National Rugby win for Gordon’s boys

History was made on Wednesday (4th December) night as Gordon’s School lifted the RFU ACE (Academy Colleges and Education) League trophy, the pinnacle of schoolboy rugby, for the first time. Up against 12 times champions Hartpury College in the final, the Surrey Heath side ran out 34-25 winners under the lights at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium.

The boys in green dominated the game from the start, scoring early through Jakob Thompson and swiftly followed up by another from captain Elliot Williams who was an immense presence throughout the game. Hartpury responded with a penalty before Junior Namadila crossed the whitewash in the left hand corner. Back came Hartpury again with a well worked lineout move. The first half scoring was completed when Math Jones slotted a penalty to see Gordon’s go into half time leading 22-8.

Any thought that the game would run away with the game was tempered by the memories of the previous encounter between the two teams, when Gordon’s held a similar lead but on home soil Hartpury came back to win narrowly. The second half started in a similar vein to the first, Gordon’s ramped up the intensity in attack and put the side from Gloucester under pressure, until Eli In der Rieden collected Math Jones’s cross field kick and broke free from his opposite man to slide over for Gordon’s fourth try of the evening.

Once again, Hartpury responded and with ten minutes to go Gordon’s held a seven point lead. Gordon’s hadn’t come this far to buckle at this point though. Once more they got deep into Hartpury’s territory, and as has been a weapon all season, the rolling maul got to work until Ashton Graham crossed the line for his 18th try of the season. In the final seconds Hartpury scored again to leave the score at 34-25, but it was followed by the final whistle and jubilant scenes.

Math Jones at No 10 said he was still pinching himself the following day after the win: “I still cannot believe it!. Obviously we were confident going in to the game but when we did win it was still a bit of a shock! The last try we scored, that was the best moment because we realised that we would win”.

Sam Richards, Head of Rugby said: “I cannot express how proud I am of this group. From the preseason evenings in August through to now they have worked so hard. They have become so tight as a group and this week they have memories that will last a lifetime. Although 21 boys got to run out on Wednesday, there were 27 boys who played through the season and they have all played a massive part in this success.

“What made it even more special were the scenes at the end with the squad celebrating with their families and the 170 students and staff who travelled up to support. The noise in the stands was incredible and definitely gave the boys an extra push on the night.”

The game was watched by students, staff and parents, who had travelled to Worcester to support. Back on the school campus, students and staff gathered in the Houses to watch the livestream on any available screen.

Gordon’s School joined the ACE League four years ago when the Harlequins/Gordon’s Partnership Programme was launched. The programme allows talented rugby players to train as a professional player while receiving an outstanding education. Since the launch, five students have realised their dream of playing professional rugby and have left Gordon’s with Harlequins contracts. Many have also, and are currently, representing their country on the rugby pitch.

Gordon’s went into the final having lost just one game (by one point!) to Hartpury in October. Their climb through the ranks saw wins against The Bishop Wand Church of England School (24-17 and 22-15); Exeter College (35-14); Beechen Cliff School (43-21); South Gloucestershire and Stroud College (35-14); Truro and Penwith College (38-15); Bishop Burton College (59-7) and Stourport High School (40-7).