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2008 REVIEW EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW XXXXX DECO SCHOOLS RUGBY WELLINGTON WONDER Wellington College won the Daily Mail Cup at both age groups during another exciting year of schools rugby around the United Kingdom Agrand day out at Twickenham became exceptional for students of Wellington College when their U-18 and U-15 rugby teams became the only school to have ever won both Daily Mail Cup finals. On the same day, Sussex Downs College outmuscled Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, (QEGS) of Penrith, to win the U-18 Vase for the first time, and an 88th minute penalty buried Calday Grange Grammar School as Langley Park Boys School won the U-15 Vase. Last time an U-15 Wellington College team won the prestigious schools title in 2000, James Haskell played in their back row and Thom Evans was on the wing. Wales U-18 international fly-half, Christian Lewis Pratt, scored the only try of the 2008 U-18 cup final when he pierced the St. Benedicts School (Ealing) defence with a strong break. He converted his own try to score all of Wellington’s seven points as Benedict’s suffered their first defeat of the season. It was testament to the quality of Wellington’s defence that Ealing, who scored 1029 points in their 22 wins last season, registered just three points on the day. Benedict’s fly-half, Stuart Pearham, kicked the solitary penalty after Guy Armitage (the fourth brother of the Armitage rugby playing dynasty) infringed with a late tackle. England U-16 winger Sam Edgerley’s defensive display was outstanding as Wellington survived a late onslaught. With 80 minutes on the clock, the U-15 Cup final was in the balance at 15-15 but Wellington’s blind-side flanker, James Nicholls, powered over the line to leave Millfield School devastated. Fly-half Elliot Markham broke the deadlock on nine minutes before Millfield No. 8 Freddie Clarke crossed after a sustained period of attack. Having been denied by a last ditch tackle moments earlier, winger Madison Hughes made no mistake to regain the lead for Wellington but again they conceded the lead when centre Rhys Griffiths capitalised on loose ball to score. The teams exchanged penalties before Nicholls dramatically capped an outstanding performance with a try. The U-18 Vase final also went to the wire as Sussex Downs College from Lewes became the first southern team to win the title for six years. England Colleges centre Charlie Terry adopted the kicking duties for the first time in the game to nervelessly land a 77th-minute penalty and win the game for his College. Jim Maskell, the Sussex Downs coach, said: “We only have 40 players at the college, four balls, five tackle shields and a handful of cones, but we have still been able to go out and win a Daily Mail final at Twickenham.” � Above Wellington School made history in 2008, becoming the first to win both the Daily Mail U-18 and U-15 trophies in the same season CLASSIC SPORTS SERIES / 81 |