Two teams from Woodhouse Grove School have the scent of Twickenham in their nostrils.

The Apperley Bridge school have claimed a second quarter-final placing in the Daily Mail Schools Vase competitions after the under-18s beat Calday Grange, from Wirral, 8-6 in a hard-fought tie.

The senior Grove side thereby join their under-15 schoolmates, who were already into the last eight of their section and are also just two wins away from an outing at the most famous stadium in world rugby.

“There’s a real buzz in the school at the moment,” said director of sport Roger Howard.

“We have lots of very talented young players right across the age groups and the success of the two sides in the ‘Daily Mail’ has really inspired all the lads.

“This really is the place for a talented young rugby player to be at the moment. The mood is really vibrant.

“We were always hopeful that the under-15s would be able to make an impact but I think the under-18s have surprised themselves and risen to the challenge of the competition, which has given added purpose to what at times has been a difficult season.

“Our fixture list offers little respite and, while the poor weather has created some opportunity for injuries to clear, it has caused havoc with arrangements and a lack of continuity week to week.

“Now I think they have a really good chance to progress if they are all available and are in the right frame of mind on the day.

“Unfortunately, it looks as though an injury to centre Josh Fawcett in the Calday Grange game may be quite serious, which would be a bad blow, but we’ll have to see what the medics have to say.”

Howard added: “The Vase has been a really good vehicle for us. It has motivated the team and united them brilliantly, which is part of the beauty of these competitions.

“It shows in the way we’ve been able to find the spirit to snatch victories from the most difficult situations, notably against Crossley Heath and Wirral.”

While a genuine team effort and a collective sense of purpose has been crucial to success, the team also benefit from some key figures with outstanding potential.

The calm leadership of England Under-17 and Leeds Carnegie Academy tight-head prop Jake Armstrong, the finishing prowess of pacy wing Alex Masterson (Yorkshire 18 Group and recently English Independent Schools’ Barbarians), the line-out skills of Harry Cody Owen (Yorks 18 Group) and talents of back-row forward Josh Feeney, the sole remaining member in the school of the under-15 team who won the Vase at Twickenham in 2007, have been cornerstones of the side.

Both Grove and Calday Grange played their best rugby against a stiff breeze.

The visitors, who contained a sprinkling of quality Cheshire county players, led 6-5 at the break, a one-point advantage looking a slender buttress against the elements.

But a well-organised Calday driving game restricted the home side to a single penalty goal in the second half by full back Dominic Copsey, to add to Jack Baker’s first-half touchdown.

It was just enough to get the Yorkshire side’s noses in front and they were never seriously threatened once they took lead.

The under-18s now await a home quarter-final tie against the winners of the postponed round-seven tie between Hereford Cathedral School and King Edwards, Birmingham.

The under-15s, unbeaten since their Prep School days, face the massive challenge of travelling to much-fancied Whitgift in their quarter-final tomorrow.