After 7 months of coaching and five previous festivals of rugby this was the last chance for the schools to claim some silverware. Previous seasons had been close but this was really going to go down to the wire. Three schools could realistically be crowned champion with only 70 points covering Haberdashers Borough in third to ARK Allsaints in first. Perennial champions St Michaels were only 15 points adrift of ARK and waiting to pounce on any slipup.
There were ominous signs for the rest of the participants when St Michaels posted an 11 – 0 win in their first game against Charter. A 6 – 1 victory over third placed Haberdashers Borough put huge pressure on ARK who although playing well could only win 5 – 3 against Bacons College who were a team transformed in comparison to their showing at Festival five.
Befittingly the final match of the season was St Michaels against ARK Allsaints. Tries flowed back and forward with possession and ARK looked the stronger of the two teams. However, ARK began to tire and their previous tight defence began to loosen with St Michaels running in two late tries to fight back from 4 – 3 down to eventually win 5 – 4.
Congratulations to all teams involved over a long season.
