Northampton School for Boys School and Radley College will contest the Continental Tyres Schools Cup U15 Cup Final at StoneX on 12th March. That game will be preceded earlier in the day by the U15 Vase Final between Beechen Cliff School and Durham School, as well as the U15 Bowl and Plate Finals
Day 2 of the festival of Rugby at Aylesbury RUFC comprised the Semi-Finals of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup U15 Cup and Vase Competitions. After early overnight fog, there were clear and sunny skies at the time of kick-off, though we continued to be thankful for the 4G pitch with the surrounding natural turf pitches unplayable. The spectators were treated to a series of amazingly close games, the first three having a margin of victory of three points or less and the result of the last in doubt until the closing minutes.
The day began with the first U15 Cup semi-final between Northampton School for Boys School (“NSB”) and Stowe School. After a strong opening period in which Stowe raced to a 19-0 lead within eight minutes, NSB began an amazing comeback which ultimately culminated in them taking the lead for the first time and clinching a 36-34 win.
There then followed the two U15 Vase semi-finals between Beechen Cliff School and St Albans School. This followed an almost equally thrilling path, though in this game the lead changed hands several times before Beechen Cliff scored a late try to secure a 29-26 win. The second Vase semi-final was another incredibly close match-up with a climax that was no less dramatic, with Durham School landing a penalty in the final minute to secure a 22-21 win over The Leys School.
The final game of the day was a second U15 Cup semi-final between Millfield School and Radley College, which, while the margin of victory was slightly wider, was also closely contested, with the scores level at 14-14 at halftime before Radley gained the upper hand in the second half to win 24-14.
U15 Cup – Semi-Final 1
NSB are the defending champions, the 2022/23 side having been unbeaten in 13 matches, so the bar has been set high for this year’s side, who played Stowe in December, losing by 43-12, and sustained a few other defeats. Still, we know that such games may not be a reliable guide for Cup competition. Despite that, with Stowe having only lost one game they looked like the favourites on paper and began the game looking likely to turn that into reality, scoring after less than 3 minutes. After good recycling in midfield outside centre Will Catley broke down the left before offloading to left-wing Benjamin Shortridge who stepped his way past would-be tacklers. Although he was stopped short of the line, NSB were penalised and from a quick tap captain Seb Dare drove over.
The Stowe dominance continued. After winning a lineout, the ball came to Catley who again cut through the defence on the right before offloading to scrum half Finn Cloete who scored under the posts, fly half Eddie Hartigan converting. From the restart, Catley gathered a clearance kick and once again sliced through the defence and this time he kept the ball and scored under the posts, Hartigan adding the extras. So, with less than 8 minutes played, Stowe led 19-0. Game over perhaps? NSB had other ideas…
After a Stowe handling error from the restart had given NSB a good field position NSB forced a penalty and kicked to the right corner. The ensuing maul was stopped but play was switched to the backs and full-back Finlay Shields stepped through to score under the posts, fly half Giovanni Panariello converting. Although NSB were penalised at the restart, giving Hartigan the chance to stretch the lead again with a successful kick from the tee, NSB were soon back inside the Stowe 22 after strong running by centre Ollie Jones and as the penalty count against the Buckinghamshire school began to mount. With the rolling maul twice taken down and advantage being played, NSB got over the line but were held up, so we came back for the penalty and a warning from the referee. This time the resulting maul proved unstoppable and hooker Daniel Howells claimed the try, Panariello securing the extras.
With the gap down to 10 points and Stowe being shown yellow the game was definitely back on, but it was Stowe who scored next to take the lead back to 15 points at halftime. After they had resisted strong NSB pressure and cleared upfield winning a penalty on the left, their own driving maul proved effective, with Dare again forcing his way over in the corner after good work by full-back Callum McIntosh on the right.
It was NSB who scored early in the second half. Once again it was a penalty kicked to the corner that gave the platform and No 8 Will Higgins claimed the try from the line-out, Panariello converting to reduce the deficit to 8 points. Despite the narrowing gap on the scoreboard, the Stowe try-scoring machine was still operating efficiently. When NSB were penalised, with another 10 metres added by the referee, the ball was kicked to the left corner and the maul followed by good handling took play to the line on the right but was held up. However, the goal line drop-out was superbly run back by Catley who sliced through the defence to score on the left, Hartigan converting (score NSB 19-34 Stowe).
