Churcher’s College, the Hampshire school, survived a late charge from Essex-based Seevic College to win their first final at Twickenham.

A try from fly half Seb Head in the first half and centre Zach Housden, early in the second period, kept Churcher’s ahead in an evenly-fought Under 18s Vase final on NatWest Schools Cup finals day at HQ.

SEEVIC, who enjoyed early pressure but failed to register any points, hit back late on through wing Amos Filson but Churcher’s held on despite a few nervous moments.

A bitty first half produced one try and two distinct periods of ascendency. Seevic started the better and forced the pace which brought a difficult penalty chance which fly half Harrison Friswell failed to land.

Churcher’s started to take command once they had overcome initial nerves. It took them 16 minutes before they entered Seevic’s 22 but they certainly took their chances in the next five minutes.

The intense period brought a penalty for captain Seb Herold and a try for Head, the fly half diving over off a curving run which caught out Seevic’s defence.  Herold missed the conversion from the left.

Churcher’s maintained the pressure at the start of the second half and a further try, this time from Housden, extended the lead to 13-0.

Housden finished off after some good handling had stretched the Seevic defence with Head and full-back Charlie Thompson joining forces to put the centre over on the right corner. Herold failed to land the difficult conversion.

SEEVIC got back into the match in the final quarter and had more than enough pressure to score more than one try when wing Filson burst clear off a pass from prop Najee Mundicha.

What they said:

Dan Seal (Churcher’s head coach):

“It feels pretty good but it’s not about me. They deserve it they have worked themselves so hard.

“It’s not the rugby season for us, it’s the hockey term. The hockey staff have been really understanding and the boys have worked all the hours they could do and they have put it together so great for them.

“They’ve trained after school or at weekends, it’s been any time we can. It’s not always been the full squad it’s whoever is available.

“One of those guys, Dominic Williams, broke his leg two months ago but he is back playing again.

“It has been really a squad performance throughout the season. They have been amazing this lot.”

Seb Herold (Churcher’s captain):

“It’s just amazing to get that result and an amazing way to end a seven year experience. We have known each other a long time and it’s amazing to get out at Twickenham and get that result.

“It was amazing to have the whole school come down to support us. “

Danny Cleare (SEEVIC head coach):

“The journey to get here has been a successful one and one that we will never forget. It’s disappointing that we didn’t play to our capabilities in the final but at the same time hats off to Churcher’s and congratulations.

“It’s a bit sour at the moment, but the boys have been outstanding to get here. They should be proud of themselves, I am proud of them.

“It should raise our profile, hopefully it will attract new players. You can see our support today, the principal has really backed it, we brought seven or eight coachloads of students to support.

“It’s the biggest game the players will have played in and it’s great that the principal has backed it.”

Teams

SEEVIC: Ed Howlett; Amos Filson, Jordan Lowe, Munashe Muzuzu, Lewis Johnstone; Harrison Friswell, Ricki Gould; Will Weston, Finlay MacIntyre, Najee Mundicha, Curtis Biddle, Jake Collins, Joe Hedges, Charlie Cannon, Chris Shields.

Subs: Matt Bevan, Luke Taylor, Billy Wright, Mitch Webb, Andre Barrett, Adrian Ishmail, John Sagomba.

Try: Filson.

Churcher’s: Charlie Thompson; Jonny Payne, Zach Housden, Ben Norman, Joseph Parkes; Seb Head, Jack Harpur; William Kaye, Stefan Younghusband, Harry Trowsdale, Harry Rawlings, James Hargreaves, Joseph Farrell, Samuel Bloomer, Seb Herold.

Subs: Max Wood, Dominic Williams, Oliver Nichols, Matt Vawdrey, Emile Hussell, Jordan Alexander, Ben Hanlan.

Tries: Head, Housden. Penalty goal: Herold.

Referee: Michael Hudson.