Winners confirmed in Continental Tyres Schools Cup U18 Finals
Newman College claimed victory in the Plate while Richard Hale School were crowned Bowl champions on day two of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup finals.
Newman College edge low-scoring thriller
Newman College battled past Uppingham School 15-7 in a thrilling Plate final.
Uppingham started brightly but it was Newman that scored with their first attack, as flanker Alex Worn finished off a fine move in the corner. Newman grew into the game and were making their power count but were nearly caught out by a sublime breakaway score.
Harry Gawthorpe came within inches of a sublime try and David Sowumni followed up but the attack was quashed by a sensational Newman scramble defence. Back came the Hove side and they nearly doubled their try tally on the stroke of half time but an excellent intervention from flanker Ned Caton ensured the gap remained just five points.
The second half was just as closely fought but finally a score arrived through Uppingham full-back Ben Bowman. Captain Freddie Lang then nailed the conversion to hand his side the lead for the first time.
Both defences performed admirably, not least Uppingham who held up Newman on four separate occasions on their own line, but the Rutland side were finally breached by a delicious double from Newman full-back and match-winner Will Varley.
Hale emerge in battle of the Richard’s
Richard Hale School powered to a 26-17 victory over Richard Huish College in the Bowl final.
Hale showed their intention early on, forcing Huish back across their own try line before capitalising from the five-metre scrum, with full-back Morgan Jackson touching down.
Huish insisted on running from deep and were rewarded for their bravery with an equalising score courtesy of No.8 Nathan Golding, who touched down from the bottom of a close-range maul the opposition chose not to contest.
The rest of the half was played predominantly in the Huish half and Hale were rewarded for their dominance with a quick-fire double before the break.
Joe Saunders powered over from close range and Peter Holmes then weaved his way to the line for a 19-7 half-time lead.
Hale continued to dominate after the break and crossed for a fourth time as replacement Iwan Lewis broke two tackles to score under the sticks.
Flanker Kieran Hill and prop Jan Davison scored in the closing stages for Richard Huish but it proved in vain as Richard Hale held on.
