the second half when Wellington fly half Clive Lewis-Pratt – who missed the quarter- and semi-finals after being injured in the controversial sixth round tie – went straight through a gap from a scrum. Lewis-Pratt, a Wales Under 18 cap, converted his try.

St Benedict’s returned to their habitual efforts to escape the clutches of very fit opponents unwilling to concede a millimetre at the breakdown.

A line-out penalty to St Benedict’s in the Wellington 22 came to nothing then replacement wing Aristide Goualin was bundled into touch for “Benny’s” within touching distance of the corner flag.

There was a great chance when Simpson returned a clearing kick with a typically strong run but his outside centre James Stephenson – a flanker for Ireland Under 18 – veered inside when he might have fed his wing, Daniel Porter.

With time ticking away, two crunching tackles by Wellington flanker Sam Shires on centre Jack Dever and full back James Booth kept St Benedict’s at bay.

England Under 16 wing Sam Edgerley may not have added to his try-scoring exploits for Wellington but his defensive display was superb as Rob O’Donovan’s doughty side carried off the cup.

Wellington coach Graeme Owton said: “I thought it was the most phenomenal defensive performance I’ve ever seen from us.

“We knew St Benedict’s were a good attacking outfit but we also knew our defence was good. The try was a move we worked on a lot this season.

“While we didn’t get the ball as wide as we wanted to we knew that if we got into their 22 we could cause them trouble.

“Winning the double is a fantastic achievement and reflects the rugby culture in the school. The boys live for the game: they play touch all summer and love getting out with the ball.

“And that culture helps us on a day like today.”

St Benedict’s head coach Jesse Coulson hailed the outstanding achievements of this year group, the majority of whom who had come through together from the Under 9s – and won the U15 Cup in 2005 along the way – and only suffered their first defeat together in this match.

“I am totally gutted for the boys,” said Coulson. “The squad had battled so hard all year for this one day.

“We had 90 per cent of the possession in the first half but didn’t capitalise on it and ultimately we were made to pay for that.

“Losing one game doesn’t make them a bad side. There are quite a few boys who can go on and play at international level, and they have been a privilege and a pleasure to coach.”

Wellington’s try-scoring fly half Chris Lewis-Pratt said: “It was an amazing experience and a long time in coming after we were knocked out by a point in last year’s semi-final.”

St Benedict’s School, Ealing: J Booth; D Porter, J Stephenson, J Dever, I Colson; S Pearham, M Simpson; O Ianeselli, C Allum, A McCulloch, M Dolan, T Jewers, A Ellis, R Halsall (capt), S Rowell. Replacements: L Dolan, R Joshi, T Layton, S Gerald, J Holmes, A Wilkie, A Goualin.

Wellington College: T Smale; R Howells, G Armitage, A Gadsby, S Edgerley; C Lewis-Pratt, E Laurent; M Lahiff, M Anderson, C Buffin, W du Toit, J Field, S Shires, M MacMillan, R O’Donovan (capt). Replacements: C Pike, J Huelin, G Byrd, S Leslie-Miller, H Pinto, R Stevens, W Scowsill.

Referee: L Apgeraint Roberts.

Ends