Rugby Football Union - Colston’s top school again

Colston’s top school again


	Colston’s Collegiate School

Colston’s Collegiate cemented their position as England’s top school with a seven-try 48-0 defeat of Barnard Castle in the Daily Mail Schools U18 Cup final at Twickenham.

Back in the competition after a three-year absence, Colston’s rattled up the final’s second biggest score to leave coach Alan Martinovic celebrating a seventh win for the Bristol school since 1995.

Said Martinovic, “In large parts of the game they were outstanding. The boys are very focused and when they get to a place like this they want to put in a good performance. This year we will have a current or ex-Colston’s player in every England team from 16 Group to full international so we like to think we are doing our bit for English rugby.”

Colston’s, whose latest success story is England fly half Olly Barkley, outclassed Barnard Castle and were 10-0 up in as many minutes thanks to a try from lock James Phillips and a conversion and penalty from captain Ryan Davis. The centre will be following Barkley’s footsteps to New Zealand by spending his gap year with Canterbury Crusaders development squad.

Phillips scored after just four minutes when he stepped out of Ross Oldroyd’s tackle to cross with men outside him after stretching the Barnard Castle defence. Davis converted and then added an extra three points from his Barkley-like kicking style.

It was a day for Colston’s locks as Iain Grieve followed Phillips over the line and by the time Olle Mansbridge had cut in and then through the middle on a 45-metre run, his school were well on their way to victory with a 24-0 half-time lead.

Chris Brooker extended the lead three minutes into the second half when he shrugged off Phillip Dawson’s tackle on his way to the line and, three minutes later, blindside flanker Josh Nowak went over for Davis to land his fifth conversion.

Nowak’s second and Shane Geraghty’s try from his own hack-on put them two short of 50.

Barnard Castle coach Martin Pepper, missing centre Matthew Tait on England Under19 duty, admitted, “The writing was on the wall in the first 10 minutes. We were 10-0 down and didn’t turn up and play. We are a good team and have only lost twice in two years - both at Twickenham - but this was men against boys.”

Dean Richards saluted his former school John Cleveland College after they lifted the Daily Mail Schools U15 Cup with a 17-12 victory over Sherborne.

The former Leicester Tigers’ Director of Rugby was in the stands watching as the Hinckley School which also produced fellow England internationals Ollie Smith and Graham Rowntree, ran out winners.

Richards said, “It is a tremendous day for the school. A lot of work has gone in, not just by the players but by the coaches as well. You could see some nerves out there on occasions, but they scored three lovely tries. They all played their part and I don’t think you could single anyone out.”

Full back Richard Durose scored a try in each half and admitted, “It hasn’t really sunk in yet. It was a tight game and Sherborne are a good team. When they scored in the first half to make it 7-5 they were on top, but we turned the game around in the second half.”

John Cleveland No 8 Matthew Lamley opened the scoring with a 70-metre try before Sherborne centre Charlie Esson converted his own try for a two point lead.

Then came Durose’s try in the corner to put John Cleveland 10-7 ahead at half-time.

Esson missed a penalty in front of the posts to level the scores midway through the second half and Durose sealed victory when he judged the bounce from Tom Short’s box-kick for his brace.

Henry Bond, Sherborne’s lively left winger, scored at the death, but it was too late to stop Richards and the strong Leicestershire contingent in the crowd from celebrating.

Sherborne coach Danny Watson said, “I was pleased with the way the lads stuck together. But the opposition were very good, especially 1 to 8. But it’s our first year in the competition and they will learn from this.”

Other results: U18 Vase final: Prince Henry’s, Otley, 18-11 St Columba’s

U15 Vase final: St Benedict’s High School, Whitehaven, 24-15 Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby