Cheltenham College are an emerging force in this year’s SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy following an unbeaten start of four matches.
And they gained more attention when winning the prestigious St Joseph’s tournament last weekend by toppling the host school from Ipswich in the final, 17-0.
Now Cheltenham have their focus on the second half of the autumn term which will decide the Trophy.
With former England full-back Olly Morgan leading the coaching team, Cheltenham put themselves among the contenders when edging out former champions Wellington College, 25-24.
This win followed earlier success against St Edward’s, 63-0, Bromsgrove, 61-5, and Blundell’s, 21-12.
Morgan’s squad are presently fifth chasing a group led by Clifton, Haberdashers’ Monmouth, Radley and RGS Guildford.
Cheltenham’s Harry Haigh on the charge in the St Joseph’s Festival. PICS: Cheltenham College
Centre Phil Mow celebrates with his trophy for being named player of the tournament
Cheltenham’s squad celebrating after the 17-0 win over Ipswich secured the trophy
Former Gloucester and England full back Olly Morgan is director of rugby at Cheltenham
‘We’ve improved our rugby programme gradually over the last few years and it’s great that we are now consistently competing with the best in the country,’ Morgan said.
Cheltenham will be tested by a tough November including fixtures against Millfield, Haberdashers’ Monmouth and Sir Thomas Rich’s, the Gloucester academy, in a local derby to be staged at Kingsholm on November 19.
For Morgan, a return to the St Joseph’s festival was a throwback to his own career when he was named player of the tournament when playing for Millfield.
This time, following in his footsteps is centre Phil Mow who led the way for Cheltenham to be named player of the tournament.
Mow has returned from injury issues to be an improving and consistent force. He was joined in the team of the tournament by team-mates in prop Mighael Meyer, No8 Harry Haigh, fly-half Zach Nicholson and centre Jack Evans.
Clifton in action in their 42-17 win over Taunton PICS: Clifton College
Clifton and Taunton teams pay respect before the annual Ryan Bresnahan Memorial Match
Cheltenham’s most noteworthy was that one-point win over Wellington, their first in the history of the fixture.
Wellington, who also lost by a point to Whitgift, 25-24, have a chance to dent the title hopes of leaders Clifton College in the first match after the half-term break on November 7.
Clifton lead the table having put together an unbeaten five-match run including good wins over former champions in Harrow, 38-7, and Sedbergh, 24-5.
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Clifton also defeated Taunton, 42-17, in the annual Ryan Bresnahan memorial match for the former pupil who died in March 2010 from meningitis.
Second-placed Haberdashers’ Monmouth made it five from five when they defeated RGS Worcester,, before a half-term tour to South Africa. Once they return, they face both Cheltenham and Sir Thomas Rich’s in November.
Radley, in third place, have also won five matches and taken the scalps of former champions Cranleigh and Harrow.
RGS Guildford maybe fourth but they have won six from six. Their best performances were a win over St Paul’s and Epsom when they came back from a 14-0 half-time deficit to win.
This year’s Trophy has attracted more than 150 teams and is played over the autumn term on a merit table basis.
The current top 10 in the Daily Mail Schools Trophy. Click HERE for the full table
The Daily Mail Schools Trophy is run in partnership with SOCS. Click HERE to find out more
