Warwickshire State Schools' U15 Grand Final

The Woodlands 52 – 13 Kenilworth. Given that the previous matches between these two sides had always ended in victory for the Coventry side, there was an air of inevitability about this final at Nuneaton’s RFC’s Liberty Ways Stadium on Friday evening.

The early exchanges were tense, and Kenilworth really took their game to their opposition, led well by county half backs Rob Bennett and county fly half Will Maisey.  It was the tournament unbeaten Daily Mail Vase semi finalists who drew the first blood when county winger Tom Walker skipped outside the defence to dot down, with county fly half and skipper Ben Palmer converting the try.  Further tries followed, as full back Gareth Windsor, Walker again, and centre Sam Keating, plus additional conversions from Palmer, saw TWS race into a 26-10 half time lead.  Kenilworth scored two tries after defensive errors by TWS.

In the second half TWS scored 26 more points to Kenilworth's 3 points to secure the victory.  Tom Walker completed his hat trick; Ben Palmer dotted down after a defensive error by Kenilworth; centre Mike Tyrrell scored after an excellent break and blind side Sam Chare scored the try of the match after some superb support play and a wonderful break from a halfway scrummage by the Woodlands' back row.  Ben Palmer kicked a total of 6 conversions to boost the score.

The Woodlands therefore head to their semi final on Sunday 16^th as Warwickshire State Schools Championship Winner and Coventry Schools' U15 Champions.  Their big test is week Sunday, when they take on Langley Park Boys' School in their Daily Mail semi final on Sunday 16th March.  The target is 3 trophies, and, so far, two have been secured.