Wilmslow High School’s rugby stars have reached the final of the Daily Mail Under-15 national competition, following a nail-biting win over Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield.
Wilmslow will face Wellington College at Twickenham on March 31 in what is sure to be a keenly contested game between two teams who look to play a dynamic running style of rugby.
The semi-final – played at the neutral Broadstreet RUFC venue in Coventry – was scoreless at half-time. Wilmslow had shaded the half in terms of territory and possession but were unable to get over the whitewash. A neat half-break from Callum Westaway put Sam Broster into space but a last-gasp tackle from a QEGS defender prevented a certain try.
Lewis Bundy-Davies was tackled just short when a try looked a certain result of some swift backline handing in the Wakefield 22.
Improved forward play in the second half saw Wilmslow get their phase play game going and again dominated territorially.
The increasing pressure on the Wakefield defence finally told as some concerted forward drives saw number 8 Oskar Hirsky-Douglas go over for the first try. A second Wilmslow try followed shortly after as right winger Nathan Budd charged down a kick, gathered the ball and scampered underneath the posts for a try, converted by scrum-half Will Batterbury.
At 12-0 down QEGS tried to get more width in their game but the Wilmslow defence was againoutstanding in its organisation and commitment.
A third Wilmslow try followed with Hirsky-Douglas grabbing his second of the game.
With time ticking down and a win virtually assured, all seven of the Wilmslow substitutes were introduced, eager to stake their claims for a place in the showpiece final at Twickenham.
Some sustained pressure late in the game saw Wakefield’s James Fox score a converted try, but it proved too little as the kick signalled full time and an historic victory for Wilmslow High School.
