Sedbergh and Wellington in fight for glory

By Rob Wildman   The 2025 SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy is going down to the wire as arch-rivals Sedbergh and Wellington College are fighting out another title.   Sedbergh head the table after a convincing 40-19 home win over Millfield on Wednesday.   They must finish their campaign by beating King’s Macclesfield on Tuesday to have a chance of fending off Wellington, who are finishing with a fine run of form including a win over Sedbergh.   Wellington have two matches left , at Bright on College tomorrow followed by Woking-based Gordon’s on Thursday. In the early years of the Trophy, Wellington led the way by lifting the title three times in a row from 2014 and playing some memorable rugby.   Sedbergh had to play the ‘bridesmaid’ in those years but gained revenge by winning back-to-back titles in 2017 and 2018.   Since then these schools have seen Cranleigh, Berkhamsted, Harrow (twice) and Clifton finish top until this campaign which looks like being another  shoot-out between these old rivals.   Calculators may well be needed as well because the Trophy is played under merit table rules and teams are ranked on average league points scored per game. Sedbergh, helped by that win over Millfield, lead on 6.40 per match which puts them narrowly ahead of Wellington (6.08) and third -placed Northampton School for Boys (6.01).   Sam Moore, Sedbergh’s head coach, was full of praise for his squad after a quick start put them in control. ‘The lads came out flying and really ripped it up,’ was his assessment.   Moore was pleased Sedbergh did not let up following earlier defeats by Lancashire rivals Kirkham and Wellington themselves. ‘We didn’t have any of our “little moments” this time,’ he said in reference to mid-match mistakes.   If the top two falter then Northampton could snatch the title if they beat Seaford and Sir Thomas Rich’s from Gloucester next week.   It all makes for an exciting finish to a competition which has attracted a record entry of more than 160 teams this autumn. The most striking aspect of the competition ha s been the consistent form of three state schools in NSB followed by Sir Thomas Rich’s and Campion from Hornchurch in Essex.   Sir Thomas Rich’s have been one of the busiest teams in winning nine from 11 matches, losing only to Clifton College, last season’s champions, and Kingswood from Bath, 29-19 last Saturday. They also won a key local derby against Cheltenham College, at Kingsholm helped by two tries from Matt Jones and a late penalty by Jake Webb.   A number of teams are enjoying better seasons including Ealing-based St Benedict’s who have regrouped after losing their unbeaten record to St John’s Leatherhead.    Wins over John Fisher of Croydon and Tiffin, last weekend, has given the Bennies an impressive record of eight wins from nine with one to play, against Reed’s tomorrow.    Fly half Johnny Dobbin, an under-16, has led the way scoring tries in both games. Also on good form has been Jared Bruce who, besides some consistent goal kicking, grabbed a try against Tiffin by racing on to an interception from his own 22.