A try either side of halftime gave Sutton Valence School just enough to resist second half pressure in the final quarter by Kent neighbours Skinners’ School and take the London & South-East Group A Regional Final by a 14-5 margin.
A game between these two schools at this stage of the competition (a repeat of the match-up two years ago) has looked increasingly likely as the term has progressed, with Skinners’, who have a proud record over the years in the Cup competition, recording some excellent results including a win in their local Derby against Tonbridge. Sutton Valence’s only loss being in a close game against Haileybury, reflective of their having several Saracens Academy players at the school, including England U18 No 9 Nathan Michelow, and they will be motivated to emulate the achievement in this competition of their 2019/20 side.
Despite overnight rain, the playing surface looked in good shape though a stiff North-Westerly wind threatened to make life even more tricky than usual for the side playing up the slope. A large and vociferous crowd was on the touchlines as the visitors kicked off down the slope, under the expert scrutiny of a team of three officials led by referee Tracy Pettingale, and quickly established good field position. That looked likely to bring early points when Skinners’ were penalised on their 22 and Sutton Valence elected to kick at goal, but they appeared ill-prepared and after a lengthy wait to get the tee on the field were forced to take a drop-kick which drifted wide.
From the ensuing 22m drop-out Skinners’ worked their way up field into the Sutton Valence 22, where they won possession at a Sutton Valence scrum but the defence recovered and cleared downfield, flanker Jacob Ray carrying strongly. A well-placed kick into the right corner was fielded and cleared to touch by full-back Luka Crowcroft, and Skinners’ stole Sutton Valence’s ball at the ensuing line-out before kicking clear. That kick was returned with interest, resulting in a sustained period of pressure in the Skinners’ 22 and culminating in an attacking line-out in the right corner, but the throw-in was not straight, and the pressure was briefly relieved.
The Sutton Valence kicking game continued to work well, with another well-weighted kick from centre Tom Barton rolling into the in-goal area and the defence forced to touch down. Following the consequent goal-line drop-out, Skinners’ were penalised on their 22 and this time there was no delay in getting the tee onto the field but the outcome was no different with the kick at goal wide of its target. The next Sutton Valence kick to the Skinners’ line was just too long, rolling dead and giving the home side a scrum on halfway, but fly-half Finan Smith’s kick to touch was also just too strong and went out on the full. Both sides struggled to put together multiple phases with kicking for position the main tactic and a kick to the right corner deep in the Sutton Valence 22 giving Skinners’ field position. However, that was brilliantly run back by left-wing Oscar Vas and he was forced into touch only a few metres short of the Skinners’ line.
Skinners’ did well to win their throw-in to the line-out, setting up a maul and moving the ball through the hands to the left. Good line speed by Sutton Valence put pressure on left-wing Christian Dolley, but he showed excellent speed to get outside and carry out to halfway before finally being tackled. With possession recovered by the visitors, Michelow carried strongly to keep up the pressure and after an exchange of kicks Sutton Valence won another attacking line-out in the right corner, but they were unable to secure the set-piece ball. Skinners’ were given the put-in at a scrum from which they cleared briefly, but they remained under pressure in their own 22. Although they won a line-out close to their line on the right, the clearance kick was a short one and the ball came to second-row Barnaby Merrett who broke through the defensive line and raced in to score by the posts, centre Jasper Benson adding the conversion.
It seemed hard on the home side to have defended resolutely for much of the first half, only to concede a score with only a few minutes to go to the interval, but they came close to scoring themselves directly from the restart when the kick was mis fielded and Skinners’ won the resulting scrum inside the 22 on the left. Possession was won and scrum-half Nick Edwards tried to put his backs into space in midfield but good line speed from the defence stopped their initial progress. Pressure on the line was maintained by the forwards but the defence recovered possession and were able to clear.
Half-time: Skinners’ School 0-7 Sutton Valence School
With the wind and slope advantage moving to the home side on the second half it was by no means a certainty that the seven points lead that Sutton Valence had established would be sufficient, but it was the visitors that struck first after the interval. After an exchange of kicks, Dolley ran through at speed in midfield and looked likely to break into the Sutton Valence half, but he slipped, and a scrum was awarded to Sutton Valence on halfway at which Skinners’ were penalised. Michelow carried powerfully into the left corner before offloading to scrum half Tyler Weekes who combined with Vas towards the line. A succession of drives by the forward pack was resisted by steadfast defence but when the ball was switched to Merrett in space on the blind side the second row ran in for his second try in the left corner, with Barton adding the conversion from the touchline.
