The Judd School ran in seven tries to record a convincing win over John Fisher School by a 52-3 score in this National U18 Cup, London & SE A Division tie.

Each of these two schools can boast a record among the very best for state schools in the National Cup competitions, Judd having reached the quarter finals in 2017, and Fisher having gone deep into the draw on several occasions. Judd had made an outstanding start to this season, defeating near neighbours Tonbridge School and then piling on the points against Ravens Wood. Fisher had had more mixed fortunes, going down to Eton and Skinners’ before securing a comfortable win over Wimbledon College.

Judd were quickly out of the blocks, kicking off and scoring on their first possession, having moved the ball through the hands on the left before switching play to midfield. Second row Henry Thompson broke through tackles and offloaded to fellow second row and captain Toby Brown who scored by the posts. Full back Angus Hall landed the simple conversion. Judd’s attempted clearance from the restart went directly into touch, giving Fisher an attacking lineout, from which a maul was established, but when the ball was switched to the backs, a handling error allowed Judd to recover and clear.

Both sides struggled to put together multiple phases, but a loose ball was kicked through by Judd from their own 22 and then fly hacked again to the Fisher line, forcing the defence to concede a lineout. When Fisher were penalised from the ensuing maul, Hall took the three points from the tee. Problems continued for the visitors after the restart when they were penalised, giving Judd an attacking lineout on the right. With possession won from the set piece and initial ground made from the maul, the ball was moved through the hands on the left and centre Fin Stables stepped past would-be tacklers to score by the posts, Hall converting.

As Fisher worked to get back into the game with tight head Eva-Junior Luteke making some hard yards, the home side seemed to lose focus and conceded several penalties, from the last of which Fisher fly half Charlie Carter finally got his side on the scoreboard with three points from the tee. The revival, despite the sun breaking through to bring ideal conditions for rugby, was short-lived, with Judd recovering their restart and Hall cutting through in midfield before offloading to left wing Charlie Cordiner who dived over in the corner. Although the touchline conversion attempt was not successful, the momentum was now back with the home side. An excellent clearance kick from the restart was nudged into touch by the defence, giving Judd an attacking lineout on the right and possession was won. Play was quickly switched into midfield and Stables again cut through to score under the posts, Hall adding the extras.

When Fisher were penalised after the restart, Judd were again secure at the lineout, flanker Harry Lewis the go-to man, and No 8 Frank Kitchen carried powerfully before offloading to Cordiner. Although the move broke down, advantage was being played and play came back for an infringement by Fisher, giving Hall the chance to take a further three points from the tee as the Referee blew for the end of the half.

Half-time: The Judd School 31-3 John Fisher School

The start of second half saw Judd make a number of substitutions, but the pattern of play continued, with Judd gaining good field position and fly half Louie Bouverie showing his running skills. After coming close to scoring on the left, play was switched to the right and then back to the left where replacement Henry Hartley scored his side’s fifth try, Hall again converting. The visitors’ woes continued when the restart went straight out. From the ensuing scrum, Bouverie took play deep into the Fisher half and Judd won an attacking scrum in the right corner, from which loose head prop John Disbury forced his way over the line.

Following the restart, Brown again carried strongly to gain ground in midfield and Hall kept the scoreboard moving when Fisher were penalised within kicking range. From the restart athletic flanker Dante McNichol (last seen by this correspondent taking the Octathlon bronze medal at the English Schools’ Combined Events Championships) ran out strongly but was forced into touch. Judd were then penalised following the lineout and, with an extra 10m added by the referee, Carter’s kick gave Fisher an attacking lineout on the left. With possession won, Fisher continued to enjoy good field position, Judd conceding further penalties. From an attacking scrum in the left corner No 8 Sam Kabia picked up from the base and play was taken on close to the line by forwards Fabian Ezeanaka and Luteke, but excellent work at the breakdown by McNichol saw the ball turned over and Judd were able to clear.

Fisher continued to press, taking play up to the line on the left, but the ball was held up and Judd finally cleared their lines from the goal line dropout. Hall ran impressively out of defence and Bouverie combined with centre Eddie Trebess and Cordiner on the left, but the ball went forward. When Judd were penalised at the scrum, right wing Kevin Yeboah showed great pace to break clear on the blind side and a consolation try to Fisher looked possible, but he was pulled down short of the line by a brilliant cover tackle from Hall.

With time expiring and the result not in doubt both sides were losing a little composure but a warning from the referee ensured that the end of the game was reached without incident, though there was still just time for a final score by Judd, when a lineout was won on the left and, after possession had been recycled, tight head Jack Wilson crashed over in the corner.

One suspects that some Fisher players had their minds on the upcoming local Derby with Whitgift (good to see that back as a Saturday fixture) but that should not detract from an excellent Judd performance: they played some great Rugby. They now face a Cup trip to Sussex to play the winners of the Cardinal Newman / Hurstpierpoint tie but will have the chance to finish the term with their own classic Derby, against Skinners’ under Friday night lights.

Full-time: The Judd School 52-3 John Fisher School

By Peter Crawshaw

Teams:

The Judd School: John Disbrey, Dominic Stangroome, Jack Wilson, Toby Brown (Captain), Henry Thompson, Harry Lewis, Dante McNichol, Frank Kitchen, Seb Nottage, Louie Bouverie, Charlie Cordiner, Fin Stables, Eddie Trebess, Ollie Ebbsworth, Angus Hall

Replacements: Seb Hillsdon, Henry Hartley, Jonny Fitzmaurice, Isaac Canham

John Fisher School: Alfie Lamb, Caolan Timlin, Eva-Junior Luteke, Shane Wani, Fabian Ezeanaka, Matthew Cassar, Harrison De’Antiquis, Sam Kabia, Zachary Rhodes, Charlie Carter, Daniel Haydon, Diran Oresanya (Captain), James Ward, Kevin Yeboah, Joshua Anoop

Replacements: Amos Ssekibuule, Rory Sharp, Will Martin, Bovely Nunu-Kiazolua