Old Swinford Hospital Storms Through to Final

Published on isbi School News dated Tuesday 20th of March 2012

It was third time lucky for the Old Swinford Hospital U18 team in the semi-finals of the Daily Mail RBS Schools' Rugby Cup with an emphatic 20-3 win against local rivals King's School Worcester, which secured their first ever place in the final of this prestigious competition.

In 2005, they lost to the eventual winners Exeter College and in 2011 to Oakham

Old Swinford Hospital will now face Dulwich College in the final at Twickenham on Wednesday 4 April with kick off at 3.30 pm. Coaches have been booked to transport excited supporters of parents, staff and past and present pupils for what will be an historic day for the Stourbridge School.
The 1st XV team has also just been crowned, 'School Team of the Month' by the world's best selling rugby magazine 'Rugby World'.

The boys were ready for their semi-final match against King's at the Broadstreet RFC, focused and confident. They started the game the stronger of the two sides, but it was in attack that OSH looked the most devastating, creating two early chances. It didn't take long to breach the King's defence and Max Stelling took full advantage, bursting through a gap, opening the scoring 5-0.

King's were not going to allow OSH to run away with the tie and tried to hit back immediately. They looked to play a more expansive game and just as they did, Ese Attah, who was devastating throughout, charged through to intercept and run in under the posts from 60 metres. Max Stelling converted, to make the score 12-0. With converted penalties from both sides, the score was 15-3 at half time.

OSH started the second half the brighter of the two sides and the pack worked tirelessly, not giving an inch in defence and attacking with pace and power. Midway through the second half, the King's backline was split again - Max Stelling charged through to score the final try of the game. Strong defensive performances from Jonny Mockett and Will Harris, along with important lineout defence from Joe Dancer, ensured that Old Swinford Hospital progressed through to the final and at the full time whistle, the players and crowd were ecstatic.

Headmaster Peter Jones said 'It was a magnificent performance matched only by the wonderful support provided by the wider school community. Parents, pupils, staff and Governors past and present attended in their hundreds to cheer the boys on. Each and every one of those, on the field and spectating, were an absolute credit to the school.