Rednock School U18s 19 Torquay Boys' Grammar School U18s 14
REDNOCK are two games away from a trip to Twickenham after beating Torquay Boys' Grammar School in the South West Final of the Daily Mail Schools' rugby tournament.
They reached the last eight of the national competition courtesy of tries from captain Tom Broomfield and two from centre Oliver Winterbottom.
Rednock did not get off to the best of starts when Jak Evans had a pass intercepted by Torquay's centre Tom Harris who scored under the posts after just two minutes.
Things could have been worse when Torquay's full-back burst through ten minutes later, but he dropped the ball just as he was about to touch down.
Rednock started to gain more territory and their powerful forwards came to the party by pinning the visitors back, and it proved too much when a strong ruck and drive saw Broomfield bundle over. With Jamie Hayward's conversion the blues were level.
Then two minutes before the break ex-England schoolboy Winterbottom showed his class when he picked up a pass 60 metres from the opposition's try line and sprinted all the way, dodging five tackles in the process to score an outstanding individual effort.
Midway through the second half Winterbottom showed his bursting pace again, this time sprinting 45 metres to score under the posts, and Hayward's conversion gave Rednock a 12 point advantage.
Torquay looked to hit back immediately though putting a lot of pressure on the home defence, and eventually winger Alex Truscott found space to score and set up a nervy last ten minutes.
But Rednock responded well and almost wrapped the game up with a sweeping move involving Jordan Lewis and Hayward, but winger James Whetherly was tackled into touch as he neared the corner try line.
The home side held onto possession and as the full 70 minutes were up, Lewis ran the ball out of play to begin the celebrations.
Delighted PE teacher Andrew Sharp said: "I think it's important we take one game at a time and obviously the closer you get to Twickenham the more difficult the games get."
"We did well today, but there wasn't a huge amount in it, and I'm sure the quarter-finals will be very difficult. The boys worked very hard and deserved their win.
"There was some great running by Ollie (Winterbottom) and the forwards just gave him the ball he needed. What was good about it is that he was able to get the ball in space and time and that was because the forwards won it.
"We knew that if we could supply him with good ball he's going to score tries and the platform came from the forwards."
Rednock are currently awaiting the draw for the next round which could see them travelling anywhere in the country.
Sharp added: "We're hoping for a home fixture next and we're very grateful to Dursley Rugby Club for their support in using their facilities."
Rednock Team: S Elvis, B Dix, S Bailey, J Case, S Lane, H McIntyre, O Steele, T Broomfield, J Lewis, J Hayward, J Whetherly, J Evans, O Winterbottom, J Owen, N Atkinson.
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