Oakham squeeze through to quarters

Oakham squeezed through to the Daily Mail Under 18 quarter-finals yesterday after holding off King's Worcester 17-15. Ross Laidlaw, one of six England trialists playing for these two unbeaten teams, inspired a second-half King's comeback which fell short when his last-minute drop-kick drifted wide of the posts.

'It was just not to be,' said the fly half who hopes to make the England Schools team to play New Zealand at Twickenham on January 30.

Oakham's dominant pack helped build a first-half lead but King's cut the advantage to two points in a seven-minute spell after half-time.