Epsom College produced a powerful second-half performance in their local Derby against St John’s School Leatherhead to progress to the second round of the U18 Continental Tyres Schools Cup by a score of 53-12
The block fixture between these two schools, only 5 miles apart, has been one of the most keenly contested local Derbies in the South-East for many years. Both have had some success in the RFU Champions Trophy, Epsom being runners-up to Bedford, but since entering the U18 Cup / Vase competitions they have yet to reach the final stages, no disgrace when regularly drawn in a group that includes the likes of Trinity and Whitgift. Things don’t get any easier this year with Cup holders Harrow lurking at the bottom of the draw in London & South-East A. Epsom have made a strong start to the season with a high-scoring win over St Paul’s and looked to be favourites for this game.
The home side have some good athletes among their backs and were quick to get on the scoreboard. Outside centre Luc Springate put wing Ben Temperley into space on the right, and he made ground into the 22 before offloading to scrum-half Arthur Garfield who scored on the right, fly-half and captain Oliver Waugh converting. St John’s were quick to respond, wing Tom Incledon showing good pace to be first to a well-weighted cross kick and although he was unable to hold on, St Jon’s were able to maintain good field position and forced a penalty. That was kicked to the corner and from the ensuing lineout a maul was set up and flanker Rafe Cook forced his way over to score, fly-half Theo Kemp adding the extras.
It was the visitors who created the next scoring opportunity. A break by hooker Tommy McNamara took play into the Epsom half and an offload kept the momentum going into the 22 but a penalty was conceded and Epsom were able to clear. Another penalty then gave Epsom an attacking lineout on the right, won by No 8 Stuart Coleman. The ball was moved through the hands to the left, then back into midfield where Springate offloaded to second-row Francis Bowe who scored on the right, Waugh converting. This score saw the beginning of a momentum shift towards the home side and a well-directed grubber kick by Garfield left the defence with no option but to take the ball into touch. With possession secured from the line-out and Coleman carrying at the tail, a maul, took play up to the line and prop Bryce Whitley claimed the try. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful.
Half-time: Epsom College 19-7 St John’s School Leatherhead
The visitors needed to score next to stay in the game, but Epsom’s offloading game saw them gain territorial advantage and good handling put replacement wing Juan De Alzaga into space on the left and he rounded the defence before touching down on the left. The conversion was a difficult one, from wide out and into a stiff breeze, and drifted wide. St John’s had an opportunity to get back to within two scores when Epsom were penalised for a high tackle but Kemp’s kick from the tee went wide.
The game continued to open up and Epsom’s runners found space. From a scrum on halfway Coleman showed his power and pace, breaking to the 22. Although he stumbled, possession was retained, and full-back Flynn Roberts crashed over in the corner. Waugh’s touchline conversion attempt was well-struck but fell just short. St John’s continued to battle, forcing a penalty which was kicked to the left corner where they won successive lineouts, but the ensuing maul was stopped and Epsom were able to regain possession at the scrum and clear. The next score came from a solo effort by Springate, who broke through inside the Epsom half and outpaced the would-be cover tacklers to score in the left corner.
With less than 15 minutes left, the game was clearly decided but there was still time for more scores. First, Coleman broke from a scrum before offloading to Roberts: although he was stopped, the possession was retained and the forward pack took play up to the line, prop Rory Mathers forcing his way over in the right corner. Waugh was getting plenty of practice at touchline conversions into a strong wind and this was an excellent effort, hitting the bar, but was again unsuccessful. The restart was caught and emphatically run out by Coleman and a grubber kick to the St John’s 22 was recovered by Temperley who scored in the corner. This time Waugh’s touchline conversion attempt was perfect. Again, the restart gave an immediate scoring opportunity for the home side when the high clearance kick into the wind was regathered by Temperley who offloaded to Springate who cruised in for his second try under the posts, Waugh converting.
To their credit, St John’s kept their heads up and secured a consolation try. Following a scrum on halfway and a kick to the Epsom 22, the ball went loose and was regathered by scrum-half Charlie Babb who scored on the right.
Epsom now face Caterham, winners against Reeds, at home in the Second Round. Their squad has a good balance between upper and lower VIth year groups, the latter including the core of the strong U15 Cup side from two years ago, which had been National U14 Champions the previous year. St John’s now enter the Plate and will hope to repeat their Vase success last season, when they reached the 5th round. Before that, though, the two schools will have their block fixture later this month.
Full-time: Epsom College 53-12 St John’s School Leatherhead
By Peter Crawshaw
Images by Glen Waugh
Teams:
Epsom College: Bryce Whitley, Luke Lawson-Smith, Rory Mathers. Luca Baker, Francis Bowe, Jack Beswick, Ben Quinton, Stuart Coleman. Arthur Garfield, Oliver Waugh (Capt), William Speight, Ben Berry, Luc Springate, Ben Temperley, Flynn Roberts
Replacements: Sanad Al Sa’di, Alex Frewer, Juan De Alzaga
St John’s School, Leatherhead: Samuel Cockett, Tommy McNamara, Sam Armitage, George Teasdale, Alexander Timpson, Jack Corbett (Capt), Rafe Cook, Seb Game, Charlie Babb, Theo Kemp, Tom Incledon, Ben Cotton, Joe Sayers, Dhillon Nash, Charlie Allen
Replacements: Alexander Harding, Cameron McLean, Jacob Hughes, Finn Galbraith, William Morris