A handling error from a grubber kick-through by Panariello gave NSB an attacking scrum on the right. With possession won, the ball was moved through the hands to midfield where Ollie Jones found an excellent line and linked with Shields who offloaded to replacement Ben Chown who crashed over in the corner. Two penalties conceded by Stowe following the restart gave NSB yet another driving maul opportunity and it was again Howells who crashed over in the corner, the try awarded after consultation with the assistant referee, Panariello crucially producing a wonderful touchline conversion that just cleared the bar to bring NSB within three points.
The pressure on Stowe increased further when they were penalised at the restart and were shown yellow for the second time, with 8 minutes left on the clock. NSB had a momentary setback when they were penalised with an extra 10 metres added by the referee, but they soon regained field position, winning a line-out on the right and retaining possession through several phases until the defence was forced to concede a penalty. Once again the maul was established in the right corner and it was Howells who claimed his third try. Although the touchline conversion was unsuccessful NSB now led by two points, something that had seemed unimaginable earlier.
Although there was just time for the restart and Stowe were able to force a turnover close to the NSB 22 a handling error gave NSB the put-in at the scrum and they duly secured possession and, after a couple of resets and a lengthy injury stoppage, with the clock in the red, kicked the ball dead to end the game: one of the most extraordinary comebacks that one will witness.
Teams:
Northampton School for Boys Zane Cory-Kitson, Daniel Howells, Noah James, Harry White, William Civil, Mylo Isaac, Oliver Wood (Vice Capt), William Higgins, Massimo Rapps, Giovanni Panariello, Alexander Collins, Ben Jones, Malachy Renihan (Capt), Shay Lineham, Finlay Shields
Replacements: Izak Shiminar, William Cardow, Benjamin Chown
Stowe School: George Wildblood, Ejiro Atori, Tom Eady, Charlie McLure, Benji Pegg, Will Evans, Seb Dare (Capt), Charlie King, Finn Cloete, Eddie Hartigan, Benjamin Shortridge, Ollie Jones, Will Catley, Josh Williams, Callum Mcintosh
Replacements: Daniel Calland, Jaques Fraser-Allen, Luca Grimble
U15 Vase – Semi-Final 1
After the drama of the first game, it seemed unlikely that the level of tension would be matched let alone exceeded. How wrong we were! With no common opponents, it was hard to pick a likely winner between Beechen Cliff and St Albans. St Albans kicked off and although they were able to regain possession the ball went loose in midfield and was collected by Beechen Cliff centre Jago Baker who raced clear to score under the posts, full back Alfie Walker converting. The pattern of scoring that was to come was immediately established when another interception was collected by St Albans right-wing Ollie Rumian who ran in unopposed to score under the posts, fly half Lochy Bracken adding the extras.
The Hertfordshire school came close to taking the lead with pressure on the Beechen Cliff line after a maul had been set up in the left corner but good defence led by No 8 Henry Sui enabled the Bath school to clear after a period of sustained pressure. Both sides struggled to put together multiple phases of possession, both Beechen Cliff wings, William Hughes and Hector Dalby-Welsh, showed good pace to make ground and play was taken deep into the St Albans 22 where Sui forced his way close to the line. Although St Albans were able to secure possession at a defensive scrum the clearance kick was collected by Walker who stepped his way through and offloaded to flanker Caspar Dalby-Welsh who scored by the posts. The conversion was missed.
After an exchange of kicks, Sui carried strongly and offloaded to Hughes. Play was taken close to the St Albans line again but the defence was able to recover possession and a long (though apparently slightly misdirected) clearance kick was collected by Rumian on halfway. He ran to the 22, where he was pulled down but the referee awarded a penalty for the high tackle and showed yellow to Beechen Cliff. With the ball kicked to the right corner, the maul was established and No 8 Ben Zelin forced his way over on the right, Bracken landing the tricky conversion to put his side in the lead.
A high kick from Bracken was well taken by Beechen Cliff, who made light of being a man down, Sui making some hard yards before offloading to Walker on the right. Good retention and excellent offloading took play into the St Albans 22 on the left where the pick-and-go tactic saw the forwards close to the line. Although the defence held firm when teh ball came out it was moved to Hughes who squeezed in at the corner. The touchline conversion was missed by that score was enough to put Beeceh Cliff in the lead at the interval.
