With the lead changing hands twice in the closing five minutes Felsted School came back from a half-time deficit to secure a 23-20 win in the Midlands B Division Regional Final, with a last-minute penalty, bringing to an end St Albans’ unbeaten record.
Felsted have had some excellent runs in the National Competitions, the highlight probably being a semi-final appearance in the U18 Cup in 2017 against eventual champions Warwick. This year, they have had a strong record with notable wins against Haileybury and Seaford and reached this stage of the Vase with a one-point away win against Gresham’s. St Albans have had an outstanding term with ten consecutive victories including impressive points totals against Campion (recent winners against Whitgift in the U18 National Plate) and St George’s Harpenden. Three of their players have been named in the England U18 squad.
Thankfully conditions were dry, though overcast, as the home side kicked off and proceeded to dominate both possession and territory in the opening minutes. They quickly got on the scoreboard when St Albans were penalised on their 22 and fly half Noah C, took the three points on offer. Following the restart good handling on the left, centre Charles M. linking with full back Max W., Noah C. broke to the 22 and although he was stopped, possession was retained at the scrum and more good handling on the left forced the defence to concede a penalty in the corner. A quick tap was taken, and the forwards drove to the line but were judged to have been held up. The respite from the ensuing goal line drop-out was brief as it was run back to the 22 where St Albans were again penalised, and Noah C. was again on target from the tee.
Scrum-half Joshua B. ran out brilliantly down the right touchline directly from the restart but was penalised at the breakdown. Although St Albans were unable to win their throw at the ensuing line-out they soon regained possession and at last had the opportunity to show their attacking skills, Jack B. combining with Charlie W. to take play deep into the Felsted half. Good defence by the Essex school forced a turnover, enabling them to clear, but St Albans regained field position when No., 8 Tayo A. picked up from the base of a scrum and carried strongly, and when the defence were penalised full back Asa S-T was on target from the tee to reduce the deficit.
Although the visitors successfully managed the exit from the restart, Jack B. and Charle W, combining with flanker James L before releasing Tayo A., the ball went forward and Felsted recovered possession at the scrum. No 8 Jesse C. picked up from the base and broke impressively from the base, but the ball went loose, and Jack B. made good use of the turnover ball, stepping through the defence before releasing left-wing Cameron T. who showed excellent pace to break through on the left and score under the posts, Asa S-T adding the extras.
After a strong carry at the restart by Tayo A. further good work by the St Albans midfield backs gave Asa S-T the opportunity to show his running skills but the ball went forward at the breakdown and Felsted regained possession at the set scrum where they were now showing a degree of dominance. Recognising that, when St Albans were penalised minutes later, Felsted took a leaf out of the Springboks’ playbook, opting for a scrum rather than kicking for touch. Possession was duly won, and the ball moved through the hands on the left, but possession was lost, and St Albans were able to clear. Following a Felsted handling error, the Hertfordshire side were able to secure their own ball at the set scrum and Tayo A. picked up and made ground before releasing the backs on the left, but a forward pass gave possession back to the home side. Again Jesse C. picked up for the base but when the ball was offloaded possession was lost and Jack B. again made excellent use of the turnover ball, stepping through the defence to score under the posts, Asa S-T. adding the conversion on the stroke of half-time.
Half-time: Felsted School 6-17 St Albans School
The start of the second half almost saw St Albans extend their lead when Felsted were penalised but Asa S-T.’s well struck kick from long range struck the left hand upright and was collected by second row Reece M. who carried strongly beyond the 22 where St Albans were penalised. Touch was missed from the ensuing kick and Jack B. ran it back before chipping over the defence, but Felsted were able to recover the loose ball and capitalise on the broken play, moving the ball smoothly through the hands on the left to break into the St Albans 22. Possession was retained and, after a strong carry by captain and hooker Monty C., play was switched to the right where outside centre Marcus W. dived over in the corner. With Noah C. having had to leave the field wing Harry C. took over the place-kicking duties and was successful with the touchline conversion.
The switch in momentum continued when the restart was run out by Felsted, Charles M. and Marcus W. combining again on the left and when the defence was forced to concede a penalty in the left corner, Felsted again looked to leverage their dominance at the set scrum. Jesse C. picked up from the base and broke through to score under the posts, Harry C. adding the extras to put the home side back into the lead.
St Albans then enjoyed a period of sustained pressure inside the Felsted half, forcing a penalty from the restart. Although they were unable to capitalise on winning the ensuing line-out in the left corner they were soon back inside the 22, first on the right then back in the left, where only a close touchline decision prevented a try being given. Tayo A. then came close to scoring from a pick-up at the base of a scrum, but the ball was lost forward on the line. The respite for the defence was brief with a penalty conceded but St Albans were unable to secure their ball at the line-out in the left corner and Felsted cleared. Tayo A. ran back the kick, but he was penalised and at last, Felsted were able to break out of their half through Charles M.
Further dominance by the home side at the set scrum gave them some good field position but the next scoring opportunity came to the Hertfordshire school when Felsted conceded successive penalties and the ball was handed to Asa S-H. for a long-range penalty attempt from wide on the right. With only around five minutes left on the clock, a successful kick would (with tries and conversions level) have seen St Albans go through as the away side, but the well-struck kick drifted just wide. The drama was however far from being over, as after another strong carry by Tayo A. Felsted were penalised at the breakdown on their 10m line. This time Asa was bang on target with the long-range kick to make the score 20-20.
With time running out, the home side threw everything into creating another score and were awarded a penalty just inside the St Albans half. Harry C.s long-range kick was well-struck and on target, but the ball just failed to clear the bar. However, St Albans were unable to clear and good handling took play back to the 22, where the defence conceded another penalty. The kick for goal was now a straightforward one but the pressure was immense: Harry C. held his nerve admirably and was on target. There was just time for the restart but that was eventually secured by Felsted, and the referee blew up for full-time without a further scoring opportunity being created.
This was a tremendous tie, with both sides looking to play some open Rugby. There are some strong sides left in the competition and there have been several very close Regional Finals. Felsted will now naturally hope for a home tie in the upcoming draw for the semi-finals. If the pattern of recent years is followed, they are likely to be meeting another side from the Midlands or North Divisions, King’s Grantham. Durham or the winners of the upcoming St Ambrose vs St Anselm’s tie.
Full-time: Felsted School 23-20 St Albans School
By Peter Crawshaw
Teams:
Felsted School: Jack L., Monty C. (Capt), Peter S., Reece M., Dylan R., Ethan LC., Jo H., Jesse C. (Vice-Capt), Joshua B., Noah C., Ethan A., Charles M., Marcus W., Harry C., Max W.
Replacements: Thomas A., Aidan P., Maxime G.
St Albans School: William I., William S., Amar B., Leo McG., Jack H., James L., Barney W., Tayo A. (Vice-Capt), Dilan H., Jack B. (Vice-Capt), Cameron T., Charlie W. (Capt), Peter S., Freddie K., Asa S.-H.
Replacements: Buster B., Sam S., Jayden O., Barney A.
