Whitgift School, Croydon overcame a 13-point deficit deep into the second half to record a narrow win over neighbours Trinity School, Croydon in an incredibly close finish.

These two schools have between them had a number of Twickenham finals appearances in the U18 Cup competition, but both went out early in that competition earlier this term, Whitgift to The Judd and Trinity to Epsom. Despite their geographical proximity and their common Foundation, there is rarely a block fixture between them so any National Competition match-up is eagerly awaited and tends to give local bragging rights. Whitgift will have been keen to prevent a hat-trick of defeats at this age group.

In spite of heavy rainfall in the days leading up to the game, the Bigside hybrid playing surface was looking splendid and skies were clear at kick-off. Trinity began with the advantage of both the slope and the wind but quickly fell behind to an interception try by Whitgift right-wing Sergio Roccia, fly half Seb Cox adding the extras. The visitors soon set about overcoming that deficit. After winning a line-out on the right a driving maul took play up to the Whitgift 22 and the ball was moved through the hands on the left before play was switched back into midfield. Multiple phases with the ball carried by the forward pack were met by some resolute defence, but finally hooker Quinn Singh forced his way over close to the posts, with fly-half Louis Harrison-Rix adding the conversion to level the scores.

Although Whitgift gained good field position following the restart they were unable to win their own ball at an attacking line-out on the right and Trinity ran the ball out of defence before a long clearance kick by Harrison-Rix took play deep into the Whitgift half/. This time the home side was able to win the ensuing set piece, but they were penalised at the breakdown when the ball was moved to midfield, and Harrison-Rix took the three points from the tee.

A long clearance kick gave the visitors a good exit from the restart, but Whitgift were again able to win set piece ball and clear to touch. An attacking opportunity followed when Trinity lost possession at the ensuing line-out, and flanker Daniel Cooper carried strongly before the ball was moved through the hands on the left. However, a turnover gave Harrison-Rix the chance for a 50:22 which was beautifully executed. Giving Trinity an attacking line-out in the right corner. With the set piece won, a driving maul took play close to the line where the defence was forced to concede a penalty. A quick tap was taken, and the pick-and-go tactic put pressure on the line, with powerful prop forward Temi Asanbe to the fore, but when play was switched to the backs on the left the final pass went forward.

Whitgift were able to win the ensuing scrum and clear to touch, but Trinity kept up the pressure, with right-wing Max Farrell running back a kick, and Whitgift were again penalised in front of the posts. This time Harrison-Rix’s kick from the tee drifted wide but the Whitgift drop-out was run back and another penalty awarded to Trinity, kicked to touch on the right. Possession was won and the maul set up, Whitgift again conceding a penalty giving Trinity another line-out close to the line. The Trinity forwards drove up to the line and were stopped, but penalty advantage was being played. Once again, a tap was taken and forward pressure looked likely to give the visitors another score, but the defence held firm and the ball came back to Singh to carried strongly in midfield before offloading to Harrison-Rix. When he was stopped it was Trinity who were penalised and Whitgift cleared to touch.

With half-time approaching it looked as if the home side had weathered the storm but although they secured possession at the line-out through second-row Dom Wade, the maul was stopped, giving Trinity a scrum just outside the 22. The ball was moved through the hands on the left before being switched back into midfield, where Singh carried strongly deep into the 22 before offloading to full-back Omar Leon who crossed in the right corner. With Harrison-Rix landing the difficult conversion, the referee blew for the end of the half.

Half-time: Whitgift School 7 Trinity School 17

The start of the second half saw Whitgift starting to benefit from the slope and wind and gaining some possession inside the Trinity half, but Trinity were able to break out through some strong carrying by their forward pack, prop Jacob Brome making some hard yards. A kick to the left corner gave them the chance to put pressure on the Whitgift line-out. A high tackle gave Harrison-Rix another chance to extend the lead and his kick duly bisected the posts.

The home side’s woes continued when the restart went directly into touch but a similar Trinity error from the ensuing scrum gave Whitgift an attacking line-out on the right. With possession won play was taken deep into the right corner and although the defence forced a turnover play stayed inside the Trinity half. Good line speed by Trinity prevented Whitgift from breaking through and a Cox kick was charged down, but successive penalties were conceded and Whitgift won resulting line-outs on the right. From the second of those the forwards drove up to the line and loose head prop Ben Abraham crashed over in the corner. The difficult conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Any suggestion of a change in momentum seemed to be over when a kick by Harrison-Rix to the right found Farrell with a clear overlap and he outpaced the defence to cross for Trinity’s third try. Although the conversion was missed it seemed unlikely that Whitgift would score two converted tries in the time remaining, but the first of those came immediately after the restart when Trinity were penalised. A driving maul was set up in the left corner from that and when that was taken down the referee ran under the posts to award a penalty try.

Initially, it looked as though Trinity would play out the remaining few minutes when Singh combined with centre Fred Webzell to take play into the Whitgift half, but they were penalised and Whitgift secured possession from the ensuing line-out. They switched play to the left, trying to put centre Tyler Stewart-Passley (now playing on the wing) into space and although he was stopped and a penalty awarded to Trinity, excellent work by Whitgift at the breakdown when Trinity looked to run lineout ball forced a penalty. That was kicked to the right corner and the driving maul set-up which proved unstoppable, Wade getting the downward pressure over the line. With the clock in the red, Cox’s touchline conversion attempt was beautifully struck, and the touch judges’ flags were raised.

This was a finish that had seemed unlikely if not impossible with 10 minutes to go. Trinity will reflect on the amount of pressure that they had enjoyed in the first half, but they seemed to have a comfortable lead late in the game despite not taking as many points as they might have. Whitgift gave up and showed excellent fitness as well as spirit: they now face a trip to Campion in the London & SE A Regional final.

Full-time: Whitgift School 26-25 Trinity School

By Peter Crawshaw

Teams:

Whitgift School: Ben Abraham, Louis Johnson, Jamie Miller (Capt), Noah Screene, Dom Wade, Sam Worne, Daniel Cooper, CJ White, Fergus Callington, Seb Cox, Jasper Abington, Santiago Angarita, Tyler Stewart-Passley, Sergio Roccia, Ben Townrow

Replacements: Will Ferguson, Gabriel Akomeah, Raith Harris, Ethan Hamilton

Trinity School: Temi Asanbe, Quinn Singh, Jacob Brome, Teddy Wilkie, Oscar Sweeney, Isaiah Opara, Jacob King, Benjamin Beadle, Daniel Brown, Louis Harrison-Rix, Oliver Wilcox, Harry Webzell, Fred Webzell, Max Farrell, Omar Leon

Replacements: Ozzy Edwards, Eric Trinder, Christian Pauling