Harrow School established an apparently comfortable lead at half-time but will have been relieved to hear the final whistle after a second half resurgence by Hampton School narrowed their lead to within one score, giving the home side a 25-19 win in the London & South-East Group A Regional Final.
Many pundits will have predicted, when the draw was announced, that these two schools would face each other at this stage. Harrow had to get past the otherwise unbeaten (and Daily Mail Trophy contenders) St Benedict’s in the previous round but have otherwise had an excellent record with wins over Tonbridge and Bedford, a draw against Berkhamsted and losing only to Whitgift. Hampton had negotiated some tricky Cup fixtures against KCS Wimbledon, St Paul’s and Dulwich and had been impressive at St Joseph’s being runners up in the Plate to Kirkham GS.
The home side made a strong start, forcing a scrum in midfield and gaining field position from an excellent kick to the left corner which was touched down by the Hampton defence in the in-goal area, resulting in a goal-line drop-out. That was powerfully run back into the 22, with sustained carrying by the forward pack, and No 8 Stirling drove over from short range to score close to the posts, wing Walid Nsouli adding the straightforward conversion.
From the restart, Hampton looked as if they might produce an immediate response, centres Zach Gellatley and Ethan Knight both carrying effectively in midfield, and forcing a penalty, kicked by Knight to touch on the right. After a maul had initially been set up from the ensuing lineout, possession was switched to the backs, with left-wing Nico Luckman taking play into the 22. Although he was stopped, the ball was recycled quickly into midfield where second row McNamara broke through the defensive line being tackled only just short of the line where the defence was penalised. When Hampton were apparently prevented from taking a quick tap, the referee went to his pocket and showed yellow. Hampton elected to run possession, again moving the ball to Luckman on the left, and when he was stopped pressure was maintained on the Harrow line by the forwards, but the defence forced a penalty and Harrow cleared to touch.
Despite being a man down, Harrow regained good field position, setting up a maul from the resulting line-out, at which Hampton were penalised. Although Harrow were unable to win their throw at the ensuing line-out, the Hampton clearance kick was effectively run back by Harrow, outside centre Newall combining well with scrum-half Douglas to take play up to the 22 on the right. When play was switched to the left Hampton were penalised and Nsouli stepped up to take the three points from the tee.
Harrow managed a safe exit from the restart, an excellent kick from fly half Chatwin’s left boot finding touch deep in the Hampton half. Hampton won their line-out ball and scrum half Skinner’s box was well fielded by Nsouli who found some space to make ground on the left. Possession was recycled into midfield where flanker Tuipulotu broke through tackles before offloading to Stirling. The No 8 was stopped but the forward pack took play up close to the line. Successive drives were well defended but when the ball was released to the backs Newall cut through to score, Nsouli adding the extras.
Although, following the restart, Hampton won a scrum in midfield, retaining possession and forcing Harrow to concede a penalty. That was kicked to the right corner and with possession won the ball was mobbed through the hands, reaching Luckman on the left, but he was stopped, and Harrow were awarded a scrum, from which inside centre Ivan Thayil was able to clear. Following a Hampton line-out, a kick downfield was well fielded on the left by Nsouli and although the initial pass into midfield did not go to hand, when the ball reached Harrow full-back Cross, he took advantage of the broken play and found an excellent line to cut through the defensive line up to the Hampton 22 before offloading to Newall. Play was taken on by the forwards and Hampton were penalised, Chatwin kicking to the right corner. With possession won from the line-out and a maul set up, sustained pressure on the line saw hooker Wilkins force his way over. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Hampton had one more opportunity to get on the scoreboard before half-time, gaining good field position from a scrum and willing a penalty that was kicked to the left corner, but the throw to the ensuing line-out was judged not straight.
Half-time: Harrow School 22-0 Hampton School
The restart following the interval saw an immediate reversal of fortunes, when Harrow were penalised for tackling a player when off his feet and a yellow card was shown. The situation was compounded only a few minutes later when a similar incident took place, coincidentally in the same area of the pitch, and Harrow were reduced to 13 players. This impacted the scoreline almost immediately, when Harrow tried to run out of defence and a pass in midfield was intercepted by Knight, who ran in unopposed to score under the posts, adding the conversion himself.
