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THE ALLEYNIAN 710
were a few of the boys leading the charge at the end of the season with strong tackling and ball carrying. The U14A team enjoyed their first experience of the National Cup and progressed through good games against Eltham College and Colfe’s School in the opening two rounds, backing that up with a strong Saturday performance away at Berkhamsted. Unfortunately, they lost to Trinity on the final day of term in a good third-round game, despite the relentless tackling of Louis Useldinger and Isaac Chapman in the forwards. Mr Coughtrie’s 14C team enjoyed a brilliant season to go undefeated, thanks to consistent performances from James Casstles, Edward Pinero, Joshua Morgan and Matias Mohwinckel. The U15 boys progressed the furthest in the national NatWest Cup, thanks to a couple of the most impressive performances from any Dulwich team this season. Away at Brighton, in howling wind and rain on a Wednesday evening, and 14–7 down at half-time, Dulwich clawed their way back into the game and powered away with the victory. A physical performance from George Croally, Antoine Andrews, Monty Pedrini and Henry Gooderham was well backed up with assured back play from Sam Ketteley, Alexander Mulley and Noah Ridgeon. The team then went on to play Whitgift in the following round, again away from home, and came away with a convincing victory, which demonstrated the outstanding progress that the boys had made since their loss in the corresponding Saturday fixture earlier in the season. The U16 boys persevered through a tough season in which they faced a number of injuries, but got a well-deserved victory at home to John Fisher. Matthew Corkum and Peter Ash were standouts in the back row and were rewarded for their consistent performances with an invitation to train with the Harlequins Academy. Felix Peck, William Ransley and Ho-Tin Loke have also transformed themselves as rugby players this year, making their debuts for the A team after previously playing for the B or C teams. The senior rugby season was full of memorable moments, and one special mention has to be Alexei Carver’s last-minute drop goal to beat Bedford for the 5th XV. Mr Middleton’s and Mr Hanks’s vivid descriptions of the moment will live long in the memory, for the staff who could not see it live! The 1st XV earned a good victory against John Fisher, with well-taken tries from Jago McGuinness-Smith, Thomas Wautier and Oliver Rynsard, which set them up well for the cup game against Hampton three days later. Unfortunately, a combination of self-inflicted
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