With their task now that much harder, requiring three scores under the away side rule, Skinners’ set about reducing the deficit, wing Joe Ryder fielding a kick and racing through to the 22, where forward pressure forced a penalty, kicked to right corner. Possession was duly won from the line-out and a maul established. Although that was initially stopped, subsequent drives by the Skinners’ forwards close to the line forced a penalty. With the line-out ball secured a maul was again set up, but this was again well defended and when Skinners’ were penalised it seemed that the pressure would be relieved. However, the celebrations by the defence were apparently considered inappropriate by the referee and the penalty was reversed, giving Skinners’ the chance to repeat the line-out to maul tactic for a third time and this time it was successful, with hooker Charlie Turland grounding the ball. Smith’s touchline conversion attempt was well struck but drifted wide.
Although the home side made a safe exit from the restart, Sutton Valence managed to keep play close to halfway, with Barton carrying strongly and a well-placed kick to the right that was scrambled into touch by the defence giving them the throw-in at a line-out. However, that was judged not straight and from the ensuing scrum Edwards kicked downfield. Skinners’ then drove towards the 22 and won a line-out on the right. Flanker Jack Ponsford carried strongly before offloading to Smith but good work by the defence at the breakdown saw Skinners’ concede a penalty. Another long kick from Barton found an excellent touch on the left, but Skinners’ stole possession at the line-out and moved the ball through the hands to take play up to the Sutton Valence 22 on the left, where the defence were penalised, bringing a lengthy warning from the referee.
A kick for goal was possibly within Smith’s range from the tee but Skinners’ decided to kick to the left corner. Again, possession was won and a maul set up, but excellent work by the defence brought a turnover and after a good clearance kick, Sutton Valence drove up field to relieve the pressure. The visitors’ game management was effective as the clock started to run down and they thwarted Skinners’ efforts to make use of the conditions. Dolley again looked a threat, stepping past defenders in midfield but the defence forced a turnover and then a penalty which Sutton Valence elected to run. Their progress was stopped when Ryder was forced into touch, and Skinners’ used the resulting line-out possession to drive up to half way, but good line speed by the Sutton Valence defence stopped their progress.
Skinners’ then found themselves back in their own 22 when wing Oliver Murch put in a well weighted kick to the corner, which the defence were forced to carry over, giving Sutton Valence the put-in at a 5m scrum. After at least one reset, Michelow picked up from the base and drove towards the line, but he lost possession and Skinners’ were able to clear. After an exchange of kicks, a clearance by Crowcroft was knocked on by the defence, giving Skinners’ an attacking scrum on the Sutton Valence 22. That was won and when the ball was moved first to Dolley on the left and then back into midfield inside the 22 the home side threatened to score, but the final pass was judged to have gone forward.
Excellent pressure by the Skinners’ forward pack made life difficult for Edwards at the base of the ensuing scrum and the defence was forced to concede a 5m scrum but that was won against the head by Sutton Valence who ran out of defence. Skinners’ had one more opportunity when they forced a turnover and drove through the forwards, but possession was lost and another long clearance kick ensured that play remained in the Skinners’ half as time ran out.
This was a titanic struggle between two well matched sides, a great advertisement for the Vase competition. Ironically it was the visitors who capitalised on the conditions most effectively, and the accuracy of their kicking game was arguably the difference between the two sides. They looked to have done their homework on what to expect on their visit to Chestnut Lane and the execution of the game plan was excellent. Skinners showed great spirit throughout, and their defence was outstanding when under sustained pressure in the first half. They will finish their season with their traditional local Derby against neighbours Judd School. Sutton Valence will be at home in the quarter-finals against Bristol GS, winners against Truro School and semi-finalists in the Champions Trophy in 2018.
Full time: Skinners’ School 5-14 Sutton Valence School
By Peter Crawshaw
Teams:
Skinners’ School: Gregor Pauling, Charlie Turland, Oliver Langley, Jack Marnane. James Nicholson, William Murphy (Capt), Jack Ponsford, Etienne Lawrence, Nick Edwards, Finan Smith, Christian Dolley, Jonah Houghton, Alex Pincott, Joe Ryder, Luka Crowcroft
Replacements: Luke Walter. Jed Jago, James Kerton, Joseph Chapman, Arthur Plunkett, Ruben Le Roux
Sutton Valence School: Alexander Bowyer, Josh Forknall, Marcus Brown, Ethan Wynne, Barnaby Merrett, Alfie Jarrett, Jacob Ray, Nathan Michelow (Vice-Capt), Tyler Weekes (Capt), Max Lindsay, Oscar Vas, Tom Barton. Jasper Benson, Oliver Murch, Pip Hodson
Replacements: Fynn Page, Edmund Harding
