Thursday afternoon’s U18 Schools Vase Final will see Dauntsey’s take on Samuel Whitbread Academy, who will be the second group in their colours to grace the field on the day.

That is because their U15s will kick the day off in the U15 Schools Vase against Dartford Grammar School, meaning that their U18 side could have the chance of completing an historic double.

They have already made history though, they are just the second non-fee paying school to have a team in both an U15 and U18 final, the only other side to do so was the outstanding RGS High Wycombe side of the mid-nineties.

This is as far as Samuel Whitbread have ever made it though, Dauntsey’s, in contrast, have a bit of Twickenham history. In 2012 they won the U15 Vase, while all the way back in 1997 they were runners up in this same competition.

Those victories have little meaning when it comes to this game, and yet history often has so much bearing in this competition.

The opportunity to be a part of the glorious history of this competition is more important though, and that is what both of these side have available to them on Thursday.

They won contrasting semi finals, Samuel Whitbread coming through a challenging semi final against Worksop College but doing so in reasonable control.

Dauntsey’s, on the other hand, had to produce the most dramatic of all dramatic endings in order to get through to Twickenham, scoring with the very last play of the game to beat Hayes 24-22. Drama barely even begins to do justice to home dramatic it was.

That aside, both sides have had relatively similar progressions, comfortable for the most part with a couple of games that required a bit more nous and energy.

Suspicion is that this will be another close one, both sides are strong, and both will be incredibly determined having got this far. While reached Twickenham is a huge achievement of its own, neither side will be prepared to let that be the end of the dream without putting up a real fight.

For both sides the chance to be on that short list of winners is just inches away, the only question is, which of them will join it on Thursday afternoon at the home of English rugby?

Samuel Whitbread v Dauntsey’s: U18 Schools Vase Final – Thursday, 2pm, Twickenham

Routes to the Final:

Samuel Whitbread (Midlands A)

Semi Final: 27-10 v Worksop College

Quarter Final: 45-5 v Newcastle School for Boys

Last 16: 20-7 v Aylesbury Grammar

Round 4: 20-3 at Bishop’s Stortford College

Round 3: 27-0 v St George’s Harpenden

Round 2: 97-0 v Sir John Lawes

Round 1: w/o at North Hertfordshire College

Dauntsey’s (South West A)

Semi Finals: 24-22 v Hayes

Quarter Final: 20-10 v The Oratory

Last 16: 17-8 at Plymouth College

Round 4: 33-5 at St Laurence

Round 3: 57-6 at Warminster

Round 2: Bye

Round 1: 51-5 at Sheldon

Previous Record:

Samuel Whitbread

2019 Best ever performance

Dauntsey’s

U18 Vase Runners Up: 1997

U15 Vase Champions: 2012