U13A excel to come second in Middlesex Cup tournament

By Joe Cornell

Hampton U13As entered this tournament wanting to win. As reigning champions, they started the day with a 35-0 win over St Benedict’s. Joe Cornell opened the scoring and Tom Harvey, Harry Armstrong and Adam Gwynne scored the pick of the other tries,.

Next came Haydon School, who Hampton demolished. They won 45-0 and Ben Conaghan scored an outstanding try running from the half way line, from the back of a scrum. Pretty impressive for a number eight! This filled the team with confidence for the big match against London Oratory.

Hampton started well and they crossed the line after four minutes. Next, came a mammoth defensive effort in which Hampton stopped the giants of London Oratory. After half time, however, London Oratory forwards combined to score a try, tying the game at 5-5. 

But Hampton then kicked upfield and pressed. The pressure caused a knock on and this led to a well taken Toby Smith try.  Hampton then withstood later pressure to win and go into the cup competition.

Hampton’s first match in the cup was against a strong Grey Court side. They went ahead in the early minutes through a Joe Cornell try. Then they went two tries ahead as Ben Conaghan dotted down but the game wasn’t over yet. Grey Court scored just after the break, but Hampton managed to close out the game.

Hampton next faced a St James’s side – who extremely physical. Hampton started strongly but went behind because of a break-away try. The U13A team then pressed and pressed in search of the equalising try. Despite this, it never came. It was overall a good performance though, and one to be  proud of.