Wycombe makes semis without Hammond

Replacement Mark Smith made four try-saving tackles as they overcame John Fisher 23-7 yesterday to reach their fourth Under 18 semi-final. Winning his duel with Fisher's danger man Ryan Tracey, a winger who has scored 30 tries this season, was a major factor in the RGS success, particularly as he had had a shaky time under the high ball in the first half.

The Purley school took an early lead with a converted John Murtagh try butwere disrupted badly just before half time when they had a prop sin-binnedfor persistently killing the ball.

The RGS forwards had begun to take command and as the gaps opened up, thehome side scored two tries through No 8 Andrew Scobie and centre John Raywhile Dan Martin added one conversion to an earlier penalty to make it 15-7at half time.

With the wind at their backs, RGS kicked deep to the corner and from theline-out they quickly extended their lead with a try from flanker AndyDaniels. Fisher, desperately chasing the game, went wide at everyopportunity, but Smith and his fellow defenders produced some heroictackling to deny them a way back.

RGS now face much-fancied Oakham, who won a tactical battle in the wind9-8 against Hymers, but another trip to Castlecroft is beyond coach ColinTattersall's wildest expectations.

'After our great run between 1996 and 98 when we won the Under 15 Cup threetimes in succession this was the year group that lost to Marlow rivals SirWilliam Borlase in the third round,' said Tattersall. 'They got theirrevenge by knocking out Borlase in the third round this season and theyhave improved game by game. They are a very determined lot and what gavethem an extra incentive was watching the reaction of our Under 15s whenthey went out to St Paul's in their recent quarter-final. The 15s were sodisappointed they all slumped to the ground at the final whistle and theIst XV players were determined it would not happen to them.'