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From : myCornishRugby
Added: Jun 18, 2009
Truro claim Daily Mail RBS Schools Under-18 Cup by Paul Bolton April 1, 2009 Truro College 39 St Peters Catholic HS, Gloucester 18 Click here to hear match report and interviews Truro College became the first Cornish school to win the Daily Mail RBS Schools Under-18 Cup with an emphatic victory in todays all-South West final at Twickenham. Truro used the power of their pack and the strength of centre Hanno Dirksen, who is already a member of the United States Eagles senior squad, to take control after St Peters, the 2006 champions, had reduced their lead to just two points early in the second half. Dirksen, born in South Africa but raised in the USA, and his centre partner Michael Stupple were constant menaces to the St Peters defence and allowed backs coach Ricky Pellow to taste victory for the third time in a Daily Mail final. Pellow, the former Bath and Worcester scrum-half, was twice a cup winner with Colstons and he now coaches Truro College with Will Davies. I think that final was the most nerve-wracking, Pellow said. Just seeing the boys faces out there and what it means to them, its such a massive day. You can see by their faces and those of the crowd that they will keep those memories for a very long time. For St Peters director of rugby Dave Pointon there were very different emotions to three years ago when the Gloucester-based school beat Durham School. There were signs in the first half of Truros power and pace and we needed to get in there but we didnt take the most of our opportunities, he said. Truro had some massive boys. We are a schools side with not many boys to pick from and I think you could see that. They wore us down and took it out on us. It was quite difficult to cope with but the boys rallied and we are very pleased with the two tries we did get. Wing Reuben Haile, who played for the England Under-18 AER side last season, used his pace to finish off a good attack by Dan Cox for the try that appeared to have given St Peters a sniff of victory. But the powerful Stupple crashed through and Dirksens strength, pace and balance opened up the St Peters defence. Fly-half Josh Matavesi followed up his own speculative chip ahead and benefited from a fortunate bounce for the try that broke St Peters hearts. Tighthead prop Levi Smith barrelled over from close range for a consolation second for St Peters, but Dirksen scored his second deep in injury-time. The first half was a nervy affair from both sides with Mike Wilcox, who fly out to France tomorrow to link up with the England Under-18 AER side, nudging St Peters in front with an early penalty. Prop Thomas Cowan-Dickie powered over for Truro and full-back Ben Hawke slotted the conversion and two penalties after Wilcox had pulled back three more points for St Peters. Truros victory came just 16 years after the college, which now has 4,300 students, was established. The college is now home to the South West England Rugby Academy. Truro College: Ben Hawke; Sam Newman, Hanno Dirksen, Michael Stupple, Alex Welland; Josh Matavesi, Kyle Armtsrong; Thomas Cowan-Dickie, Ben Teasdale, Malcolm Hearn, Elliott Worrall, Jack Andrew (captain), Tom Noon, Sam Matavesi, Mark Gibbs. Replacements used: Lloyd Fairbrother, Ben Gregor, Jordan Rose, Henry Mander, Aaron Penberthy, Conner Murphy, Tom Notman. St Peters RC HS: Max Davies; Dan Cox, Oliver Duffy, Jack Hayes, Reuben Haile; Mike Wilcox (captain), Sam Arnott; Tom Emery, Rob Groves, Levi Smith, Tom, Wilkinson, Ashley Jennings, Mike Barton, Joe Hart, Liam Wilkinson. Replacements used: Alex Bailey, Dean Harper, Gareth Flounders, Jamie Hanlon, Pierre Mathurin, Jack OConnell, Callum Leese. Referee: Keith Lewis (RFU)
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