After an exchange of kicks for position following the restart, Hampton replacement fly-half Jamie Brownloader produced a well judged 50:22 kick giving his side an attacking line-out on the left, from which a driving maul was set up. Progress was made deep into the left corner, but the defence held firm and won a penalty, allowing Harrow to clear to touch. Harrow continued to improve their field position, second row Ferreira carrying strongly in midfield, but a handling error gave possession back to Hampton, who worked their way back into the Harrow 22, winning a scrum in the left corner.
With possession secured at the set piece, the Hampton forward pack brought sustained pressure on the Harrow line, but good work by the defence forced a turnover. The respite was short-lived as the clearance kick was run back and Hampton awarded a penalty, kicked to the left corner. With possession won at the line-out, the ball was moved though the hands into midfield and a score seemed likely but again excellent work by the defence forced a penalty and Harrow cleared to touch.
Harrow were now back at full strength, but a crooked throw at the line-out gave Hampton possession at the scrum and they moved the first phase ball effectively to the left, creating space for Luckman who showed tremendous pace to break though tackles and into the Harrow 22. Play was taken on by the forwards and further sustained pressure created on the Harrow line. Again, it looked as if the defence might hold firm but when Hampton were awarded a scrum, bringing further driving to the line by their forwards, the ball finally came back to Brownloader who found No 8 Hopley in space on the right and he crashed over to score, Knight adding the conversion.
Although Hampton got away a box kick from the restart, that was well fielded by right wing Anderson and with possession retained Harrow took play close to the Hampton 22 and forced a penalty. Nsouli was again successful from the tee to stretch the lead back into double figures. After strong carrying by Tuipulotu at the restart, a further exchange of positional kicks again resulted in a successful 50:22 by Brownloader, giving Hampton an attacking line-out on the right with five minutes on the clock.
Hampton duly set up a driving maul from the line-out and Harrow were penalised, giving Hampton another line-out deep in the right corner, but that was stolen. Harrow looked to run out and take seconds off the clock, and although a handling error gave Hampton the put-in a scrum, a free kick was awarded to Harrow, who opted for a scrum. Possession was duly secured, and the Harrow forwards looked to drive out of defence, but Hampton forced a penalty at the breakdown and once again kicked to the corner. This time possession was secured, and the maul set up. With the referee indicating penalty advantage was being played, the ball was switched through the hands to the left and Luckman crashed over in the corner. With time available for one more play, Knight opted for a quick drop-kick conversion attempt which fell short.
Although Harrow gave their supporters a nervous last few seconds by conceding a penalty at the restart, the ensuing Hampton kick from hand failed to find touch and was safely caught by Nsouli who cleared to touch to end the game. This was indeed a game of two halves: Harrow were clinical in their finishing in the first half and deserved their lead at the interval. While the two yellow cards immediately after half time must have contributed to the change in momentum, Hampton played all the Rugby in the second half and only staunch defence by Harrow prevented a remarkable turnaround.
Harrow know that they will have to travel to Dorset for their Quarter-Final game, but the extent of their journey to the West will not be known until Sherborne have played Canford in Saturday’s game.
Full-time: Harrow School 25-19 Hampton School
By Peter Crawshaw
Teams:
Harrow School: Truscott, B. Wilkins, N. Martin, T. Ferneyhough, M. Ferreira (Capt), K. Tuipulotu, A. Walker, Stirling, Douglas (Vice-capt), A. Chatwin, W. Nsouli, I. Thayil, O. Newall, H. Anderson, C. Cross
Replacements: Hedley, S. Harrison, A. Du Roy De Blicquy
Hampton School: T. Simm (Vc), H. Langrish, T. Findlater, A. Simonds-Gooding, L. Mcnamara, J. Morgan, J. Acela, A. Hopley, F. Skinner, M. Leman, N. Luckman, Z. Gellatley, E. Knight (C), F. Rahmatallah, C. Hill
Replacements: T. Makanza, D. Haarhoff, H. Donaldson, N. Sukhraj-Hammerl, J. Brownleader
