Berkhamsted crowned SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy champions for the first time in their history after beating Dulwich 24-3 to edge past Sedbergh in the merit table
- Berkhamsted are the fifth school to win the SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy
- Their victory over Dulwich saw them deny Sedbergh a third title in five years
- Berkhamsted won eight and drew one of their final nine matches to win the title
Berkhamsted are the 2021 SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy winners after completing a magnificent unbeaten run this autumn.
Eight wins and a draw has seen the Hertfordshire school become the fifth team to win this national competition since it was launched in 2013.
They follow Bradford-base Woodhouse Grove, Wellington (three times), Sedbergh (twice) and Cranleigh to lift the Trophy which is fought out by over 100 schools on a merit table basis.
Berkhamsted are the 2021 SOCS Daily Mail Schools Trophy winners after beating Dulwich 24-3
Organisers needed calculators to confirm that Berkhamsted had pipped Sedbergh following the final results last weekend.
Berkhamsted registered their eighth win by overcoming Dulwich, 24-3, to give them an average of 6.44 merit points per match which was marginally ahead of Sedbergh on 6.22.
Just behind the top two came St Benedict’s of Ealing (6.20), Millfield (6.13) and fifth-placed Clifton (5.90).
Sedbergh looked set for a third title until the last month when they drew against Wellington and lost out at home to Millfield.
The Hertfordshire school went on a nine-game unbeaten run to edge past Sedbergh to the title
Berkhamsted maintained their consistency throughout the autumn to reward a squad in which the bulk of players have been together over the past six years.
Head coach Ben Mahoney said: ‘It’s been a big squad effort in which everyone has pulled together.
‘Over the last few years we’ve improved our rugby at the school and this is a reward for all the hard work by a lot of coaches and players.’
A number of players are part of the England under-18 training squads led by Tobias Elliott who played for the age group in last summer’s international against Italy.
Tobias Elliott (centre) is one of a few Berkhamsted players within the England under-18 setup
Elliott contributed a try against Dulwich alongside two by Reuben Logan and one from James Isaac. Fly-half Cam Raubenheimer has kicked over 100 points this autumn.
Berkhamsted’s best wins came over Abingdon (54-0), Eton (43-0), Northampton School for Boys (54-19), and Haileybury (43-23). The only setback was a draw against Harrow, 10-10.
Sedbergh had to watch and wait as Berkhamsted defeated Dulwich. The Cumbrian school finished their fixtures last week, against Millfield, but lost 20-14 and with it the chance of a third title in five years.
St Benedict’s achieved their best finishing position of third place thanks to an unbeaten season of nine games, the final win for the West Londoners coming against Magdalen College School, 37-5. No 8 Cathal Sheehan scored two tries.
Fly-half Cam Raubenheimer kicked over 100 points for Berkhamsted in the competition
The Daily Mail Trophy Merit Table | The Schools’ Rugby Website (schoolsrugby.co.uk)