Old Swinford Hospital celebrate two national rugby champions!

Both the 1st XV and U15s rugby teams win their Continental Tyres Vase Finals at Twickenham

Thursday 16^th March was a day like no other for Stourbridge school, Old Swinford Hospital (OSH).

With two teams in national finals for the U18 and U15 Vase, and the whole school joining them at Twickenham, it certainly was a day to remember. The school has been fizzing with excitement since the teams qualified at the beginning of March and that anticipation, optimism and nervous energy certainly carried across the stadium.

The U15s were up first and played a blinder against Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School. They came into the game calm and well-prepared, and knew they were ready for what was to come. With three tries in the first half they were storming ahead! Their opponents fought back and there was top quality rugby played by both teams, all the way to the final whistle but OSH U15s eventually pulled clear and won their final 40:22.

U15 Head Coach, Laura Westlake says: “I can’t describe how it feels, my heart is still pounding! The boys just pulled away and did what they needed to do. We kicked on in the first half and went into the break in the lead. Chislehurst and Sidcup had a bit of a come-back but our boys pressed on and that second half was amazing! The boys played absolutely fantastically and we’re so proud of them.”

The 1^st XV were up next for their U18s final against Samuel Whitbread Academy and what a battle that was. OSH scored the first try within minutes which turned out to be critical to the end result. It was certainly hard-fought; with relentless attack from both sides and solid defence from Samuel Whitbread Academy, but the OSH players nevertheless went into half time with their backs against the wall and 19:33 down.

The second half was an epic contest with increasingly tired bodies and both sides sustaining injuries. OSH narrowed the gap to seven points with nine minutes to go and scored their final try with just nineteen seconds remaining on the clock. The subsequent conversion and then some stubborn last-ditch defending saw OSH win the day. At the final whistle the crowd went absolutely wild in celebration.

33:33 level on points and with an equal number of tries and conversions between the two teams, OSH went on to win by virtue of having scored the first try!

An ecstatic Director of Sport, Andrew Coalter, celebrates by saying: “What a spectacle and full credit to the opponents for a fantastic final. To come down to scored ties and being decided in the way that it was; an incredible game for both. Our school’s been buzzing for a week since the two sides made the finals and to come away with two pieces of silverware, it doesn’t happen that often. We’re enjoying this moment and the boys have been great. We’re really proud.”

Both OSH teams were remarkable and the whole school community are immensely proud of them. Old Swinford Hospital are only the second team in history to win both the U18 and U15 vase finals on the same day, and what a tremendous achievement that is.

Paul Kilbride: “A day of days! We are so proud of the boys and well done to them all. The first XV did in the final what the U15s did in their semi, namely mount a stupendous comeback. What was clear to us all was just how the 1^st XV players were never going to give up. Many were playing their last ever competitive game for OSH. We could all feel their total commitment to the cause and the real intensity of their competitiveness from where we were in the West Stand.

And the atmosphere up there was simply amazing – that was down to the five hundred or so OSH pupils and our staff as well as the players families and friends who all came to witness a truly historic day. We now look forward to celebrating with the boys back here at OSH and with the whole Swinford community.”