Under 18s semi-finals preview
Campion School from Hornchurch are just one game away from a second successive Twickenham appearance with Manchester Grammar School barring their way to the Daily Mail Under 18 Final on March 24. Chris Jones's young team have made a vibrant defence of the Cup and on the evidence of beatingWhitgift and and St Peter's, Gloucester in the space of four days to reach Saturday's semi-finals at Castlecfoft, it will take an exceptional team to beat them.
Manchester, who have reached the semis for the first time, pitch one of their strongest ever teams against the champions, and have a real matchwinner in full back Alistair Buchan. Oakham have made it for the first time after losing successive quarter-finals and Durham are still the onlyteam to have lowered their colours in the past two seasons. They will start as favourites against RGS High Wycombe, even though the Bucks school has never lost a semi-final. There were no great expectations for this RGS side but they have grown in stature and confidence during the season and neverknow when they are beaten.
DAILY MAIL U18 SEMI-FINALS
(Castlecroft Stadium, Wolverhampton, SaturdayMarch 2)
Oakham v RGS High Wycombe (ko 11am)
Campion v Manchester GS (ko1pm).
DAILY MAIL UNDER 18 VASE
Four teams have taken their second chance with both hands after injuries ruined their Cup campaigns and the Under 18 Vase semi-finals are impossible to call. Dartford Grammar have won thirteen successive games while conceding only 10 points coming into the tie and full back Topsy Ojo, one of Dartford's three England triallists, scored a hat trick of tries in their quarter-final defeat of Torquay Boys.
Their opponents, Solihull 6th Form College, scored 50 points in their quarter-final against Bolton without key man James Ireland. The Wales fly half, who scored a couple of vital tries in their winning 19-19 draw with King's Worcester, is back for the big one. King Edward's, Morpeth have emerged from the shadow of Durham and RGS Newcastle in the north east to make a name for themselves and are in a rich vein of form having beaten Northampton School for Boys 57-5 intheir quarter-final. They face a resolute St Bart's, Newbury team who have proved the old rule that defence wins cup matches and along the way and have acquired the important knack of winning close games.
DAILY MAIL U18 VASE SEMI-FINALS
(Castlecroft Stadium, Wolverhampton, SundayMarch 3)
Dartford Grammar v Solihull 6th Form College (ko 11am)
KingEdward School, Morpeth v St Bart's, Newbury (ko 1pm).
