Fisher angling for a semi spot

John Fisher's First XV finally dipped their toes into Daily Mail Cup action this season and gave themselves a target of the quarter-finals.

Coach MikeDavies believed a Twickenham appearance was perhaps too much to hope for since they they did not have a champion pack to match their champagne backs. But they've achieved their target after winning another close tie away from home - 22-19 against a very useful Brighton College team.

'As ever,' said Davies, ' it was a competition between our superior backs and their superior forwards. It made for a very well contested game.'

Brighton dominated the first half with Giles Stubbs kicking three penalties. But Fisher managed to get wing Ryan Tracey away for two tries with Simon Love converting one and kicking a penalty although Brighton managed to reduce the deficit to 15-14 just before half time with an excellent try by Matt Evans. Soon after the restart, a break by RuariCampbell-Carson, grandson of Irish comedian Frank Carson, led to a try for Love which he converted.

Brighton pressed hard in the last quarter but anoutstanding try their left wing Adam Phillips came too late to save thegame.

Fisher must travel again in the quarter-finals to face Cup specialists andold rivals RGS High Wycombe on February 6 and it should be a cracker withRGS having won the regular fixture 29-25 at Purley back in September.