Cranleigh School Wins 2019 Daily Mail Schools Trophy

Rugby success as the 1st XV end unbeaten season top of the table

CRANLEIGH SCHOOL, 12th December 2019: Cranleigh School’s 1st XV became the fourth school in the competition's history to win the prestigious Daily Mail trophy. They were unbeaten all season, only the fifth time for Cranleigh since rugby started in 1916, with the other unbeaten seasons coming in 1955, 1993, 2005 and 2017.

They finished first in the Daily Mail Schools Merit Table for the first time, with Wellington College placing second with 44 points, and Epsom third with 39.

Their success comes as a result of an unbeaten season where the team only conceded six tries all year and scored 339 points in their nine matches. During the season they beat champions trophy semi-finalists Hampton and Epsom college as well as the likes of Tonbridge, Marlborough, and finally Canford in the last game at the weekend. The team went into the final days on top of the table knowing that a bonus point (four try victory) would be enough to win the trophy.

The team managed to win 48-20 against Canford in front of a large home support. Although this was a great achievement the story of the day was Harvey Stiles who started at flanker in the final game. He was the scrum half for the 3rd XV two months earlier and has worked hard to make the team. In fact, six of the starting team played for the U15B or C team four years earlier.

Andy Houston, Director of Rugby at Cranleigh said “This was my tenth year in charge. I am so very proud of them. Over the last decade we have won the Rosslyn Park Sevens in 2016 and 2017, Surrey Sevens in 2018, St Joseph’s festival, Hampton Sevens and now the Daily Mail Trophy. You couldn’t wish to meet a more hard-working and committed group."

Team stats:
Played 9, won 9
Points for: 334
Points against: 59

Top try scorer: Finn Brown
Top points scorer: Jago Bailey
Top defender: David Ofori
Leading ball carrier: Ollie Corbett
Captain: Oscar Beard
Vice-Captain: David Ofori and Will Trenholm

Photo Credit: Martin Williamson