Prince Henry's GS 7

Morpeth GS 0

PRINCE Henry's Grammar School moved smoothly and efficiently into the fifth round of the Northern Schools' Shield but failed to make the score mirror their su-premacy.

In this game played at Otley RUFC's Cross Green ground on Saturday the Otley school team were by far the better-organised side.

The forwards, with skipper and hooker Tim Mobbs illustrating why he was in the England squad last year, bossing the scrums and making the telling runs with ball in hand.

No 8 Richard Bennett was a constant threat with his driving from the base of the scrum.

They were well supported by their colleagues and the Otley boys had a monopoly of the line-out due to excellent technique. Although over enthusiasm may be to blame for an inordinate number of turnovers they conceded, a fact which prevented them from capitalising on their terrific start, when they hammered the visitors' line for almost ten minutes without reward.

Although seldom looking a danger Morpeth showed gritty determination to keep their line intact.

Whilst the home backs produced a great variety of well rehearsed attacking moves, they were snuffed out until 15 minutes after the break.

Then a push for the line down the left flank was stopped and the ball went quickly back down the line where centre Alex Bearpark skilfully used his winger as a decoy to slip through into the corner.

From there the neat and well organised fly half David Crayon hit a beautiful conversion.

Prince Henry's continued to hold the upper hand but they never looked like letting Morpeth back into the game.

Prince Henry's are looking to do well in this competition following their success at national level last season when they played at Twickenham.

A number of this squad played in that final giving the Otley side a great edge in experience as they seek further glory.