NSB deliver superb comeback as they secure spot in U15s Schools Cup final

They beat county rivals Stowe School 36-34 in a thrilling semi-final in Aylesbury, as they recovered from conceding three early tries to set up a clash with Radley College at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium.

Daniel Howells scored the decisive try for Beaumont’s team, while Finlay Shields and Benjamin Chown were also among the scorers on Sunday morning.

“At half-time, we knew we had enough to turn the score around and get the win,” Beaumont said.

“The boys had a lot of belief, and they know they have been behind in games and come back to win.

“They have got the firepower to go over and go through the opposition and they demonstrated that in the first half.

“From 19-0 down, it shows how strong Stowe are in that opening 10 minutes. They came out firing and tore our defence apart.

“We had to go back to the drawing board very quickly, trying to deliver some messages on how we are going to regroup and change how we are going to play.”

Continental Tyres and the RFU are working together to grow rugby through school-linked activities and 171,404 age grade players have registered to play this season, almost 3,000 more than the overall figure last year.

England legend James Haskell and current squad member Charlie Ewels were at Aylesbury and helped out the schools’ coaches with warm ups, ran on the drinks and interacted with fans.

Haskell knows just how valuable this competition is. He won the under-15s Cup with Wellington College in 2000 and admits the competition helped him fall in love with rugby.

"My very first experience of playing rugby involving a bit of jeopardy in intensity was the Continental Tyres Schools Cup," Haskell said.

"It kind of made me fall in love with rugby, these boys will love the opportunity to play in a final at StoneX Stadium.

"For me it was addictive, and you can see the emotion of the kids today, for some it is heartbreak and for some others elation.

"For some it's the opportunity to become legends, and for some it's to treasure, then want to go on and do more.

"For some, this is the peak, this is the greatest summit they'll ever reach. And that's it.”

The Continental Tyres Schools Cup is an important part of the age-grade rugby landscape in England, with schools’ rugby often where players fall in love with the game for the first time. For more information visit the Continental Tyres Schools Cup section of the England Rugby Website.