Hero Tait faces tough decision

Mathew Tait scored a sublime try at Castlecroft on Saturday to take Barnard Castle to Twickenham - and then turned his attention to the biggest dilemma of his burgeoning rugby career.

The silky centre is double booked for the Daily Mail Under 18 Cup Final on April 3, since he is due to be in Durban playing for England Under 19s in the World Championships.

Tait must now hope it is feasible to fly back mid-tournament to help last year's losing finalists take on six-times champions Colston's.

Tait said: 'I would love to do both. My heart is with Barny because I have been there since I was 11, but I have responsibilities to England.'

His try against Campion in the 17-12 win proved decisive after the Hornchurch side roared back from 17-0. Barnard Castle were defending on their 22 when Tait picked a pass off his toes, stepped round four opponents and ghosted past the full back to score under the posts.

Colston's looked rusty, complacent and off-colour but are still the team to beat. Lancaster RGS ruffled them and had the temerity to take the lead with a well-worked try from skipper Ian Richards. But Colston's pack is a big, mean machine who wore down their opponents until they could see daylight in the scoreline at 24-7.