Ravens Wood School, Bromley finished strongly with three late scores to secure a 19-point margin of victory over Dunottar School, Reigate, after a potential upset had looked possible with the scores level at 15-15 mid-way through the second half of this London & South-East Group B national U18 Vase third-round tie.

These two schools had chalked up some good wins in earlier rounds of the competition, Dunottar beginning with a victory over St Olave’s. At the same time, Ravens Wood had managed to reverse an early season loss to Skinners’, who have regularly made deep progress into the Vase, to get past the Tunbridge Wells-based school. On paper, however, the Bromley-based school who play on a strong circuit with a fixture list that includes Trinity and Whitgift looked favourites.

A fresh breeze was signalling an imminent end to the recent Indian summer as Ravens Wood kicked off and started impressively in the lovely surroundings of the Old Reigatians Park Lane pitches. After securing possession from their own kick, their powerful forward pack took play deep into the 22, with the second row and captain Nicholas and tight head MacAulay carrying strongly before the ball came back to scrum-half Milne who dived over close to the posts and added the extras himself. The home side quickly bounced back from the early setback when Ravens Wood were penalised following the restart and Dunottar full-back Hamps (one of half a dozen U16s in the side) stepped up to take the three points from the tee with an impressive long-range kick into the wind.

After an exchange of kicks the visitors renewed their early pressure, releasing wing Brett who broke through tackles on the left, and, although a forward pass gave Dunottar the chance to have some possession from the resulting scrum, the Ravens Wood forwards continued to give good field position, No. 8 Reynolds getting over the gain line. When Dunottar were penalised, the ball was kicked to the right corner and after a maul had initially been set up from the ensuing lineout the ball was moved through the hands to the left where Brett outpaced the cover defence to score.

Although the home side were penalised at the restart, they managed to steal possession at the line-out and moved the ball through the hands before fly half Aldridge kicked into the Ravens Wood half where a knock-on gave possession back to Dunottar, who were holding their own at the set scrums. A well-directed grubber to the corner forced a defensive line-out at which Dunottar again stole possession, which was retained through successive phases, captain and open-side flanker James carrying well. When the visitors were penalised inside their 22, Dunottar opted to take a tap and the ball was swiftly moved through the hands to left-wing Forsyth who squeezed in at the corner. Hamps’ touchline conversion attempt was well-struck but drifted just wide.

Ravens Wood soon had the opportunity to extend their lead when Dunottar were penalised on their 22 and Milne took the three points from the tee. Following the restart, Dunottar continued to secure possession at the line-out and when Ravens Wood were penalised in midfield Hamps looked to get three points back, but his long-range kick was just wide and the interval was reached without further addition to the score.

Half-time: Dunottar School 8-15 Ravens Wood School

With the wind now at their backs Dunottar started the second half strongly, forcing a penalty, which was kicked to touch on the right and possession was secured from the set piece. Good hands in midfield, with James again joining the backs took play into the Ravens Wood half and another penalty was conceded by the defence, giving the home side an attacking line-out in the left corner. However, that was lost and when Dunottar conceded successive penalties the pressure was briefly relieved.

More good work at the set scrum saw Dunottar win back possession against the put-in and good handling on the left forced another penalty, again kicked to the left corner. This time possession was secured, and the ball moved smoothly through the hands into midfield, where Hamps produced some silky running to step through the defence and score close to the posts before adding the extras himself to level the scores.

With the game suddenly in the balance, Ravens Wood looked to re-establish their lead, taking play deep into the Dunottar 22, and a try looked likely as the forwards took the ball up to the line, but the signal that came from the referee was for a penalty to Dunottar and a long clearance, helped by the strengthening wind, relieved the pressure. When Ravens Wood ran the ball back, possession was lost on halfway and Hamps again showed excellent speed to slice past would-be tacklers, Another Dunottar try looked possible, but the final pass did not go to hand and a penalty was conceded from the resulting scrum, the defence was able to clear.

The visitors’ field position was further improved when the wind took a Dunottar kick into the 22 beyond the dead ball line, giving them a scrum on halfway, and a subsequent penalty conceded by the defence gave Ravens Wood an attacking line-out inside the 22. From a subsequent free kick, the ball came to replacement forward Saunders who crossed the whitewash on the left and West, having also come off the bench and taking over the kicking duties added the extras. The process was repeated following the restart, when Dunottar were again penalised and from another attacking line-out on the left, second-row Travers forced his way over to extend the lead.

Although two scores behind and with time running out Dunottar looked to run the ball at every opportunity, but the momentum was with the Bromley school. Winning a line-out on the left, forwards and backs combined to take play into the 22, flanker Caple linking with centre Morris before the forwards drove to the line, with MacAulay claiming the score and West converting. There was time for one more Dunottar foray into the Ravens Wood 22, but the final whistle came without further addition to the score.

The young Dunottar side competed well throughout, making good use of the possession that they had, and for a few minutes in the second half an upset looked possible, but once Ravens Wood had got back into their stride the result never looked in doubt. They will now host Wallington County GS in the next round.

Full-time: Dunottar School 15-34 Ravens Wood School

By Peter Crawshaw

Teams:

Dunottar School: H. O’Connor, W. Telford, C. Cooper, T. Brooker, A. Hawker, H. Ogilvie, T. James (Capt), W. Elkeles, C. McClure, W. Aldridge, E. Forsyth, O. Burnett, W. Combes, T. Parkman, H. Hamps

Replacements: B. Copeman, E. Combes, G. Jacks, S. Parsons

Ravens Wood School: J Withers, J McLachlan, F Macaulay, T Nicholas (Capt), O Travers, D Edmonds, J Caple, K Reynolds, E Milne, L Dalli (Vice-Capt), R Brett, J Morris, L Weekes (Vice-Capt), J Anson, Z Finch

Replacements: J Saunders, T Elone, J West, J Turnbull