News
- Oratory School are enjoying a strong start to their SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy campaign with the Reading-based side unbeaten in six
- They drew their centenary match 19-19 against London Oratory School
- However, they are playing at the home of Saracens on December 7 vs Gordon's
A match at Saracens is part of the Oratory School's celebratory season in the SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy.
The Reading-based school are marking their rugby centenary by playing at the StoneX Stadium on December 7 against Gordon's from Woking.
Saracens' all-weather pitch has become a popular venue for schools from across the south-east since it was installed in 2013.
Oratory are unbeaten in six Trophy games so far but failed to notch up a sixth win when drawing their centenary match, 19-19, against the London Oratory School.
And it needed a late try from No 8 Tega Rume-Tabiowo and a conversion from scrum-half Somto Monye to level the scores.
Head of rugby Mikey Hennessy said: 'We've got a young squad and at least 10 of them will be back next year as well.
'It was very dramatic in the Centenary Match. We were behind and it needed a try off the final play to gain a share of the honours,' he added.
Oratory's best wins so far have come against Pangbourne (33-5), Bishop Wordsworth (15-14) and Shiplake (35-7).
'We are a relatively small school in terms of players but have always focused on rugby,' Hennessy said.
Oratory School maintained their unbeaten start in the SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy with a draw against rivals London Oratory School
Most notable rugby-playing ex-pupil is Max Clementson who was a member of England's Commonwealth Games sevens squad.
The Trophy resumes after the half-term break this weekend with unbeaten leaders Sedbergh hosting Denstone.
Denstone will provide stern opposition having only lost once in the Trophy, against Ipswich (21-17), while wins have included a 52-12 triumph over former champions Woodhouse Grove.
While second-placed Hampton, who are unbeaten in six games so far, do not resume until Saturday week (Nov 12), away to Trinity, third-placed Clifton are back in action at Sherborne.
Clifton overwhelmed Berkhamsted, last year's champions, 45-13, after losing their unbeaten tag to Kirkham, the Lancashire team winning 19-17.
The Trophy is played over the autumn term on a merit table-based format organised by SOCS, the school management system company. This year a record 136 teams have entered.
The Reading-based school's best wins so far have come against Pangbourne (33-5), Bishop Wordsworth (15-14) and Shiplake (35-7)
