Jimmy Walker scored two crucial tries out of five for Wilmslow as they secured a place in the semi-finals of the Daily Mail Cup after a thrilling encounter with QEGS, Wakefield.
With perfect weather conditions for rugby it was a nervous, tense, but at the same time exciting time for Wilmslow High as they knew they were on the verge of making history as the U18's have never reached the semi-finals of the Daily Mail Cup.
"We can make history today" said a very determined Matt Bebbington in the pre-match talk.
The talk he and Roger Hancock gave was all about Wilmslow's opponents QEGS, Wakefield being formidable and clinical, but emphasising that these adjectives described Wilmslow as well. Wilmslow did lose players in the build up, with the ever present Max Harvey ruled out after he dislocated his acromioclavicular and Rohan Longmore fractured his acromioclavicular joint in training last week. Stephen Marsh and Pete Sainthouse were brought in to the squad and the outsiders stayed the same with Sam Rodman, Luke Tyrell and Tom Hudson selected. Dan Thomas and Ant Walker were left out again but nevertheless attended the game to support the team.
Due to Harvey's injury a reshape in the front row was needed and the visiting forwards capitalised on this which hurt Wilmslow for 25 minutes of the first half. Before this though, Wilmslow made an exceptional start scoring the first try inside 5 minutes. After an early break from QEGS's Yorkshire under 18 Joe Allott, Wilmslow managed to turn the ball over and create their first dangerous move of the game. On the wide right the quality of Sam James was proved once again as a blistering run caught out the QEGS defence. From there passes to Olly McCall and the geared up Sam Jafarian lead to Callum Hubbard scoring on the inside. McCall's conversion was a formality. From this it was defend, defend, and defend as QEGS took control of the game.
QEGS forwards, which included vice Captain Olisa Ufodiama, were at the centre of everything the school from Wakefield created, in particular the number 8 himself. They did all that was necessary at the scrum and drove Wilmslow back on numerous occasions with Ufodiama at the heart of it. Number 8 pick and go. Some of QEGS's work was very well drilled and planned and once the first drive was successful, immense pressure began to be shifted on to the Wilmslow line. It didn't help that Ollie Lee had to be subbed off with a dead shoulder.
Despite it sounding like QEGS were just ripping into Wilmslow the home side were defending valiantly, most notably Sean Klein. Tom Hudson made a try saving tackle on the line which the travelling QEGS supporters thought was grounded. They also knocked-on on the try line moments later and Wilmslow seemed on the back foot but in control as no forced errors were made. They did relive the pressure as good scrummaging from the Wilmslow pack including Sam Rodman and Sam Royle won a penalty, but the pressure came right back at them with a lineout judged not to be straight.
Unbelievable pressure continued from the Yorkshire side and eventually they bludgeoned their way over to score. They did convert for 7-7 23 minutes in. Wilmslow seemed rocked and produced uncharacteristic sloppy passing which increased the pressure again. The pressure finally dissolved away from the Wilmslow try line and did so by an exhilarating break away by substitute Jimmy Walker as the hosts needed to control the game. It was the inspirational introduction of Walker that really allowed Wilmslow to take the game by the scruff of the neck. as his menacing hits and drives at rucks made it easy for Wilmslow to gain possession and show that they are an exceptionally good rugby side.
From the off, the game was completely different to what we witnessed in the first half. After a very slow and repetitive game of rugby for 30 minutes or so, Wilmslow were allowed to flourish and play the rugby that they are used to. Sam James gained early territory after a super punt down field, whilst Jordan Chappell, whose start at wing was a last minute decision due to Sam Broster falling ill yesterday evening, produce an excellent step to find Jimmy Walker who with a startling run forward found James and then Ethan Harding. The second rower continued to work hard along with his fellow forwards, accompanied by Sean Street and Olly McCall, to recycle the ball swiftly which led to a crucial second try.
Harding linked up with James once more and Street took possession with an overlapping run. The scrum-half finished with a 'Chris Ashton dive' over the line leaving the defenders trailing, after good decoy work by Sam Jafarian. McCall's kick was successful and Wilmslow had the upper hand.
The second try of the half came 9 minutes later as QEGS weren't making a case for themselves and Wilmslow saw the opportunity to make the most of it. Sam Royle made a spirited run towards the right flag and the QEGS defence, who was keen to get him down, swarmed towards him leaving him the simplest of tasks of passing it to Jafarian who found Walker, who, with is burly carrying, jogged in for the try. Wilmslow's attack was encouraging as every time they were on the offensive they looked like they were going to score.
It seemed to be try after try in the second half as Wilmslow dominated play and even when QEGS tried to build, like they did in the first 35 minutes, they were making mistakes and looked shell-shocked by the pace Wilmslow were playing at.
Tom Fantom was the next inventor for a Wilmslow try as he linked up with Oskar Hirskyj-Douglas. The U15 Daily Mail Cup winner flicked the ball to Luke Tyrell to find Jafarian and threw an easy pass to Hudson who wrong footed the defended to score. Walker's second try was something to admire, as again the talented Sam James produced some fine hand control. He launched an exquisite pass to Harding and with graceful passing to McCall and Hudson, followed by a beautiful pop from Royle, the platform was set up for Walker to power over. McCall landed the conversion and Wilmslow were running away with it.
Yet QEGS didn't want to leave in single figures. A move from Allot down the right allowed him to find his wing team mate who sprinted for the line to score a comfortable try - again Wilmslow conceded late in the game as they did against Lancaster. They nailed the conversion and in the events leading up to this try Tom Hudson was sin binned for a late tackle, but the game ended on a brilliant note as some showboating with the hands from Sam James capped off a memorable second half performance.
"These are the days we thought would never be possible, but now its arrived", a quote from Ian McGeechan who was the Lions coach in 1997 when they beat the world champions South Africa, can relate to Wilmslow High School as they are now classed as one of the top four schools in the country - the day to say this has now arrived.
"Formidable, excellent, brilliant", stated Matt Bebbington after the game as you couldn't wipe the smile off his, or Roger Hancock's face. Wilmslow will have to wait to see who they will be facing in the semi-final, but now they are 70 minutes of rugby away from making their dreams of playing at the home of English rugby, a reality.
Final score: Wilmslow High School 31, QEGS Wakefield 12.
Wilmslow Tries: Hubbard, Street, J Walker 2, Hudson. Cons: McCall 3.
Half time: 7-7
Wilmslow: T Hudson, S Jafarian, S James, E Harding (capt), J Chappell, O McCall, S Street, S Rodman, T Fantom, S Royle, C Hubbard, O Lee, L Tyrell, S Klein, O-H Douglas Replacements: P Sainthouse, T Watts, S Marsh, B Jones, S Broster, W Batterbury, J Walker.
This match report is a guest post by Chris Heal, Wilmslow High School.
