Brighton College avenge last year’s final defeat

LAST weekend saw the 31st edition of the St. Joseph’s Festival in Ipswich, where 16 of the best schools in the country face each other in a unique 15-a-side format.

England tyro Marcus Smith was player of the tournament in last year’s losing cause for Brighton College, who were pipped by Cranleigh in the final.

With the champions unable to return to defend their title, Brighton College were this year’s hot favourites for the De La Salle Trophy and they did not disappoint.

QEGS Wakefield were the ones to miss out in the ‘Group of Death’ coming third to Millfield and

Hampton on tries scored as they all ended on two wins a piece. Elsewhere Dulwich showed their pedigree topping Group 2, while home heroes, St. Jo’s finished the group unbeaten.

Dulwich College, Hampton and Denstone threw all they had at Brighton but their miserly defence never blinked to make it to the final.

In the other side of the draw, St. Jo’s seemed to be suffering a hangover from the prior day’s heroics and lost to Merchiston College.

Hailing all the way from Edinburgh, the Merchiston men impressed throughout but in the end proved no match for the pedigree of Millfield in the semi-finals.

In the final, Brighton College produced a scintillating first half to put the game beyond Millfield.

Power and dynamism from the pack worked in perfect harmony with the cohesion and adventure of the backs.

Henry Simpson made a mockery of the gale force conditions to slot impeccably. He also scored two tries along with teammates Alfie Beadle, Toby Smith and Luc Smith.

Try of the tournament went to Brighton’s Jon Searle, while No.8 teammate Toby Smith picked up the auspicious player of the tournament trophy.

Brighton coach Nick Buoy said: “We knew we had that performance in us all weekend, and in the final it all came together.”

QEGS dominated Plate proceedings to salvage some silverware defeating

Eltham College 13-0.