College wins Truro Competition

TRURO, Cornwall — Oaklands College Saracens Apprentices gained an early season victory winning the prestigious Truro College Cup.

Played over two days in Truro, Cornwall, the competition sees some of the best schools and colleges in England and Wales compete against each other, and the young Saracens Apprentices were victorious beating a powerful Filton College, the academic partner of Bristol Rugby in the final 15-0.

On the way to the final, the players, all of whom are Saracens Academy Apprentices, studying A-Level or BTEC courses at Oaklands, with a full time rugby programme in the mornings, and academic lessons in the afternoons, had to contend with some truly testing weather.

Despite the monsoon conditions they were able to draw 5-5 with Hartpury College, beat Wasps Apprentices 21-10, beat Bishop Wordsworth School 10-0, and finally beat Newport Gwent Dragons Apprentices in a tight contest 6-3 to finish top of the group after the pool stages.

Oaklands were then drawn against previous winners Millfield School in the semi final, and despite going behind to an early penalty, tries from Tom Jubb and Ross Bird gave a 12-3 lead that would see them into a final against Filton.

Jubb and Bird were again on scoring form in the final, recording one try apiece, and with Eliott Clements Hill completing a touch line conversion of Bird’s try, along with a successful 40m penalty attempt, the 15-0 score line was enough to secure a thoroughly deserved victory for the Saracens Apprentices.

The Saracens Apprenticeship (AASE) programme is run in conjunction with Oaklands College, and is supported and sponsored by Edexcel. For more information about the Apprenticeship programme including applications, please contact mattdavies@saracens.net.

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