West Somerset Community College 16

Richard Huish College 11

A PULSATING game saw West Somerset Community College beat Richard Huish College 16-11 at home in the quarter-final of the Daily Mail National Vase.

With nine county players on show, both teams played hard, fast and controlled rugby, and Jonathan Reed, head of PE at the college, was delighted with the team's success against Richard Huish, who run a rugby academy and present a strong challenge.

West Somerset missed a straight forward kick at goal in the opening five minutes, and following a missed touch kick Richard Huish counter-attacked and Jamie Wallace, the county captain, scored in the corner.

Following offside at a ruck, Joe Waterman kicked a penalty and this was followed by a second three minutes later to put West Somerset 6-5 ahead.

West Somerset then took a quick tap penalty through Matthew Long, and supported by Tom White and David Swann, the ball was finally moved wide for Ian Philpot to score.

At half-time the team were beginning to believe they could pull off one of the finest victories in the college history, but Richard Huish had other ideas and mounted some punishing attacks.

Some magnificent defence from David Ketchen, Luke Brown and James Tapp meant that the try line was not breached, but following an off-side, Richard Huish kicked a penalty to trail 11-8.

With a steady stream of possession from the lineout, where Stuart Turnham, Ian Price, David Swann and Paul Hewett-Avison were outstanding, Joe Waterman hoisted a huge kick which was misfielded and West Somerset swarmed forwards for Ketchen to touch down.

Back came Richard Huish to make it 16-11 with a penalty, but Minehead held on to become South West champions.

They will no face the winners of one of the other regions, North, Midlands or London and South East — with the prize a place in the final at Twickenham.

WSCC squad: David Swann, Stuart Turnham, Paul Hewitt-Avison, Ian Price, Matthew Long, Tom White, Richard Henson, Simon Gilbert, Tom Rayner, Joe Waterman, Luke Brown, David Ketchen, James Tapp, Ian Philpott, Matthew Haywood, Steven Giles, Darren Gunter, Ian Cudmore, Paul Hewson, Michael Dobson, David Farmer.