It's Twickenham here we come!

The school's first XV rugby squad have been busy preparing for the biggest day of their lives - a cup final at Twickenham.

What is probably the most talented crop of players to ever represent the first team has reached the climax of the Daily Mail Under-18 Schools' Vase and will face St Columba's College from St Albans.

Their trip to headquarters comes after they staged a sensational comeback in the semi-finals.

They were trailing 15-3 at half-time to Kent's Cranbrook School but they re-grouped after the break and their greater fitness showed as they eventually won 23-15 at Castlecroft, the RFU's Centre of Excellence for Youth and Schools at Wolverhampton.

Coach Peter Latham said: "It was a superb occasion with an excellent atmosphere. It was a great experience for the lads - and now they can look forward to another one at Twickenham."

The Yorkshire school soon found themselves 10-0 down due to a penalty and converted try before a penalty from England Under-18 fly-half Danny Care reduced the arrears.

But another try put Cranbrook firmly in the driving seat at the break.

However, captain Luke Cooper led the Prince Henry's fightback.

The outside centre broke from the half-way line and touched down beneath the posts to allow Care to convert easily.

England international Care, like skipper Cooper attends Leeds Tykes Academy. He slotted over two penalties to put Prince Henry's into the lead at 16-15 for the first time.

Then came arguably the turning point of the match when the Cranbrook fly-half missed a kick in front of the posts and Prince Henry's took full advantage.

Care ran in a try, which he converted himself, giving him a personal points tally of 18 from the game.

Prince Henry's face St Columba's College in the final, the St Albans side having defeated Warwick School 18-12 in the other semi-final.

To reach the final the Prince Henry's side had a 26-17 win over local rivals Harrogate Grammar School which was followed by a 26-15 win over Yarm School.

Bolton School were their next victims in a 17-10 victory before the side met KEH School of Morpeth and triumphed by the same score, 17-10.

In the quarter-finals they were victorious 13-3 over Prince William School from Oundle.

This set up the semi-final against Cranbrook in which Prince Henry's had too much all round strength for their Kentish opponents.

The Prince Henry's squad has a number of extremely talented players in its ranks who have already gained county and national recognition but it is the unit Peter Latham has put together that has brought the school success.

Latham also coaches the town's Old Otliensians RUFC.

Mayor urges his town to give its full support

Otley Town Mayor Nigel Francis is appealing to people in the town to rally behind the team.

He is urging the public to support them at Twickenham and also help cover the expenses of their trip south.

He said: "This is quite a unique occasion and a great opportunity for this young team to represent not just the school but the whole of Otley.

"To get to this final is a tremendous achievement and one they've been working towards since November.

"I'd be happy to hear from any individual or firm that would like to lend their support."

The Town Mayor, an old boy of the school, will be at Twickenham to cheer the team on.

The 21 strong Prince Henry's squad will travel down to Twickenham tomorrow, for an overnight stay.

They will visit the famous museum at the ground before having a final training session prior to their big game on Saturday.

Although it will be a first for the lads it will not be the first time their coach Peter Latham has been on the hallowed turf. The former centre or winger went there as a player with Headingley.

The Otley lads will have been spurred on by the World Cup feats of Otley-born centre Mike Tindall whose father Phil and uncles Geoff, Robert, Steve and Stuart all went to Prince Henry's and played rugby there.

The team, who thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, will be decked out in new tracksuits and special shirts, will be backed by around 400 supporters with five supporters' coaches leaving the school early on Saturday morning to cheer them on. Others are travelling by car or train.

Typical of these is the Rayner family from Otley who will be decked out in special T-shirts showing the team photograph which recently appeared in this newspaper.

There to cheer on their son Peter, a forward, will be Mum Angela, Dad John and sisters Rebecca (20) and Charlotte (11). They will be accompanied on their journey by the parents of fellow player David Crayon.

"We are greatly looking forward to the day. The semi-final was superb so I can't even imagine what the final at Twickenham is going to be like. It will be a great moment for all the boys," said Angela.

There will be a lot of family pride as the squad includes two sets of brothers in Tim and Chris Mobbs and David and Michael Cooke.

