Sun 22 Feb 2026, 11:00
The Marlborough Rugby Under 15s booked their place in the cup final with a composed and convincing 36–11 victory over a determined Sherborne side, rounding off a competitive semi‑final with plenty of quality and character.
Sherborne arrived with intent and made the sharper start, applying early pressure and nudging ahead 3–0. With both the wind and the slope in their favour, they looked ready to build on that platform. Instead, Marlborough’s defensive organisation tightened superbly. Strong line speed, committed tackling, and disciplined pressure at the breakdown repeatedly disrupted Sherborne’s rhythm, keeping them scoreless for the remainder of the half.
That defensive resilience allowed Marlborough to take control of the contest. Three well‑constructed tries from Christopher, James, and Oscar swung the momentum decisively, and with the conversions added, Marlborough went into the break 19–3 ahead.
The second half brought opportunities to stretch the lead further. Marlborough added three more tries—Bill crashing over, and both Christopher and Oscar securing their second of the afternoon—but a handful of missed chances and turnovers at the ruck prevented the scoreline from growing even more. Sherborne continued to compete and were rewarded with a second penalty and a late try.
Across the pitch, there were impressive individual displays and a collective effort that kept some powerful Sherborne runners contained. The boys showed composure, physicality, and ambition—and, as ever, kindly left the coaches a few things to polish up on Wednesday.
A strong win, a committed performance, and most importantly, a result that sends Marlborough into the cup final with confidence and momentum.
