Schools Rugby: Barny close on Twickenham

Barnard Castle are just two games away from a return to Twickenham in March but Bradford Grammar must still be wondering why they are not savouring a home quarter-final in the Daily Mail Under 18 Cup.

A talented Bradford side, surprisingly beaten in the semi-finals of the Under 15 competition two seasons ago, must have thought their luck had changed as they came from behind three times to lead unbeaten Barny 17-15 with ten minutes left.

But with the seconds ticking away, the home side escaped from their own half, courtesy of a few lucky breaks, and won a penalty after a Bradford player had entered a maul from the side. England centre Matthew Tait, part of the Barny team which lost by a point to Oakham in last season's final, stepped up to kick the winning points.

'We were a little bit fortunate to say the least,' admitted coach Martin Pepper. 'I keep saying this team is not as good as last year but they keep winning and after looking at the video we did defend very well in the second half when Bradford were on top.'

Barny will now entertain King Edward's, Birmingham but hopes that the Under 15s would be joining them at the quarter-final stage were dashed by St Ambrose at Altrincham. No luck or controversy this time with a powerful and fast Saints team winning 39-0.

But Northampton School for Boys will have both sides in the quarters for the first time. The Ist XV, tackling like demons, toppled a powerful Wyggeston & QE College team 17-14 after a sudden snowstorm made for some interesting conditions at Northampton. 'Wyggeston were a big powerful team and have several players in Leicester's academy,' said NSB coach Mark Lee.

'But we got in their faces and our defence was superb. Not bad for a
two-bit comp!'

The drive for excellence throughout the age groups at NSB was underlined yesterday when the Under 15s won 20-5 at RGS Worcester and if Lee was to put his mortgage on one of his teams to reach Twickenham it would be the younger boys who have score 200 points in five ties. But they now face a huge test at QEGS Wakefield to secure a semi-final place on March 13 at Castlecroft.