Cranleigh lay down a marker in Daily Mail Schools Trophy with victory over Brighton College as Haileybury win thriller against St Edward's

Cranleigh are becoming a force in the SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy besides their excellence in schoolboy sevens.

A 29-17 victory over Brighton College launched the new campaign and follows on from victory over the same rivals to retain the national sevens at Rosslyn Park last March.

Cranleigh have put thoughts of a treble in the sevens next spring on the back burner to concentrate on the full 15-a-side game.

 

Andy Houston, director of rugby, puts the success – only four defeats in all forms of the game over the past 12 months in 45 games – down to hard work.

'It's coming together very well and the success is a reward for all the effort put in by players and coaches over the past few years,' he said.

Cranleigh made a quick start against Brighton scoring twice in the first 20 minutes through fly half Sam Lubbock and captain Jamie Barden.

A third try, off an interception, by centre Harry Serjeant kept Cranleigh ahead at half-time 15-10.

Full-back Spencer Owen crosses the line to score in Haileybury's win over St Edward's

And two more scores after the interval from No 8 Hayden Hyde and centre Harry Barlow secured the win.

Cranleigh are among a pack of teams trying to bring down champions Wellington who are aiming for a fourth successive title in a competition sponsored by the school management system SOCS and played over the autumn term by 100 leading teams.

Another improving team are Haileybury who edged out St Edward's of Oxford 29-25. First-half tries from Spencer Owen, Duncan Henderson and lock Ollie Moody earned a 15-6 lead.

 

Haileybury flanker Duncan Henderson scores a first-half try in their match with St Edward's

However, St Edward's proved very competitive and Haileybury needed a penalty try plus a score from man-of-the-match Kyle Douglas to make sure.

Canford also set a marker by toppling Millfield for what is believed to be the first time at senior level. A strong front row of Brennan Dyball, John Ireland and Ollie Rankin paved the way for an 18-5 win.

James Elwood kicked eight points while tries came from wing Charlie Ford and No 8 Tom Doyle.

 

Ollie Moody goes on the attack during Haileybury's narrow win over St Edward's, Oxford

Another goal kicker in good form was under-16s fly half James Blackett who helped Newcastle RGS win the north-east derby against Durham, 13-3, at Kingston Park.

Blackett, whose elder brother Ally is RGS captain, kicked eight points including a conversion of a try by Findlay Edwards.

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