St Albans had an early opportunity in the second half to tie the scores but Bracken’s kick from the tee drifted wide. However, they managed to take the lead when Beechen Cliff were penalised and St Albans kicked to the corner. The maul was taken down illegally, giving St Albans another chance from the line-out. Again the ensuing mauk was taken down and this time teh referee ran under the posts to signal a penalty try, putting St Albans back into the lead, as well as showing yellow.
The Hertfordshire school made good use, taking play up to the Beechen Cliff line, but the defence held firm though they were perhaps fortunate to escape when a clearance kick was charged down. When the ball was eventually cleared it was run back by Bracken and possession was retained at the set scrum. The first phase ball was moved through the hands to the right and although lost was recovered by the forwards and the pick-and-go tactic saw prop Sam Penfold crash over. The conversion was missed.
Sui’s physicality enabled Beechen Cliff to gain field position after the restart and after winning a line-out they put together multiple phases but were held by good defence before a beautifully weighted chip over the top by Walker found Hector Dalby-Welsh on the right and he raced in to score under the posts, Walker converting to narrow the gap to two points.
Both sides were penalised several times after the restart, but St Albans had a potential scoring opportunity when, after winning line-out on the left, their driving maul took play deep into the Beechen Cliff 22. There appeared to be an overlap available on the right but the ball was kept in midfield and St Albans were penalised so that the defence was able to clear. Hector Dalby-Welsh again ran strongly and St Albans were penalised on halfway, giving Beechen Cliff an attacking line-out on the right. The resulting maul took play within 5 metres of the line before being taken down, giving Beechen Cliff another penalty right in the corner and hooker Harry Osborne claimed the try on the right. Although the conversion was missed
With only a couple of minutes to go St Albans were penalised for a dangerous tackle following the restart and were shown yellow. Beechen Cliff secured possession from the resulting line-out and ran the clock down at the rolling maul before kicking the ball off the field to end the game. This game had a real ebb and flow of fortunes throughout and in the final analysis, Beechen Cliff did just enough to take victory.
Teams:
Beechen Cliff School: Alexander Thomson, Harry Osborne, Dan Culverhouse, Jacob Sanchez-Fulton, Archie Ball, Theo Lewis-Zdybel (Capt), Caspar Dalby-Welsh, Henry Sui, Charlie Skelsey (Vice Capt), William Hughes, Zac Saunders, Jago Baker, Hector Dalby-Welsh, Alfie Walker
Replacements: Arthur Smith-Hayes, Declan Byrne, Stan Burton, Gus Marshall
St Albans School: Oliver Gascoigne, Nikolaj Moskalenko, Sam Penfold, Michael Keenan (Capt), Henry StapleyJacob Chapman, Beltran Hillcoat, Ben Zelin, Aidan Garcia-Ghuran, Lochy Bracken (Vice Capt), Alex Zelin, Hugh McConnell, Rocco Constantinou, Ollie Rumian, Jake Oliver
Replacements: Hugh Martin, Noann Boussac, Greig Gardner, Thomas Yerbury
U15 Vase – Semi-Final 2
Durham were the only school to have a team in the semi-finals on both days and their U15s were able to enjoy the support of their 1st XV teammates who had stayed on after their very close loss to Felsted the previous day. They faced The Leys whose only defeat this season had been at the hands of Northampton School for Boys, Could this game be as close as teh ones we’d just seen?
Durham kicked off and quickly gained good field position but The Leys were able to clear briefly, inside centre James Ralston Bown running out strongly. With pressure resuming after good offloading, The Leys were penalised close to the line and centre Daniel Cassap took a quick tap, scoring under the posts, fly-half Oliver Jackson converting.
The Leys showed good handling to take play into the Durham half but possession was lost and a clearance by Durham to halfway relieved the pressure briefly but a penalty saw The Leys with a line-out in the left corner. The resulting maul was stopped but a penalty saw The Leys had another opportunity but when the ball was switched to the backs Durham were able to regain possession and find a long clearance. The Leys were soon back with good running and a kick through by Ralston-Bown. The Leys took a tap penalty but were unable to convert and Durham had a defensive 5-metre scrum but were unable to secure possession, With The Leys No 8 Ugo Ibeanusi picked up but he was held up.
