FELSTED were denied a fairy tale start in their bid to win a double in the Daily Mail Vase finals day at Twickenham.

The u15 Felstedians suffered a 19-13 defeat to Buckinghamshire’s Royal Latin School, who won the competition for the first time.

Tries from Matthew Lumb and Stefan Warner gave Felsted a five point half-time lead, but a street-wise performance from Latin in the second-half snatched the win.

Andrew La Chevalier, Director of Rugby at Felsted School, said: “Royal Latin took their chances better than us.

“I think we have a slightly younger team with a few year nine players in there and the overall day might have got a bit emotional for them.

“I am still incredibly proud of the boys. We have a small playing squad, those 22 boys are the same ones we use week in week out.

“They passed their 500th point of the season today which is nice, especially to get it at Twickenham.”

James Lennon’s composed penalty from the 22 metre line gifted Felsted the lead inside the opening two minutes following an aggressive start from the Uttlesford school.

Lennon’s penalty invigorated the Royal Latin ranks and a charging run from winger Sam Burgin forced a series of missed tackles from the Felsted defence before scoring in the corner.

Latin fly half Will Hughes, who picked out Burgin ahead of his run, was successful in his conversion attempt to give Latin the lead, but Felsted rallied before half-time.

Lumb reinstated Felsted’s lead with a marauding 60 metre sprint before touching down to the right of the posts but Lennon skewed the conversion wide.

Warner grabbed a second try for Felsted shortly before half-time.

The Felsted winger outpaced the Latin backs to latch onto a chipped delivery from Lennon five yards beyond the try line.

Warner’s score ensured Felsted went into half-time with a commanding ten point lead but Latin’s second-half response built the game up for a tense finish.

The Buckinghamshire school worked the phases before Elliot Pittwood forced his way through Felsted’s desperate defence to touch down and reduce the deficit to a single point.

La Chevalier added: “The boys have grown so much and gelled together completely. If we can keep them together over the next few this experience could serve them well and they might make another final and maybe win it”