Northampton one game from history

They could be first state school to land big prize   NORTHAMPTON School for Boys could become the first from the state sector to lift the SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy.   A dramatic final week will reach its conclusion tomorrow — Saturday December 13 — when the Northampton school take on Sir Thomas Rich’s needing a bonus point win to pip Sedbergh for the 2025 title. Sedbergh looked set for a third title when overpowering King’s Macclesfield, 70-5, to complete a bonus point win. But NSFB’s good form has given Sedbergh a nervous wait this weekend while the final matches are played. It is going to be a close call as Sir Thomas Rich’s have also enjoyed an excellent campaign and at one stage the Gloucester-based grammar led the table following an unbeaten start of six  matches only curbed by Clifton College, last year’s champions.   NSFB’s title challenge looked to be over on Tuesday when they fell behind 17-0 on a trip to Seaford College in Sussex. They were rescued by a second-half effort, triggered when prop Ben Jones scored their first try.   A second try followed from centre George Cooper before substitute back James Civil scampered home off the final move of the match to clinch the win against Seaford. Victory continued a sequence which has seen NSFB topple  Kirkham in the National Cup followed by victory over Stowe, 33-12, last Saturday to keep themselves chasing Trophy glory. NSFB had been helped by fellow title-chasers Wellington College slipping up at Brighton College 8-5 last Saturday. These results put NSFB into second place behind Sedbergh who looked set for the title when beating Millfield last week.   Wellington had looked favourites when beating Sedbergh earlier in November. However, they stumbled to a late penalty from Brighton College  captain Harry Eastman. This came after hooker Isaac Finn had slithered over near the touchline amid a pile of Wellington bodies. ‘We were on the  ropes most of the match but stayed in the fight then came off the ropes,’ was how Nick Buoy, Brighton’s director of rugby, described a hardfought victory. ‘It was an amazing match with two very good teams going toe-to-toe,’ he added.    The win for Brighton College was their third on the trot and lifts them into sixth behind fifth-placed Sir Thomas Rich’s. The Gloucester grammar school scored nine tries in a 55-7 win over Solihull, with James Burton, Charlie Cotton and Matt Jones scoring two tries each. Another in-form team are Ipswich School who have gone fourth following a 24-12 win over Finborough. Among the try scorers were under-18 Netherlands representative in Sem Bouwens and New Zealander Cesc Keith. Ipswich, who finished 22nd last year, have won 10 matches this campaign and have only lost to Sedbergh and NSFB.    They also toppled Whitgift in the National Cup. The Trophy, inaugurated in 2012, has attracted a record entry of over 160 teams this season