The Leys were penalised at the ensuing goal-line drop-out, giving Durham a line-out on halfway. With possession won play was taken up to the 22 where No 8 Joeseph Swann broke through to score under the posts, Jackson converting. Good running by Cassap took play out of the Durham half at the restart but both sides struggled to create a clear opening until an interception saw prop forward David Chukwu show impressive pace in midfield but Durham were able to recover. After Swann had again carried strongly on the right the pressure was relieved by a long clearance by Ralston-Bown and The Leys took play up to the Durham 22,
First-phase ball from a set scrum in midfield saw Ralston-Bown cut through and although he was stopped Durham were penalised and a quick tap saw centre Ben Sawtell score under teh posts, Ralston-Bown adding the conversion as the clock ticked down to halftime.
Having reduced the deficit The Leys began the second half strongly and soon had a chance to reduce the deficit still further but Ralston-Bown’s kick from the tee drifted wide. However the 22 drop-out was well run back by the forwards and full back and captain Dan Russell broke through to score on the left, Ralston-Bown converting, That momentum was maintained with Ibeanusi making some strong carries, but with the scores level, both sides worked hard to find what might be the decisive score and play largely remained in the middle third of the field,
Eventually, the deadlock was broken when Durham made good use of line-out ball on the right, scrum half Spencer Scrimger linking with Cassap, and when The Leys were penalised another penalty on the right gave Cassap the chance to put in an excellent kick to the right corner. When the maul was taken down Durham took a tap and moved the ball through the hands towards the posts where the Leys were again penalised. Another tap was taken and flanker Tobias Huntley forced his way over to score, With a change of kicker the conversion was missed.
Following the restart Durhm were penalised for a high tackle and after The Leys had won the ensuing line-out good hands saw play taken up to the 22 where Ralston-Bown and Sawtell combined on the right before Ralston-Bown regathered to score in the right corner. Ralston-Bown made light of the difficult touchline conversion to add teh two points and bring up yet another change in the lead.
After Ibeanusi had carried strongly again and Durham were penalised yellow was shown to Durham, Ralston-Bown produced a long kick to touch on the left and play was taken on by the forwards with Durham again penalised. The posts were not far away but a tap was taken by Ralston-Bown who broke through and carried close to the line, but he was stopped. and The Leys were penalised. The 22 drop-out was kicked to touch and from the line-out Cassap produced an excellent run along the right touchline to halfway and play was taken on into The Leys half where teh defence was penalised for a high tackle. With two minutes remaining Durham opted to go for the three points and Cassap stepped up to nail the long kick and take his side into a one-point lead with less than a minute remaining. The Leys were penalised at the restart and there was just time for a line-out. The was set up and although it was stopped that brought up the final whistle to end another extraordinarily close game.
Teams:
Durham School: Louie Meek, Tom Basty, Rowan Bainbridge (Capt), Oliver Hirst, Hayden Williams, William Wood, Tobias Huntley, Joeseph Swann, Spencer Scrimger, Oliver Jackson, Declan Buchanan, Daniel Cassap (Vice Capt), Kaidon Peterson, Tom Reay, Lewis Saxton
Replacements: Issac Atkinson, Simon Graham, Thomas Rochester
The Leys School: David Chukwu, Nico Clarke, Robin Ren, Danil Dobbyne, Pax Zhang, Clinton Cheng (Vice Capt), Harry Ashcroft, Ugo Ibeanusi, Nate Davies, Edward Alexander, Wilkie Nickalls, James Ralston Bown, Ben Sawtell, Yazen Alsiwan, Dan Russell (Capt)
Replacements: Noah Wong, Magnus Medcalf, Daniel Hay, Mansur Achimugu
U15 Cup – Semi-Final 2
There was keen anticipation for teh final game of teh day in the evening sunshine. Radley College have an unbeaten record this side with a fixture list that includes Harrowm, Wellington and Tonbridge, so will have been strongly fancied but Millfield are always a special side.
Radley kicked off but quickly found themselves on the back foot, conceding to penalties which gave Millfield a line-out in the left corner. After the defence had done well to stop the maul the ball was moved through the hands to the right and then back to the left where prop forward Magnus Watson crashed over, fly half Piran Maran converting. After an exchange oif kicks good hands by Radley took play into the Millfield half and they won a penalty, kicked to the right corner by full back Manny Lumsden. From the ensuing lineout, the maul was stopped but Millfield were penalised for a high tackle and from a second lineout moved infield towards the line. No 8 Harry Oliver broke away to score on the right, Lumsden converting.
