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Third-place Millfield are unbeaten in five SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy games
Their latest win was a 36-13 victory over Sherborne having been 6-0 down
Team attribute good form to pre-season training in Biarritz and Brecon Beacons
Millfield are making their best attempt yet to lift the SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy.
The famous sports-mad Somerset school are unbeaten in five Trophy matches so far this season going into the half-term break.
A 36-13 win over Sherborne was the latest win in this national competition sponsored by SOCS, the schools management system.
Millfield, who are third behind Rugby School and champions Sedbergh, won two games in the Trophy last season as a young team struggled for results in a traditionally tough fixture list.
However, this season, led by hooker Ed McDowell, the team has forged a winning path including England under-18 player Josh Gillespie.
'We are certainly in better shape than last season,' said John Mallett, Millfield's director of rugby. 'Everyone has responded to the results and we are also much more experienced.'
A training trip to the Brecon Beacons and a pre-season camp near Biarritz helped to pull the new squad together.
Millfield, whose best position in the Trophy was seventh in 2013 and 2015, are focusing more on the competition this season and a hectic second-half of the term finishes in a trip to Sedbergh on Dec 5.
Besides the win over Sherborne, who led 6-0 early on, Millfield have toppled former champions Wellington, Bromsgrove, RGS High Wycombe and Canford.
Such form puts them among the favourites for this weekend's annual half-term festival at St Joseph's, Ipswich.
Felsted continued their unbeaten run in the competition with a 24-17 win against Berkhamsted
Brighton College, who won the St Joseph's event last year, defeated RGS High Wycombe 45-12. They collected seven tries to post a fourth Trophy win of the season.
Sussex neighbours Hurstpierpoint College are among the busiest teams having played eight games in the first two months.
They have also played some good rugby in winning six including last weekend's 52-12 success against Skinner's.
Wings Joe Routledge and full-back Nick Whitley-Jones scored two tries each for a team led by hooker Dylan Thomas and centre James Bourton, who are both among the elite player youth squad at Harlequins.
Felsted remain among the unbeaten schools after a fourth win of the term, this time against Berkhamsted, 24-17.
Captain Ollie Stonham contributed a try alongside one each from Harry Sturge, George Whalley and Seb Dickens.
Captain Ollie Stonham contributed a try during the victory against Berkhamsted this week
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