News
Champions Sedbergh are setting the pace again in the SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy.
The Cumbrians lead after posting four wins in the first month, culminating in a 60-0 win over Bedford School on Saturday.
Only Whitgift have so far got close, leaving head coach Chris Wilkins ruing the missed chance in an agonising 24-31 defeat in their opening match of the season.
The Croydon school were drawing 24-24 before losing out to a last-minute Sedbergh try from scrum-half Michael Cooke.
'We should certainly have beaten them,' Wilkins admitted. 'It was an excellent contest but we had our chances.'
Sedbergh posted a 12-match unbeaten run last season to lift for the first time this annual autumn term competition, sponsored by the schools management system SOCS.
RGS Newcastle had also pressed Sedbergh when the teams played a week earlier, especially in the first 40 minutes and led 18-12 at the break. However, the champions fought back in the second half to win 31-18.
Sedbergh's forwards set the tone against Bedford while centre Tom Curtis and full-back Alex Brundage scored two tries each.
Whitgift also ended up losing another entertaining contest, 36-10, to former champions Wellington College in the annual match held in memory of England schoolboy prop Seb Adeniran-Olule, a former pupil at both schools.
The match raises funds for the foundation in his name which aims to help disadvantaged young people through rugby. Former champions Woodhouse Grove are among the chasing group behind Sedbergh on three wins.
The Bradford school are dominating the Yorkshire circuit by overcoming St Peter's York, QEGS Wakefield and Pocklington, last Saturday, 45-5.
Brighton College have won their first, the latest over St John's Leatherhead, 24-17.
Brighton found their best form in the second half by scoring off set pieces from captain Ollie Kirwan and centre Alex Clayton.
Clifton College have also won their first three games beating Monmouth (39-7), St Thomas Rich's (31-5) and St Edward's (33-0).
