Director of rugby Tony Yapp hailed the spirit of Blundell’s School after they just fell short of a dream trip to Twickenham in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup.

Blundell’s under-18s could not recover from conceding three tries in the first 20 minutes of their semi-final against Harrow School and eventually succumbed to a 39-14 defeat in Aylesbury.

Archie Joiner and Jamie Steward threatened to make it a contest in the final 20 minutes when they scored a converted try each but Harrow had too much in reserve and pulled clear again.

Yapp was proud of how Blundell’s fought back into the game but admits Harrow were the better team.

“In the first 20 minutes, we were a bit shell-shocked but after that we worked our way back into it,” he said.

“They were the better team, they were strong, organised and have got better players throughout.

“The one thing you can say about Blundell’s kids is that they have got heart.

“I am really proud of their efforts to stay in it, to create opportunities and I am really proud that they made a good game of it after 20 minutes.”

Continental Tyres and the RFU are working together to grow rugby through school-linked activity and 171,404 age grade players have registered to play this season, almost 3,000 more than the overall figure last year. 

Yapp has coached some of his squad since they were just eight years old and praised them for a fantastic season.

Alongside the semi-finals of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup, Blundell’s finished sixth at the St Joseph’s College Festival.

He said: “We have had a great season. Some great victories, a great cup run, the guys are gutted, but a lot of these kids I have coached since prep school, so years four, five and six. 

“To see them come all the way through to lose in a Cup semi-final it is gutting for me, because you want the best for them and the best opportunities. 

“This year has been great, we went to St Joseph’s College Rugby Festival, gave a really good account of ourselves and had a great Cup run. 

“I think when they look back on it, they will actually go; do you know what? What a great season.”

The Continental Tyres Schools Cup is an important part of the age-grade rugby landscape in England, with schools’ rugby often where players fall in love with the game for the first time. For more information visit the Continental Tyres Schools Cup section of the England Rugby Website