"Wellington do the double in Daily Mail Cup"

The Canterbury rankings were more than vindicated at Twickenham on Wednesday when the final of the U18 tournament was fought out between top placed St Benedict's Ealing and third placed Wellington College , Berkshire.

Second placed Millfield do not enter the Daily Mail Cup at U18 level so the final brought together the otherwise highest ranked teams in the Canterbury ratings.

After their U15 side had won the Daily Mail Schools Cup a few hours before Wellington College became the first school to win the Daily Mail Schools Under 18 and Under 15 Cups in the same season – by inflicting a first defeat of the season on St Benedict’s , Wellington leapfrogged St Benedict's and Millfield to go top of the rankings league.

The Ealing catholic school - clear and deserved favourites - had won 22 matches out of 22 before the final, scoring 1029 points, but at Twickenham they were kept to just a penalty by a quite stupendously brave and determined Wellington side under flanker Rob Donovan.

Benedict’s led 3-0 through a penalty by fly-half Stuart Pearham but despite a flood of possession, they could not breach a defensive wall that the Iron Duke himself could not have bettered.

And it was the Berkshire school that got the one try of the game just after the interval when Wales U18 fly-half Chris Lewis-Pratt - newly returned from the Six Nations Festival at Cork - ran in from a scrum and then converted.

Benedict’s attacked non-stop but tackles flew in from all and sundry.

Benedict's replacemnt wing Aristide Goulain was bundled into touch inches from the line and then centre Jack Dever and full-back James Booth were denied by terrific tackles from Wellington flanker Sam Shires.

Thanks to what their coach Graeme Owton described as "the most phenomenal defensive performance" Wellington hung on to the 7-3 lead and complete the unique U15/U18 double

In the U18 Vase there was absolutely nothing to choose between the winners Sussex Downs College and QEGS Penrith but the hero for the Lewes based college was centre Chris Terry.

The Cumbrians led 13-11 - try from skipper Phil Fell and eight points from the boot of fly-half James Ellar edging out a try by wing James Halpin and two penalties from fly-half Luke Yaafe.

Three minutes from time Terry kicked the vital goal but the drama was not finished aa QEGS had a last gasp penalty drop short of the Sussex posts.

In the U15 Cup Wellington College and Millfield enhanced their reputations as leading nurseries of the game by putting on a fine game of running rugby before the Berkshire school won through 22-15.

It was nip and tuck, Millfield going into the lead for the first time in the second half 15-14 with a penalty from scrum-half Richard Lane.

But a Wellington penalty from fly-half Elliott Markham regained the lead before flanker James Nicholls crowned a fine performace with a very late try.

In the U15 Vase, it took an injury time penalty from fly-half Ben Hollister to give Langley Park School for Boys from Beckenham the narrowest of wins - 8-7 - over Calday Grange GS.

In a very tense game, the Wirral school had led 7-5 after a try by wing Matt Ross, converted by skipper Ben Sparke had shaded a try from wing Dan Hamilton.

The Daily Mail Cup day at Twickenham was the best attended and most competitive in the history of the competition an estimated 20, 000 going through the turnstiles.

"It was an unforgettable occasion "said RFU Age Grade Competitions Manager Billy Clark.

"It was one memorable day of committed effort, brilliant rugby and wonderful support from eleven in the morning to five in the evening."

Written by Huw S Thomas