News
- Watch out for Monmouth Schools in the 2021 SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy
- They've put together a run of five wins to raise hopes of rivalling the 2014 squad
- It's a winning run only matched by leaders KCS Wimbledon, Epsom and Kirkham
Watch out for Haberdashers' Monmouth Schools in the 2021 SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy.
The Welsh school have put together a run of five wins to raise hopes of rivalling the 2014 squad who finished fourth overall pushing Trophy heavyweights Wellington, Sedbergh and Kirkham all the way.
It's a winning run only matched this autumn by leaders KCS Wimbledon, Epsom and Kirkham in this national merit table which has attracted 120 teams.
Monmouth won all nine matches seven years ago and director of rugby Jon Despontin is realistic whether his squad will be able to emulate them this time.
He said: 'We've tough game to come for sure, but the boys are playing with confidence and freedom which is great to see.
'We've had a very positive first-half of the term for us with some excellent results against strong opposition.'
Despontin puts the success down partly to the arrival of former Wales prop Ceri Jones, who had an eight-year stint at Harlequins in a career which brought him two international caps in 2007.
'He's added hugely to our coaching,' added Despontin about Jones' work with a squad whose best win was a 29-3 win over Cheltenham College who are coached by ex-England full-back Olly Morgan.
Captain Theo Mayell leads Monmouth from No 8 in a pack where locks Seth Butler and Otis Walker provide the power for scrum-half Tom Horan and full-back Henry Hurle outside.
The Welsh school have put together a run of five wins to raise hopes of rivalling the 2014 squad
Monmouth resume Trophy fixtures next Saturday (November 6) at Marlborough after earlier wins this autumn over Sir Thomas Rich, Malvern, St Peter's RC of Gloucester, and Old Swinford.
Ipswich have also laid down a marker following a 68-15 win over Northampton School for Boys.
This big win follows two other notable scalps over Oundle, 24-19, and Felsted, 21-15. Their matches do next get any easier next month as Kirkham and Wellington are lined up.
Undefeated Kirkham travel to Newcastle RGS next Saturday (Nov 6) having beaten Northampton School for Boys, 29-10, before the half-term break.
Wellington, who have won the Trophy three times, have won four in five games, losing only to Millfield, 26-20, so far in this competition sponsored by SOCS, the school management system company.
