Felsted to meet Royal Latin in U15 Vase final at Twickenham

Emanuel School 12 Felsted School 17

FELSTED SCHOOL recovered from 12-0 down to defeat Emanuel School and reach the Daily Mail RBS Schools Under 15 Vase final, emulating the achievements of their U18 counterparts.

The Essex school will enjoy a double day out in the Vase finals at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday March 23, with the U18s taking on Yarm School and now the U15s through to meet Royal Latin School from Buckingham.

Emanuel started strongly and opened the scoring within five minutes, Thirarit Chantschool forcing his way over after a maul was stopped short.

Soloman Bailey-Smith missed the chance to extend his team’s lead six minutes later as his penalty drifted wide.

But, from the resulting 22 drop-out, impressive centre Ben Sackey weaved his way through and set up wing Sam Edgcumbe for a try in the corner.

The London side looked like running away with it, but Felsted recovered well and, after establishing some field position, Matthew Lumb crossed underneath the posts on 23 minutes. James Lennon added the conversion.

Emanuel were full of enterprise at the start of the second period, but Felsted drew level nine minutes into the half after going wide off first phase from a lineout, captain Stefan Warner the beneficiary on the left wing.

And the comeback was complete 15 minutes from time when Lumb went over for his second, the rangy full back gathering a clearance kick before setting off on an arcing run towards the corner.

Felsted coach Richard Feldman said: “The boys have shown all season that they can come from behind and win close matches.

“It was all nerves early on and I didn’t think that we were actually going to get going.

“But as you saw, from about 10 minutes from the end of the first half, we took the game over and played wide, expansive rugby.

“It’s absolutely amazing [to have two teams going to Twickenham]. Our Year 10s have cancelled their ski trip for one day so that we can play at Twickenham and they’ve happily done that.

“We’re all so proud of them.”

Daily Mail RBS Schools Finals Day, Twickenham Stadium, Saturday March 23. Live on RFU.com:

U15 Vase, Felsted School v Royal Latin School – 11am
U15 Cup, Warwick School v QEGS Wakefield – 12.30pm
U18 Vase, Felsted School v Yarm School – 2pm
U18 Cup, Dulwich College v Northampton School for Boys – 3.40pm.