Clean sweep for Wellington at Daily Mail Finals
Wellington U18 and U15 teams both win their Daily Mail finals
Our rugby players and coaches did exceptionally well to get to the U15 and U18 Daily Mail finals at Twickenham on April 2nd, only the second school in the country to achieve that distinction.
Many congratulations to both teams in winning their matches. Not only have all the players done superbly well in doing so, they have done something no other school has achieved. The aspect that pleased the Master the most was the dignified behaviour of our players during and after the match, and the good humour, self-control and sportsmanship shown by all our many spectators. There were an estimated 3,000 pupils, parents and OWs.
Wellington has held its head high in the Daily Mail Cup, sharing the U15 tropy in 1994 with Bedford School, and winning it in 2000 with a strong side which included England International James Haskell. Can we expect members of the current teams to aspire to represent their country?
Wellington Under 18s won 7-3
Rob O'Donovan was Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, manned the barricades in Les Mis, and is a musician of mean repute - but he will be delighted to be maestro to the Wellington Firsts in what must be his final act for Wellington rugby. He has led his squad through some tough and bruising matches on their way to the final at Twickenham, and this final was no different - the score line tells how tough it was for both sides. St Benedicts certainly tested the defences, but today ended not in horror but victory.
St Benedict's took an early lead with a penalty kick in 16 minutes, and that margin remained for the first half. St Benedicts backs tried to run with the ball but were closed down by superbly fit backs and forwards.
In the second half it was fitness that mattered. Christian Lewis-Pratt, having returned to the team after injury some weeks ago, broke through the backs from a scrum to score; he converted his try. St Benedict's threw everything at Wellington thereafter. We survived a penalty attempt and a few scoring opportunities. Sam Shires, James Booth and Sam Edgerley were superb in defence as we fought back repeated attacks to come out victors.
Team
Max Anderson, Guy Armitage, Charles Buffin, Wessie du Toit, Sam Edgerley, James Field, Adam Gadsby, Rhys Howells, Max Lahiff, Ed Laurent, Christian Lewis-Pratt, Marc MacMillan, Rob O'Donovan (capt)., Sam Shires, Tommy Smale
Replacements
George Byrd, James Huelin, Sam Leslie-Miller, C Pike, Henry Pinto, Will Scowsill., Robert Stevens
Try: Christian Lewis-Pratt Conversion: Christian Lewis-Pratt
Wellington Under 15s won 22-15
Wellington were in a tense battle which went to the wire before James Nicholls made sure of victory in extra time.
Elliot Markham scored in the ninth minute to give Wealdonllington an early lead, and at that point, having powered to vistory in their semi-final, the team must have thought their chances of winning looked good. However Millfield made a sterling response, and at half-time Wellington could maintain only a two point lead despite a converted try from Madison Hughes.
Millfield pressure in the second half was rewarded when we were penalised for handling, but Wellington soon took back the lead in a tit-for tat offside penalty.
After that Wellington applied a lot of pressure but the two point lead looked awfully thin right to the end, when James Nicholls scored a well-deserved try in extra time, and the team could ten relax in victory.
Team
Ollie Beart, James Coleman, Tom Garvey, Charlie Gordon (captain), Oscar Harrington, Madison Hughes, Will Lowe, Elliott Markham, Sam Maynard, Will Miller, James Middleton, James Nicholls, Jake Presley, Kyle Ross, Vadim Toczylkin
Replacements
James Brooks, George Hutchinson, Robbie Offer, Sam Orton, Oli Savill, Louis Timpany, Beau Wyatt.
Tries: Elliott Markham, Madison Hughes, James Nicholls. Conversions: Elliott Markham 2, Penalty: Elliott Markham