Team coach Peter Latham said the squad were grateful to their many sponsors who have enabled them to go to Twickenham looking the part.

The list of sponsors includes Greenholme Mills Carpets, Skool Clothing, Eddie Brown Coaches of Leeming, Wm Sinclair and Sons, Otley Town Council, Cottage Stores, Vetrotech Saint-Gobain Ltd, Craftsman Tools of Otley, parent Mr Hebditch, and Old Otliensians RUFC

Mr Latham said: "We have also had great financial help from the Head Teacher, Mr Steele, and the school governors.

"Of course we are also grateful to the Daily Mail who sponsor the whole competition and will be paying for our hotel stay, " said Latham.

Win or lose when they return from Twickenham they will be given a civic reception on Sunday and will tour the town on an open topped bus to mark their achievement in reaching the final.

Town Mayor Nigel Francis has organised the civic reception for the players and their families.

Plans for an open top bus tour of the town from 1pm to 1.30pm on Sunday have been dropped. Instead the boys will be driven through the town by bus on carnival day.

Anyone interested in helping the team can contactc Otley Town Mayor Nigel Francis on 01943 463467.

Meet the

boys who

carry high

hopes

In the Prince Henry's squad, which has done the school and the town so proud, are:

LUKE COOPER - The captain who also represents Yorkshire, the North and England as a winger. Plays his club rugby with West Park, Bramhope.

DANNY CARE - Has gained representative honours with Yorkshire Schools U-16s, the North and England U-16s. The scrum-half is currently in the England U-18 squad and plays for Leeds Tykes Academy.

TIM MOBBS - The hooker has represented Yorkshire Clubs U-16s, North of England U-18s and is currently in the England U-18s squad.

CHRIS MOBBS - Younger brother of Tim he plays as a scrum-half for Yorkshire, North of England and England U-16s.

RICHARD BENNETT - A member of the Otley RUFC Academy Richard plays for the Yorkshire Clubs U-17 squad as a prop. He has been selected for the Yorkshire Terriers U-19 tour to South Africa in 2005.

Amman Boughan - The loose head prop plays for Otley and the Leeds Tykes Academy.

TOM HEBDITCH - Has represented the Yorkshire Schools A squad at Under-16 level.

MICHAEL COOKE - The inside centre is a member of the Otley RUFC Academy.

Other valuable members of the squad travelling to Twickenham are: Jon Smith, James Duggan, Simon Hill, Eddie Barrett, David Cooke, Alex Bearpark, David Crayon, Tom Carroll, Peter Rayner, Will Bridge, Sean Kennedy and James Dyson.

Cup hat-trick

is a big tonic

Prince Henry's GS 43

Doncaster Hall Cross 19

PRINCE Henry's Grammar School warmed up for their National Vase final at Twickenham on Saturday by winning the Yorkshire Cup.

"It was the third year in succession that we have won the Yorkshire Cup at first XV level. We defeated Harrogate and Driffield in previous finals and I think that a hat-trick of successes is a feat that will take some beating," said coach Peter Latham.

Within two minutes of the kick-off Michael Cooke, the inside centre, broke through the Doncaster defence to score under the posts.

This was followed shortly after by further great running from the Prince Henry's backs.

This time it was Tom Carroll who made the telling half break to feed his captain Luke Cooper who scored in the left hand corner.

On both occasions Danny Care, the England Under-18s player, found the direction and power to convert the tries.

The Doncaster school were stung into action and using their big, aggressive pack drove over for a try to bring them back into the game.

However, this was only a temporary blip for the Otley side as their pack began to re-assert their dominance allowing Chris Mobbs, the England Under-16s scrum half, to supply quality ball to his backs.

Danny Care took his opportunities brilliantly and his tremendous acceleration and vision saw him run in a hat-trick of impressive tries.

The forwards were not to be outdone however and James Duggan, the vastly experienced second row forward, bulldozed his way over from five metres to score his second try in successive games.

His first and only scores in seven years of loyal and committed service to the school teams.

Can he make it a hat-trick at Twickenham?