Millfield had a chance to retake the lead when Radley were penalised in midfield but Maran’s kick from the tee drifted wide. More good handling by Radley took them back into the Millfield half with hooker James Coke breaking close to the line. Although he was stopped Millfield were penalised for a high tackle and, although the maul from the ensuing lineout was stopped, Oliver again forced his way over to score his second try, Lumsden adding the extras.
Radley’s chip clearance from the restart was gathered by wing Teddy Woodbridge who stepped his way through the defence close to the line but although possession was retained the ball went forward. Oliver picked up from the base of the resulting scrum and Radley ran out to the 22 where second row Tuliakiono carried but the ball went forward and Millfiled recovered possession. A superb kick to the right was gathered by Woodbridge and although he was stopped Radley were penalised, giving Millfield an attacking lineout in the right corner. With possession secured, excellent handling switched play to the left and space was created for outside centre and captain Aston Barrington-Hibbert who was able to stroll in to score, Maran converting to level the scores.
Although good recycling by Radley, Tuliakiono making some hard yards, took play up to the Millfield 22, the ball was lost forward, An excellent break on the left by full back Louie Lawrence was stopped but Radley were penalised for a high tackle. A quick tap was taken and good hands found second row Joe Reid on the right and although he was stopped Radley were penalised and shown yellow. Another tap was taken and play was taken up to the line but they were held up by excellent defence as the referee blew for halftime.
As the second half began Millfield won a lineout on the left but excellent work at the breakdown by Radley forced a turnover. The Oxfordshire school looked to run back the turnover ball and, although a handling error gave Millfield the out in at the scrum, Radley recovered possession.and good recycling and offloading saw them make progress on the right before switching play to the left on the Millfield 22 with Radley restored to 15 players.
Millfield were forced to concede a penalty which was kicked to the right corner and once again the driving maul proved unstoppable, with a second penalty awarded and the ball coming back to James Coke who claimed the try close to the posts and Lunmden converting.
After Radley had run out the restart both teams worked hard to put together multiple phases but their defence was effective and both sides made handling errors and conceded several penalties as play became more frenetic. However Radley were gradually starting to dominate at the breakdown. Despite having an attacking lineout on the left, Millfield conceded ;possession and Radley broke through in midfield to the Millfield 22. Although they were stopped there, advantage was being played and they came back for a penalty on half way, with Millfield also being shown yellow.
Lunsden put the kick into the left corner, enabling Radley to launch a drive to the Millfield line but the defence was resolute and eventually forced a penalty allowing them to clear to touch on the 22. When Millfield were penalised Radley decided to take the three points which would put them two scores ahead, with not much more than 5 minutes to play and Lunsden’s kick from the tee was on target.
Millfield were unable to create another clear scoring opportunity and it was Radley who finished the stronger, Oliver breaking powerfully on the right and threatening to go all the way but put a foot in touch. At last three successive penalties conceded by Radley and strong carrying by Watson gave Millfield an attacking lineout in the left corner but we were in the final minute and a handling error on the right brought an end to the game.
Teams:
Millfield School: Reuben Baldegger, Fred Hay, Magnus Watson, Joe Reid, Fred Stubbings, Ryan Flamigni (Vice Capt), Hamish Hendry, Caden Hughes, Pat Taylor-Ross, Piran Moran (Vice Capt), Harry Wilson, Joe Barratt, Aston Barrington-Hibbert (Capt), Teddy Woodbridge, Louie Lawrence
Replacements: Danny Billige, Xavier Jones, Alex Major Olszewski, Brychan James, George Copas
Radley College: Massimiliano Carpigo, James Coke, William Jordan-Willis (Vice Capt), Oscar Best, Mosese Tuliakiono, Alessandro Carpigo, Andrew Coke, Harry Oliver, Freddy Hunt, Edward Casey, William McNeil, Hamish Kennedy (Capt), Max Muirie, Rafferty Blacker, Manny Lumsden
Replacements: Wilfred Hall, Montgomery Cooper
Continental Tyres Schools Cup Finals:
U15 Cup: Northampton School for Boys v Radley College
U15 Vase: Beechen Cliff v Durham
By Peter Crawshaw
