Schools Rugby: King Edward's in last eight

King Edward's, Birmingham reached the Daily Mail Under18 Cup quarter-finals for the first time in seven seasons yesterday, coming from behind away from home to nail Mount St Mary's 13-12.

A real mudbath called out for some astute heads and the Edgbaston boys had them in England prospects Charlie Rees, who anchored the lighter of the packs at No 8, and James Metcalfe, son of 1980s England back Ian Metcalfe, who controlled the second half with superb territorial kicking at fly half.

King Edward's had taken an early lead when the ball was hacked on for right
wing Adedayo Titoloye to get the vital touch, but Mount hit back in kind
ten minutes later and then punished the ambitious visitors when they kicked
a spilled pass the length of the field to lead 12-5 at half time.

The second half was mostly spent in the Mount half thanks to the promptings
of Metcalfe, the prodigious work of the visitors' pack, a solid line-out
and some blanket tackling.

Metcalfe reduced the arrears with a far from easy penalty and the winning try was completely out of context with what had become a real dogfight. The visitors produced a crisp move through their talented backs and full back Rob Hill came into the line to finish it off.

It doesn't get any easier for King Edward's. They travel to meet the
winners of next Wednesday's tie between Durham's Barnard Castle, last
season's beaten finalists, and Bradford Grammar and coincidentally, it was
Durham School who ended their hopes the last time they reached this stage.