RUGBY UNION: WARWICK School will make history next week when two of its teams appear in national finals at the home of English rugby.
The Under-18s qualified for the NatWest Schools Cup Final earlier this month, and they will also be joined by the schools’ Under-15s at Twickenham on March 29.
It makes Warwick one of only three schools in the country to have two teams from different age categories appear in the national finals, along with High Wycombe (1998) and Wellington (2008).
With the Under-18s already through, the Under-15s were looking to match that feat when they took on Ivybridge College in a hard-fought semi-final clash last Saturday.
Warwick had already beaten Bloxham, Solihull, Northampton School for Boys, Denstone College, Cheltenham and Langley School on their way to the final four and they were in for another difficult task against Ivybridge College.
The match started with ferocious intensity and a crucial turnover under Warwick’s posts by a great double tackle from Tom Boorman and Harry Spencer got Warwick into their stride.
Warwick scored the first try of the match after an excellent build up from Fin Smith and Jack Forsythe allowed Harry Spencer to release prop Matt Rigby to power over from 15metres out.
They continued to assert their dominance in attack but only held a narrow 5-0 lead at half-time.
After the break Warwick scored the crucial first try by a fantastic individual effort from the outstanding fly half Fin Smith.
Ivybridge hit back with a try, but Warwick then moved into fifth gear with a well worked backs move resulting in Harry Spencer running under the posts, and Jack Forsythe scored two brilliant individual tries to put Warwick out of reach at 33-12.
Ivybridge fought back to 33-22 following some poor defence from Warwick but they were able to hold out for an outstanding win.
The Under-15s will face Wellington College while the Under-18s take on Bishop Wordsworth’s Grammar School at Twickenham next Wednesday.
