Photo: King's
King’s School’s 1st XV have secured their third Cheshire Cup title in four years, defeating Sandbach School 17–8 in a hard-fought final at a rain-soaked Wilmslow Rugby Club.
King’s opened their cup run with a dominant 50-point victory over Caldy Grange in the quarter-finals before edging past local rivals Stockport Grammar in a tight and physical semi-final.
The final brought a familiar opponent, with King’s and Sandbach having met earlier in the season under the floodlights — a match King’s narrowly won. This time, however, the conditions were even tougher, as heavy rain and mud forced both teams into a tactical kicking battle throughout the second half.
Sandbach were first on the scoreboard with a well-struck penalty, but King’s soon settled into the contest. Their set piece became the defining feature of the match, and a kick to the corner was rewarded when hooker Rory Horne powered over from a strong lineout drive. Fly-half Hayden Oliver added the conversion to give King’s the lead.
Sustained pressure followed, and number eight Josh Phillips brought King’s close once again with a powerful carry. Moments later, prop Joseph Brady found a gap near the ruck to score their second try, extending the advantage to 12–3 at half-time.
The decisive moment of the final came in the second half. A loose Sandbach clearance fell to front-rower Caolan Coulthurst, who produced an extraordinary 60-metre solo run — sidestepping one defender, fending off two more, and outpacing a fourth to score a stunning try that electrified the King’s supporters.
Sandbach battled back with a late try following sustained pressure, but King’s defence held firm, and the team closed out the match with composure, kicking the ball into the night sky to seal the Cheshire Cup once again.
The victory marks a remarkable achievement for King’s, further cementing their standing in Cheshire school rugby.
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