Schools Rugby: Gallant John Fisher go down fighting

When the dust had settled on a tough and tight Daily Mail Under 18 Cup quarter-final at Purley, John Fisher had obviously been fated to earn plenty of kudos but no silverware again.

Three seasons ago, the same players contributed to an epic Under 15 final at Twickenham before losing narrowly to Epsom College. Yesterday, they departed from the Under 18 Cup, beaten for the first time in 21 games this season but unbowed after giving favourites Colston's a huge scare.

They were edged out 15-5 with the six-time champions from Bristol unable to scent victory until midway through the second half.

There were only a handful of breaks throughout a gruelling game and the little bit of magic required came at 8-5 from Colston's fly half Shane Geraghty, who cut through from the 10-metre line and unloaded to scorer and scrum half Ricky Jones before the tackle arrived.

Full back Mark Couldridge had won the race to reach Daniel Pratt's kick to lift Fisher after John Edwards' early try, and only a penalty from Colston's skipper Ryan Davis separated the teams at half-time.

Full back Davis, aiming to follow famous old boy Olly Barkley and lift the Cup at Twickenham, admitted: 'We needed a lot of guts and determination. Our forwards were immense and so was our defence. Fisher were definitely our toughest opponents so far.'