Bishop prey on Warwick to reach U15 quarter-finals

Bishop of Hereford Bluecoat School have reached the last 16 of the Daily Mail U15 Schools Cup for the second time in three seasons.

Bishop's enjoyed their best-ever run in the competition two years ago whe they reached the sixth ground and the current side moved to within one game of a quarter-final place by beating a strong Warwick side 19-12 away in the fifth round.

The match was watched by a large crowd but Bishop's were not unsettled at having to walk onto the pitch through a tunnel of around 100 home supporters.

Bishop's scored two tries in the first ten minutes with Marcus Ashcroft picking up from the base of a scrum and driving over for the first which John Morris converted.

Then the Bishop's backs took advantage of some quick thinking by centre Fin Ralph and their confident handling put Morris over under the posts. This time Will Gallagher added the conversion.

Morris scored his second try, this time unconverted, when he crossed in the corner in the second half after hard work from Caleb Thomas and the other Bishop's forwards.

But Bishop's had to withstand a stirring fightback from Warwick before they secured victory. Warwick's powerful pack twice forced their way over the line in the last eight minutes.

George Bee, the Bishop's captain, said: "It was a tough match mentally, especially after we were 'welcomed' onto the pitch by so many Warwick

supporters. But it was an excellent test for the team and showed just how determined everyone was to win."