Rudgley clinches classic for Campion

Campion snatched a gripping Daily Mail Under 18 Cup semi-final 20-19 with a last-minute try against Manchester Grammar School at Castlecroft Stadium, Wolverhampton on Saturday.

The holders headed back to Essex with another Twickenham appearance booked for March 24, their nerveless team having passed a major test of character. Manchester were distraught at the final whistle but for them it was a case of what might have been. Led by combative Vican During, their pack put Campion out of their stride for long stretches but failed to capitalise with points.

They knocked on going over the line and, leading 16-15 into the last 10 minutes, ran the ball from under their posts and touched down under Campion's through Tom Williams only to discover the winger had strayed into touch on halfway.

Even though Alistair Buchan's third penalty was to put Manchester 19-15 up, Campion refused to panic. Winger Tim Dowling, who outstripped two Manchester defenders to touch down just after half-time, was stopped short but Campion patiently created an overlap and put full back Andrew Rudgley over in the corner.

It had taken something special to outdo the first semi-final for excitement in which Oakham held off RGS High Wycombe 27-23. Oakham's hard-driving forwards controlled the first half to establish a 21-8 lead. But when Oakham's intensity dropped it suddenly became a contest, thanks to centre John Ray's scything run through midfield to score and Idrusu Labri's destructive pace, which enabled him to win the race for a clever kick through.

After such a demanding first half, Oakham had to rely on opportunism by full back Matthew Cornwell, who put over a low-flying drop kick from 40 metres and Tom Gregory's third penalty to keep RGS at bay.