The Judd School claimed the U15 Schools Bowl title after a superb second half against Hutton Grammar.
The Kent side took the game 27-10, having been 10-7 down early in the second half. It was all capped by two late tries that sealed the game and sparked superb celebrations as fly ahlf and captain Tom Froggatt skipped over for a delightfully impish and classy score.
Hutton Grammar had taken a first half lead after fifteen minutes when flanker Oliver Hill had crashed over, skipper Nathan Evans’ conversion making it 7-0.
They were good for the lead at the time too, possession and territory had been dominated by them as they came flying out of the traps at Sixways Stadium.
Judd stayed calm though, and with half time fast approaching they levelled the game up through superb flanker Dillon Claydon, with right wing Patrick Shrimpton converting to level the game up at 7-7 going into half time.
On reflection, it was the moment that we should all have realised the mental strength and determination of this Judd side. Hutton hit back early in the second half through an Evans penalty for a 10-7 lead, but from there Judd were largely in control.
Hutton had their moments, Evans pulling real strings particularly when moving his side out to the wings, but they could not quite get those final passes to stick.
The key moment came ten minutes into the half when number 8 Gregory Pring came flying off the back of a maul to put his side in the elad for the first time in the game, 12-10. Shrimpton then added a penalty shortly after to stretch that lead to 15-10.
Then came the finale though, and what a finale from Judd. With time ticking away Judd were on the attack deep in Hutton territory and then with a wonderful bit of rugby knowledge for one so young, Dillon Claydon sealed the game for his side with his second try of the game. Picking off the back of the ruck, he saw a gap in the defence and launched to place the ball at the base of the post, knowing, of course, that that was enough for a try.
Shrimpton converted, and then came the icing on the cake as Froggatt carved through a gap. Running from centre field to the left he was fast running out of passing options though until he sold the behind the back dummy cutting back inside to waltz across the try line without a finger laid on him. Stunning stuff from the young fly half to seal the 27-10 victory.
Hutton will be gutted, of course, but they showed so much. Especially in the first half, where territory and possession were theirs to enjoy.
Ultimately though it was Judd’s day, a superb second half earning them only the third ever U15 Schools Bowl title, and done in style towards the end. These are memories that these young men will treasure forever.
Full Time: Judd 27-10 Hutton Grammar
Judd
15 Finn Richardson, 14 Patrick Shrimpton, 13 Aryan Banerjee, 12 Isaac Handley, 10 Tom Froggatt (c), 9 Charlie Costello, 1 Kieran Duncan, 2 Jonny Rogers, 3 Josh Lally, 4 Toby Brown, 5 Will Rushforth, 6 Dillon Claydon, 7 James Martin, 8 Gregory Pring.
Replacements: 16 Aleks Komad, 17 Neil Beaton, 18 Ed Leach, 19 Ben Innes, 20 Oliver Rabbidge, 21 Sam Hopkins, 22 Andrew Ize-Iyamu.
Hutton Grammar
15 Harry Nanson, 14 Daniel Mackie, 13 Mark Needham, 12 Jack Lightowler, 11 Josh Briggs, 10 Nathan Evans (c), 9 Joseph Harrison, 1 Adam Bluck (6), 2 Samuel Lynch (20), 3 Alex Timperley (37), 4 Ben Evans, 5 Daniel Whitehurst, 6 Oliver Hill (66), 7 Alex Fowler (6), 8 Lewes Dugdale.
Replacements: 16 Aaron Millar, 17 Kieran Hopkins, 18 Nicholas Jones, 19 Cameron Cherry, 20 Hugo Garrett, 21 Ryan Johnson, 22 Kyle Shurrock.
