SEDBERGH PLAYS NATWEST SCHOOLS CUP QUARTER FINAL AT BUSKHOLME IN DEFENCE OF 2016 TITLE

Sedbergh School Colts B1 plays their Natwest Schools Cup quarter-final on Buskholme at 1.15 pm tomorrow against Whitgift School, who travel to Cumbria from London.

Sedbergh won this competition last year in a thrilling final against Wellington at Twickenham and the Colts B side of 2016-2017 are still in the mix, with only three rounds to play.

Sedbergh beat St Ambrose to progress from the North A region and have been drawn against Whitgift at the same stage of the competition as last year. Whitgift have a fine record in the Natwest (formerly Daily Mail) Schools Cup and won the U15 competition in 2003. Sedbergh met Whitgift in a 20-minute pre-season game at Warwick in September with the drawn result suggesting this fixture should be a very competitive encounter.

Sedbergh will look to call upon the experience of Carwyn Tuipulotu, former Sedbergh Prep pupil, who played in the away fixture last season as an Under 14 and similarly of captain Fraser Jones who memorably found his way to the try-line at Twickenham last season.

With the semi-final stages played at Allianz Park and the final at Twickenham there is a lot at stake but Colts B coach Chris Swainson isn’t looking beyond tomorrow afternoon:

“We know that Whitgift are a very strong side who will be doing everything they can to come to Buskholme and take away a victory. This side has already seen how close cup matches can be, winning narrowly against St Edward’s, Liverpool and St Ambrose in the last round.

They will need a lot of composure to effectively manage the game and not be overawed by the occasion. Most importantly this is a fantastic opportunity for these boys to test themselves against one of the best sides in the country, and to enjoy the experience of playing in front of a home crowd and at Buskholme.”

Colts B’s Route to the Quarter-Final

SSFC 39 – 7 QES Kirkby Lonsdale
SSFC 50 – 0 Stonyhurst
SSFC 5 – 0 St Edward’s, Liverpool
SSFC 45 – 0 RGS Lancaster
SSFC 17 – 3 St Ambrose


The RFU preview of the quarter finals can be found here:
http://www.englandrugby.com/news/sedbergh-course-defend-natwest-cup/

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