Whitgift School U15s joined their U18 side in the final stages of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup competitions with 15-5 victory over Seaford College U15s in a close game where the outcome was in doubt until the final play
Seaford College had reached this stage, the final of the London & South-East Group B, with a thrilling Sussex Derby win over Brighton College. They had led early on in that game with a try by wing Mikey L, impressively converted from the touchline by fly-half Johnny C, and then resisted some fine attacking play by Brighton before, in the final minute of play, Brighton were awarded a penalty try. That would have seen Brighton through as the away side, but there was just time for a restart, and Seaford won a penalty on the Brighton 22, calmly converted by Johnny C.
Whitgift had at one stage looked to be heading out of the competition in the second round, but progressed to a third-round clash with perennial rivals Trinity School in which they emerged as winners. Both sides had performed well at the big U15 festival competitions held over the half-term period, Seaford being runners-up to Trinity in the Plate competition at St Joseph’s, after surviving a penalty shoot-out against Clifton. Whitgift had been in something of a Group of Death at the Langley Festival but still managed a win over the ultimate tournament winners, Bedford. With Seaford having won the earlier block fixture by a narrow margin, this looked too close to call.
Thanks to the excellent floodlights on the Bigside pitch, this game could be played after lessons were over, with a 5.00 pm kick-off. With play initially confined to the middle third of the pitch, it took a good 15 minutes before the first scoring opportunity was created, a box kick by Whitgift into the Seaford 22 being effectively chased, but the Sussex side was able to recover possession and clear. Whitgift were soon back on the attack but conceded a penalty.
With play back in midfield, Seaford moved the ball smoothly through the hands, first on the left then to the right, but a handling error allowed Whitgift to recover possession and take play up field through their forward pack. However, Seaford regained possession at a set scrum and an excellent clearance kick was made: the kicking from hand by the Sussex school was of a high standard throughout, with good distance consistently being found. Whitgift looked to make ground from a driving maul at a line-out but were frustrated by the well-timed execution of the disengage tactic, and the interval was reached without any scores.
Half-time Whitgift School 0-0 Seaford College
The second half began with a period of pressure by Seaford, who gained field position with good handling on the right, and their forwards used the pick-and-go tactic to progress close to the line, but they were thwarted and had to settle for a 5-metre scrum, and a score still seemed likely. Whitgift were then awarded a scrum but were unable to secure possession, and Seaford had the put-in at another scrum. Having won possession and switched play close to the posts, they were penalised, and Whitgift were successful with the long clearance kick to touch on the right.
On this occasion, the driving maul tactic was successful, and a good ten metres progress was made, Seaford being forced to concede another penalty. Again, the line-out was followed by a maul, but that was well defended, and Seaford recovered possession at a scrum and put in another excellent clearance kick, finding touch on the right. Whitgift then produced an impressive surge on the right with their forwards carrying strongly to the 22: although they were stopped, a grubber kick to the line almost delivered a score, in the corner, but Seaford were awarded a scrum.
Seaford No 8 Conrad C-H picked up from the base and carried powerfully up to the 22, before the ball was moved through the hands. However, turnover ball gave Whitgift an opportunity on the left and after pressure by the forward pack, second row Nikolai K crashed over to score in the corner. The conversion attempt from wide out just fell short.
Securing possession at the restart is vital at all levels of Rugby, and the Seaford kick was effectively chased, enabling their forwards to take play into the right corner where scrum half Henry McC dived over. Although the touchline conversion attempt by Mikey L was unsuccessful, with the scores even, Seaford would progress as the away side, absent any further scoring.
After Seaford were penalised following the restart, slick handling by Whitgift gave them good field position, and when an attempted clearance kick was charged down, the Whitgift forwards recovered possession and drove up to the line, but the Referee ruled that the ball had reached the line and been held up there. However, when Whitgift ran back the resulting goal line drop-out, Seaford were penalised and fly half Josh V stepped up and showed great composure to take the three points from the tee.
This time, the restart was secured, and after an exchange of kicks, the Whitgift forwards used the pic-and-go tactic to take play to the Seaford 22, and a further surge took them up to the line, but again, staunch defence saw the ball held up over the line. The goal-line drop-out was run back, and the process was repeated: ball held up and another drop-out. There was a glimmer of hope for the visitors when, with time running out, the next drop-out was knocked on by Whitgift, and Seaford recovered possession at the scrum on the 22. However, when the ball was moved through the hands, it was intercepted by Josh V, who sprinted in under the posts. He made full use of the shot clock prior to landing the conversion as time expired, ensuring that there would be no restart.
This was a close game and a good advertisement for U15 Rugby, with both schools showing high levels of skill. Seaford’s handling and kicking games were impressive, but Whitgift had a bit too much power up front and deserved the win, though the result could have been different if Seaford had been able to turn their pressure early in the second half into points. With news coming through of the U18s win in Gloucester, this was a happy day for the Croydon-based school. Whitgift will await their opponents in the quarter-finals, which will be played in early February. In the meantime, they will complete their December season with a tough fixture against Ipswich, before continuing their 15-a-side programme in the New Year against some strong sides , including Northampton School for Boys.
Full-time: Whitgift School 15-5 Seaford College
By Peter Crawshaw
Teams:
Whitgift School: Lemuel A-P, Matt R, Maxwell N, Flynn R, Nikolay K, Oscar, Seb E, Josh H, Tyler GK, Josh V, William W, George S (Capt), Antoine T, Eder Z-O, Alfred M
Replacements: Jake W, George L, James H, Thomas W
Seaford College: Freddie P, Fynn C, Henry F, Rory G, Harry P, Ted R-H, Leo T, Conrad C-H, Henry McC,
Johnny C, Humph M, Oliver F, Mikey L, Evan T, Leo H
Replacements: Hugo M, Oscar B, Sam B
