Benedict's Dream Still Alive - Just

School First XV scrape into semis of national rugby competition

St. Benedict's School have reached the semi-final of the Daily Mail Cup after a tense encounter with at Perivale in which, even after the final whistle, the result wasn't clear. The victory puts them just two matches away from being able to claim they are the top rugby school in the country.

A late try from northern visitors St. Ambrose had levelled the scores at 15 a piece. Cheers from the home supporters only started up when it was clarified that St. Benedict's had won by virtue of scoring more tries. Had the St. Ambrose fly-half scored with a late conversion it would have been all over for St. Benedict's.

The first half saw the Ealing boys under a fair bit of pressure and only their excellent tackling held back their opponents and kept them down to a single score from a penalty. On a rare foray into their opponent's half Charlie Allum crossed the line in the corner for an unconverted try for the home team. This galvanised Benedict's and their captain, John Bordiss, made a break and off-loaded to Lewis David who scored out wide. Once again the conversion was missed and just before the break Benedict's crossed the line again only to see the ref's arm raised for a scrum to the opposition as a result of a knock on.

St. Ambrose came out strongly in the second half and it took only a few minutes for them to break through for a converted try. Both teams were now scrapping hard but neither could take control of the game. Moving into the final quarter, Benedict's secured good ball from a line-out and Lewis David again broke through to bring the score to 15-10. This brought on a major fight back from the visitors who at times were laying seige to their opponent's try-line. With the crowd pointing at their watches and reminding the referee about his whistle, St. Ambrose finally got their try but there were cheers of relief when their kicker didn't claim the extra two points. Initially confusion greeted the final whistle but then celebrations began when the referee confirmed that St. Benedict's had won.

The core of the present team is made up of players who won the U-15 version of the Daily Mail Cup at Twickenham two years ago. Many of the players have played together at the school since they were eight and, with much of the team in the lower sixth, it is felt that there maybe another chance next year if they fail to make it this year. The side was without one of their top players, Rowan Halsall, who badly injured a knee before the game and will miss the rest of the season.

The team must travel up to Wolverhampton on the 3rd March to play Warwick School in the semis and, if they win that game, then Twickenham will hold the final on 28th March.

February 22, 2007