Campion edge past Whitgift

Campion survived a late scare but thoroughly deserved to move closer to another Twickenham appearance when they drew 18-18 with Whitgift under the lights at Southend Rugby Club but claimed a Daily Mail Under 18 Cup quarter-final place by outscoring the fancied Croydon team by three triesto two.

This long-awaited clash had moved to Southend as Campion's school pitches were waterlogged. The club pitch was in remarkably good condition but an unpredictable gusty wind gave Whitgift the advantage in the first half and the pressure was on the cup holders in the first quarter. But Campion could tackle for a living and Whitgift's only reward was a try from Louis Brown when they finally created an overlap from a series of penalties close tothe line.

Whitgift are a forward- orientated side despite the presence of England flyhalf Ross Broadfoot and centre Mark Foster but while Campion's competitiveyoung pack do not have the penetrative ball carriers of last year, theydefinitely have more gas in the three-quarters and the game turned in thespace of five minutes midway through the half when Whitgift were done forpace twice.

A powerful break by Campion centre David Hiles took play intothe Whitgift 22 for the first time and when the ball was recycled full backAndrew Rudgley came into the line and a jinking run too him over to levelthe scores. That was pretty impressive but then quick hands by Campion justinside the Whitgift half put top scorer Tim Dowling away near the touchlineand the winger burned through a startled Whitgift defence.

Broadfoot pegged it back to 10 -8 with a straightforward penalty but fivemutes from half time the Campion forwards produced a perfect catch anddrive from a line-out and lock Stephen Canny peeled off on the blindside toscore from 10m out.

Paul Roberts was robbed by the wind again when he tookhis third conversion attempt and another penalty allowed Broadfoot to makethe score 15-11, which flattered the visitors.