Good game management saw Marlborough College overcome an early reversal and outscore Seaford College by six tries to five, fly half Charlie Brook adding 19 points from the tee.
With little overlap between their respective fixtures circuits (Canford being the only common opponent this season), it was hard to establish a favourite on paper. The two schools had met in the Quarter Finals of the 2018/19 competition, Marlborough moving on to a semi-final against Whitgift. Following several days of torrential rain in the South Downs, Seaford wisely opted to host the game on the 4G pitch at Havant RFC. Thankfully, despite yet more heavy rain in the morning, the game began with the hosts kicking off under cloudless skies.
The Sussex school got off to a strong start, establishing good field position and stealing possession at a Marlborough lineout before moving the ball through the hands on the left, centre Conor McCormack finding a good line before offloading to wing Finley West who squeezed in at the corner. The touchline conversion attempt was unsuccessful. However, the danger of failing to secure the restart were immediately illustrated when Seaford were penalised, and Charlie Brook took the three points from long range.
A handling error by Seaford at the restart gave Marlborough possession from the set scrum and outside centre Josh Umeh made ground on the left, and although Seaford recovered possession on their 22, an ambitious long pass in midfield was intercepted by wing Jake Hobson who ran in unopposed to score, Brook adding the extras. Once again, the restart provided the Wiltshire school with a scoring opportunity, when Brook’s long clearance was allowed to bounce by the defenders who were caught in possession on their own 5 metre line. Marlborough gained quick ball from the ensuing breakdown and the ball was moved quickly through the hands on the left, creating an overlap for Sebastian Hebblethwaite who dived over in the corner. Brook’s touchline conversion attempt was well struck and crept over the crossbar off a post.
With Marlborough clearing to touch from the restart, Seaford, having conceded three successive scores in a few minutes, set about gaining field position, Murrin and Staples carrying strongly, but possession was lost, and Brook cleared. The respite was brief as Seaford won successive penalties, taking play into the Marlborough 22 and forcing an attacking scrum 5 metres out. No 8 Fraser Lyne picked up from the base, but the defence held firm. A scoring opportunity was created when the ball was moved to the backs and full back Arthur Chads dived over in the corner, but he was judged to have been held up.
A long goal line drop-out by Brook took play back into the Seaford 22 where they conceded a penalty. Although Marlborough were unable to secure first phase ball from the ensuing lineout, a clearance kick was fielded by Brook and good handling took play back into the Seaford half on the right. When the ball was switched to the left, No 8 Ollie Bowman broke through tackles and outpaced the defence to score in the corner. For once, Brook’s conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Although Brook again cleared from the restart, centre Oscar Heywood ran the kick back before linking with his forwards, Tommy Burbridge and Richard Twitchen carrying strongly to take play inside the 22, where an offload to Harry Bostock saw the second-row drive over for his side’s second try, Heywood adding the conversion. It looked as if Seaford might have the momentum as half time approached, but again the restart proved their undoing, with the defence struggling to pick out Brook’s kick against the bright sun, low in the sky, and they conceded a penalty, Brook making no mistake from the tee. Brook might have added another three points when Seaford were penalised again following an exchange of kicks, but the kick from the tee went wide.
Half-time: Seaford College 12-25 Marlborough College
The start of second half saw Seaford looking energised to reduce the deficit with the ball recycled, forwards and backs linking effectively. Second-row Harry Foster, who had passed a late fitness test, made some hard yards before offloading to Lyne and he carried strongly again to take play to within 5 metres of the line. Possession was retained and when the ball came back to Bostock he forced his way over for his second try, Heywood converting to bring his side within one score. Game on, one thought, but once again the restart proved a problem for Seaford, when their attempted box kick was charged down by Umeh who regathered and raced over, Brook landing the touchline conversion.
Seaford may have made defensive errors, but they continued to create their own scoring opportunities. A well weighted kick into the Marlborough 22 was run out of defence, but turnover ball at the breakdown was exploited by Seaford, forcing a penalty on the left. This was taken quickly and pressure by the forward pack saw tight head Josh Warner crash over in the corner. The touchline conversion attempt was missed, but Seaford were back in range if they only could only tighten their defence. Sadly, that was not to be, with yet another penalty conceded at the restart. That was kicked to touch, and the first phase lineout ball came to Umeh, who cut clean through to score, Brook converting.
It was Marlborough’s turn to have problems at the restart when a kick was charged down, but a handling error by Seaford saw Marlborough regain possession and Umeh showed his pace to make ground on the left. Although he was stopped, the ball was recycled and Umeh and Brook combined to take play up to the 22, where Seaford were forced to concede a penalty and Brook kept the scoreboard ticking over with another three points. Once again Seaford had problems clearing from the restart and Marlborough moved the ball through the hands on the left. A long pass looked to have gone forward but play was allowed to continue, and successive penalties conceded by Seaford saw the Marlborough forward pack drive close to the line. Although they were stopped, the ball came back to Umeh who plunged through the bodies to complete his hat-trick of tries, Brook adding his eighth successful kick from the tee.
With time running out, the game was now out of reach for Seaford, but there was still time for a consolation score. A strong driving maul was set up from a line-out and play taken deep into the Marlborough half where Seaford were awarded a penalty. That was taken quickly, and the ball moved through the hands, first on the right and then on the left, where Seaford won a scrum inside the 22. Lyne picked up from the base and, although initial drives to the line by the forwards were resisted, replacement wing Hamish Williams dived over in the corner to complete the scoring.
This was an intriguing game and no doubt a frustrating one for a Seaford supporter. Several times it looked as if Seaford would make up the deficit, but when they got within range, Marlborough kept their composure and were able to re-establish a comfortable lead. Brook produced a near perfect place-kicking performance and his game management was arguably the difference between the two sides. It will be interesting to see how the Quarter Final draw pans out, but the experience of recent years would suggest that Marlborough will face either Harrow (convincing winners over Hampton) or the winner of the delayed Judd vs Trinity tie.
Full-time: Seaford College 29-49 Marlborough College
By Peter Crawshaw
Teams:
Seaford College: Richard Twitchen, Jimmy Staples (Vice-Capt), Josh Warner, Harry Foster, Harry Bostock, Alexander Philp, Horatio Murrin, Fraser Lyne (Capt), Harry Whitehouse, Alex Challinor, Finley West, Conor McCormack, Oscar Haywood (Vice-Capt), Tommy Newell, Arthur Chads
Replacements: Tommy Burbridge, George Gibbens, Hamish Williams,
Marlborough College: Edward Betts, Humph Braxton, Edward Wrench, Henry Green , Arthur Braxton, Rory Staples, Woody Wilson (Capt), Ollie Bowman, Otto Bartlett, Charlie Brook, Sebastian Hebblethwaite, Max Robinson, Joshua Umeh, Jake Hobson, Will Cooke-Priest
Replacements: William Hudson, Edward Fuller, Wilf Green, Max Dunne
