Exeter make their mark

Exeter College have been knocking on the door for national recognition in the past few seasons and finally made it through this week by defeating St Peter's, Gloucester15-10 to reach the last 16 of the Under18 Cup.

To be fair, everyone knows their calibre in the south west and they have been champions among the sixth form colleges for the past two years but beating one of the Cup heavyweights lays down a marker for the rest of the country.

'It also shows how much we have progressed,' said coach Jon Hill. 'A couple of seasons ago we met St Peter's and they gave us a rugby lesson. Last season, we thought we had it taped but lost to Reading in the sixth round. That still haunts us and the lads are determined to fulfil their potential this time. Our aim has always been to compete with the Colston's of this world.'

In terms of possession and territory, the scoreline failed to tell the story. Driven on by prop Shane Kingsland and captain and No 8 Ross Morshead, Exeter dominated up front and their other South West player, Graham Channing, pulled the strings at fly half. 'We produced 80 minutes of quality rugby but St Peter's defended magnificently,' said Hill.

Will the Gloucester school ever make it to Twickenham? So many good sides, so many near misses. Veteran coach Dave Pointon will now concentrate on the Under 15 Cup where his boys demolished old rivals Colston's 32-12 and set up a mouthwatering clash in the last 16 with RGS High Wycombe who, for their part, crushed last season's finalists Sherborne 43-5.

Exeter's opponents in their sixth round match will be Aylesbury Grammar School who won a tight game with Bishop Wordsworth 18-8. They will know all about fly half Giles Pryor, another South West player, who scored an early solo try and added a penalty before the Salisbury team pulled it back to 10-8. Aylesbury's pack won it for them in the second half with No 8 Martin Wilkins getting the only try. Pryor had the last word with a penalty.

'We probably had more talented individuals last season but their attitude stank,' said coach Paul Dean. 'This time they are real team with great stickabilty.'

DAILY MAIL U18 CUP - 5th rnd: Adams GS 24 Welbeck College 3; Tiffin 7 John Fisher 11; Exeter College 15 St Peter's, Gloucester 10; Aylesbury GS 18 Bishop Wordsworth 8.

DAILY MAIL UNDER 15 CUP - 4th rnd: St Ambrose 29 Wirral GS 0. 5th rnd: KCS Wimbledon 3 St Benedict's, Ealing 19; Dartford GS 6 Hurstierpoint 42 (St Benedict's home to Hurstierpoint); Wellington 10 Millfield 24; Chosen Hill 17 King's Grantham 12; Bedford 0 Old Swinford 14 (Chosen Hill home to Old Swinford); St Peter's, York 30 Keswick 3 (St Peter's away to St Ambrose or RGS Lancaster); Durham 0 Bradford GS 36; Linton Village College 0 Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat 10; Loughborough GS 10 Wellingborugh 26 (Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat home to Wellingborough); St Peter's, Gloucester 32 Colston's 12; RGS High Wycombe 43 Sherborne 5 (St Peter's home to RGS High Wycombe); Judd 10 City of London Freemans 0; St Paul's Barnes 20 Whitgift 16 (Judd home to St Paul's).