Collegiate U14s rugby side has created its own piece of history by reaching the final of the prestigious School Sport Magazine National Rugby Cup.
In wet weather, Collegiate overcame a talented Trinity School, Croydon, outfit in the semi-final at the Dings Crusaders ground by 12 points to 7 and, in doing so, have gone one step further than the U13 side of 2017.
The contest could not have been closer, with neither side being able to put a single point on the board during the first-half.
Trinity struck the opening blow in the first minute of the second-half, thanks to some individual wing trickery – the first time this season that the Collegiate boys had fallen behind.
It didn’t take long for Collegiate to respond, as a crossfield kick from Rohan F found Remy R, who managed to touch down near enough to the posts for Rohan to convert and level the scores.
The game’s remarkable high intensity continued, with both sides impressing with their tackling, in front of a stadium full of home support.
Collegiate managed to put some pressure on Trinity’s line in the closing stages of the match; Remy fielded a clearance kick and had the whereabouts to draw in the Trinity defence and put in Harvey G for the winning try.
The boys now progress to the final, to be held at Rugby School in two weeks’ time, against either King’s Macclesfield or Northampton School for Boys.
Collegiate Head Jeremy McCullough, said, “We are absolutely delighted that our boys managed to edge out a very talented and determined Trinity side. The playing conditions were not ideal but both teams worked tirelessly to play entertaining running rugby. The Under 14s have enjoyed an incredible season and we are all looking forward to the final in two weeks’ time.”
The Path to the Final:
Second Round Cathedral School Cardiff 10 Collegiate 50
Third Round Collegiate 28 Bromsgrove 10
Fourth Round Collegiate 36 Ysgol Dyffryn Aman 24
Fifth Round Collegiate 51 St Edward’s Oxford 7
Quarter-Final Canford 21 Collegiate 40
Semi-Final Collegiate 12 Trinity School, Croydon 7