Whitehead leads the Campion comeback

No question who the comeback kings are in this season's Daily MailUnder 18 Cup after Campion snatched a 23-22 quarter-final victory fromunder the noses of a stunned St Peter's, Gloucester before their raucoussupporters at Thurrock RFC yesterday.

The hero for the Hornchurch school, as so often in their unbeaten season,was their influential fly half Michael Whitehead, who kept his cool whileall around were losing their's, and slotted over the winning penalty withfive minutes left.

But this astounding win was not so much about one player but a team who dugdeep for effort and inspiration after being 19-8 down at half time, duemainly to the pace and elusive running of Marcel Garvey. The wingercelebrated this week's England 18 Group call-up with two tries whichsandwiched another from Joe Pointon, who also exposed a spell of softmidfield defence from Campion. Whitehead had scuttled through to equaliseGarvey's first try, hit a post with one penalty then put one through theposts but Campion did not look capable of climbing their mountain at theinterval.

When Peter Glynn extended St Peter's lead with a penalty for a high tackleon Garvey, the Gloucester side relaxed and it proved fatal. Campion, neverbehind in any game this season, took the initiative and were visibly liftedby lock Barry Fitzgerald bursting out of a ruck to score under the posts, atry converted by Whitehead.

Then, at 22-15, Campion, against perceived wisdom, went for broke byrunning and not kicking a penalty under St Peter's posts. But the quickdecision caught St Peter's cold and Campion swung it wide, winger DavidHiles squeezing over in the corner.

Referee Rowen Kitt, who had takencentre stage more often than he might have done with some debatabledecisons, rattled St Peter's even more by deciding Hiles hadn't put a footin touch. No video ref available, unfortunately.