Leeds school wins national rugby competition

A Leeds school has won the Daily Mail RBS U15 Rugby Union cup in a thrilling final at Twickenham. The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) defeated the 2010 and 2011 holders of the cup, The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe, 17-12.

The first half was fast flowing with the holders scoring the first try of the match early on and although they failed to convert this, taking a 5-0 lead. However, this lead was not to last long as 12 minutes into the first half Leeds came back with a powerful try by Tom Gorman, which captain Sam Ward converted giving GSAL a 5-7 lead.

Ward strengthened the lead with a penalty kick in the dying minute of the first half, making the score at half time 5-10.

The second half started off with some great kicking by fly half Jonny Haslem to the accompaniment of drumming from many GSAL supporters in the stand. Seven minutes into the second half flanker Will Shepherd scored a text book try right in the centre, which Ward easily converted, pushing the score to 5-17.

The defending champions fought back bravely but an impressively strong tackle by full back Gorman stopped the determined High Wycombe attempt in its tracks and showcased the excellence of the Leeds defence, which was evident throughout the match.

Nonetheless the High Wycombe squad was not defeated yet, even though time was running out for them. In the last few minutes before injury time, they scored a hard won try, which they managed to convert but the stamina and Yorkshire grit of the Leeds squad paid off and saw them lifting the cup with a final score of 12-17.

A group of supporters from the school made the 400 mile round trip to cheer on the squad, and those still at school in Leeds were able to watch the game on the big screen.

It was the culmination of challenging battles which saw an undefeated GSAL up against strong squads, such as Whitgift in the quarter finals and Trinity College Croydon in the semi -finals.