Burgess believes lifting the Champions Trophy is a fitting reward for his players’ school rugby careers

Former Bedford pupils and ex-England internationals Andy Gomarsall and Martin Bayfield were among those in the crowd at Saracens’ Allianz Park on Wednesday as their former school beat Epsom College 28-21 in the final.

Burgess’ son Oli, who like many of the Bedford team play for Northampton Saints’ Academy, put in a stellar performance at fly-half as he scored 18 points, including a fine try early in the second half, to guide his side to the title.

Barry Burgess said: “I am immensely proud of my team. They have worked so hard through pre-season and the rest of the season and deserved something like this and the recognition they get from it."

“The way our school programme is, we are not in a league as such but in terms of our week-to-week fixtures we have won all of our matches this year and the upper sixth team have been very successful all the way through the school and missed out on the Under-15 NatWest Schools Cup to the eventual winners in a tight game so they deserved something like last night as a final reward for their school rugby career.”

Northampton Saints winger Faysal Olabooye’s excellent try down the left touchline, and three penalties from Burgess, saw Bedford race to a 14-3 lead on Wednesday.

But the gap had closed to a solitary point by half-time as with just three minutes of the opening period remaining, Epsom’s openside flanker James Gulliver, who plays for Harlequins, crossed with another good try to make it 14-13.

Burgess regained the initiative just a couple of minutes into the second half though when he showed some excellent footwork and power before darting over close to the posts.

Epsom were once again more than a converted score away and were denied a great chance to reduce the deficit when Bedford’s Tunde Adewale stuck out his hand with several men on the overlap and was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on.

Epsom were unable to make the extra man count and although captain Niall Saunders did add another penalty, Bedford moved agonisingly close to the title from the restart.

Olabooye set Northampton Saints full-back Fraser Dingwall on his way and after beating a few men, passed to Phillip Cooper. The second row threw an impressive dummy before releasing centre Shay Boyd to finish off a superb team move. Burgess’ conversion made it 28-16 and four kicks out of five for the day for the Man of the Match winner.

Gulliver did power over for his second try of the game with the final attack of the contest but the Bedford victory had already been secured.

Burgess added: “The win meant a massive amount to the players. To play on that stage in front of a relatively big crowd for a schoolboys match is a huge thing for them and adds pressure."

“I think the pressure showed with both teams but to come out on top is a huge credit to the preparation they put in and the commitment and desire in the performances yesterday."

“We put our heart and soul into it. In terms of our attack we have played better and the boys would recognise that. But playing in a stadium like that and in front of a reasonably big crowd, I was pretty pleased with the performance itself – but then a lot of people would say I find a negative in something always."

“We could have been better in attack but the desire and commitment was excellent."

“I am really proud of the boys.”