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Simon Cattermole at Warwick School:
Today saw the opening weekend of the 2015 Daily Mail Schools' Rugby Trophy and the featured game saw hosts Warwick School entertain illustrious opponents from the capital, Dulwich College. Both schools have strong rugby pedigrees, each lifting silverware in the Natwest Cup in recent years, so this was ideally placed to be an exciting opener and an indication of intent for a tough season ahead for both teams.
In ideal conditions on a glorious surface, Hayden Sarjeant of the Warwickshire Society got proceedings underway and it was Dulwich who had much the better of the opening exchanges, making ground effectively with their big forwards sucking in defenders to produce space out wide. However, the Warwick defensive line was superbly well organised and by not over committing to the breakdown were able to halt each attack and produce turnover ball regularly. It was perhaps slightly against the run of play then, when Warwick once again turned defence into attack and the counter led to a line out on the Dulwich twenty-two. Warwick secured this and a sweeping move left punctuated by a swift breakdown and quick second phase ball saw a try scored in the left corner by winger Lillie. The extras were sent wide and at 5 - 0 to the hosts, things were delicately poised.
Despite the solid nature of the home defence it did not deter Dulwich from continuing to test it to its fullest and indeed it was a sustained period of pressure that saw Dulwich regain parity with a fine try from full back Marchant and take the lead as the conversion from Beese found its mark. Following this the game settled into a pattern of attack - counter attack as both sides used all the available space to stretch their opponents in the search for a gap. Gaps, however, were proving few and far between and, apart from a period deep in the Warwick twenty-two where two excellent passages of play should have produced tries for the visitors only for poor execution of the final pass to lead to knock-ons, neither side seemed to be able to break the other down. A solitary penalty from Warwick captain Stride saw the half close at 8 - 7 to the hosts.
The second period was much the same as the first, much cut and thrust from both teams but perhaps spoilt by too many early season errors which no doubt will be the focus for next weeks training sessions. Inevitably these mistakes from both sides meant scoring opportunities did not emerge regularly although both sides did have some chances. Once again it was splendid defence that kept the scores as they were for the remainder of the game. The last five minutes were a frantic and pulsating affair as Dulwich came agonisingly close to crossing for a try and than snatching the game with a late drop goal. It was not to be however, as Warwick remained resolute and held on to claim the spoils by a single point.
There would be few of the many spectators who would not agree that this was a pulsating affair, contested by two teams keen to play the game as it was intended, fast a free and with a high degree of skill. Yes, there were mistakes, but that's only to be expected early season and when proceedings happen at that kind of pace and intensity. Both sides should be commended for such an admirable approach to the game.
There were many fine performances on the day; the Dulwich scrum half, Bannister, looked consistently dangerous from the base of scrum and at the breakdown, as did his counter part for Warwick, Walker. The Dulwich centre paring of Roberts and Gleave posed many a threat but it was a standout performance from Warwick Vice-Captain Dodd that earned him the man of the match award for his efforts at number eight. He was tireless around the pitch, providing vital support in both attack and defence and appearing as the last line on more than one occasion. He was one of several forwards on show with that wonderful combination of pace, power and first rate handling skills that is so crucial to the modern back row forward. His performance and the game as a whole were an excellent advert for schoolboy rugby and things certainly bode well for a splendid season of rugby in this competition.
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