RGS U18s advanced into the quarter-finals of the Daily Mail Cup with a commanding performance on Wednesday.

The RGS, coached by Colin Tattersall, beat Downside 22-0, the second time they have dumped Downside out of the cup in successive seasons.

Tattersall said: "It was an outstanding result and I was very pleased with the performance. Downside were unbeaten this year and have already been named Team of the Month."

RGS, whose preparations had been hindered by bad weather and exams, flew into a 12-0 lead after ten minutes.

Playing into the wind, they scored a good try through Dean Powles and then increased the lead through Anthony Peck from a back row move, with Julian Allfrey adding the touchline conversion.

Downside came back after RGS lost their captain Tom Rees, but another try by number eight Andy Daniel made it 17-0 at half time.

RGS then tried to retain possession to avoid having to kick into the wind and held out against the pressure before Andrew Zair scored another forwards try to seal victory.

They will now play Northamptonshire side Campion School in the quarter-finals as they look to emulate the success of previous years by going all the way.

But the U15 side had no such luck when they were beaten 22-17 in the sixth round by Queen Elizabeth High School, Bristol.

RGS, who have won the cup twice, were against the wind in the first half and found themselves 12-0 down at half time.

A try just after the break brought them back into it but they conceded another try to make it 19-5.

Two further RGS scores made it 19-17 before QEHS added a penalty. But RGS just couldn't score another try that would have given them victory by virtue of scoring more tries.

January 24, 2003 10:00