NatWest Rugby Round Up

Published by Warwick School on Tuesday 13th of December 2016

U15A v Denstone Warwick School U15’s progressed to the last 16 round of the Natwest Cup by defeating Denstone 46-7. Warwick scored points in the first half to move 21-7 up at half-time with tries from Tom Patrick (wing), Harry Spencer and Tom Boorman (centres). In the second half Warwick improved their team attack and defence to put the game out of sight. Warwick U15s now move through to play Cheltenham College in the last 16 on Tuesday 17 January, 2017. 1stXV v QEGS Wakefield Warwick School 1stXV navigated its way through a tough national quarter-final against QEGS Wakefield. The last two meetings in the National Cup in recent seasons have narrowly gone to QEGS so the ‘blue & white’ Warwick team were very keen for a strong performance in front of their vociferous home crowd. Some early mistakes by the home team provided a penalty opportunity to the visitors taking the lead. As the half progressed Warwick started to dominate most facets of the game with a powerful scrum, almost perfect lineout display and some very dangerous counter attacking. However a lack of composure close to the opponent’s line resulted in a handful of errors releasing the pressure. Five minutes before half-time and on the back of another extended period of dominance, second row Will Fawcett broke from the back of a driving maul to score wide out. This was duly converted by fly-half Will Tanner who also added another penalty to take Warwick into a 10-3 lead at the break. Aside from a run of penalties and the handling errors Warwick appeared to have the game under control. The team started the second half positively but again found themselves on the wrong side of the referee and those simple errors crept back into the game. QEGS were dogged and eventually rewarded with a penalty to bring the score-line within touching distance for them (if scores were drawn they would progress to the semi-final as the AWAY team). The game became a bit of a ‘cat & mouse’ affair until Warwick attacked powerfully again to once again be denied close to QEGS line for a knock-on. At the ensuing scrum Warwick were penalised for their dominance allowing the QEGS scrum-half to go quickly. The opposition flooded through smelling an opportunity and after an extended period of time were rewarded with a try out wide. Everyone on both teams had their hearts in their mouths…but the conversion fell short…eventually Warwick were able to hold onto the ball until time was up and kicked the ball dead. A mightily tense game that will leave QEGS thinking ‘what if’ & Warwick overjoyed at progressing but disappointed in a ‘poor conversion rate’. Final score Warwick 13 – 11 QEGS Warwick will now play Felsted in the National Semi-Final at Allianz Park in London on Saturday 4 March, 2017.