On a rain-soaked and windswept Sunday, when many fixtures had already been called off, the U14 Surrey XV (a blended Waterfall Cup team composed of Warlingham and Sutton & Epsom players) travelled to London Irish RFC for what proved to be the standout performance of their cup run, writes U14s Head Coach Scott Toomey.

With a squad of just 16 players (12 from Warlingham and 4 from Sutton & Epsom), the boys arrived to find a challenging afternoon ahead. Already drenched before kick-off and facing a physical opposition, spirits were tested early. An upbeat, high-tempo warm-up led by Assistant Coach Chris Short helped lift energy levels and bring the group together, and once the whistle blew, focus quickly replaced the cold.

London Irish applied heavy pressure from the start, and despite a heroic defensive effort that held firm for nearly ten minutes, the Surrey XV went into half time four tries down. Heads briefly dropped, but a rallying message from their Head Coach reminded the boys exactly what they were capable of.

The turning point came just a minute into the second half. After Harry M was caught high while gathering a loose ball, the team responded with real determination. Scrum-half Jacob T soon struck back, showing sharp awareness to weave through the defence for Surrey’s opening try.

From there, belief surged.

When London Irish threatened again, it was Harry who produced the moment of the match. Still recovering from the earlier challenge, he chased down a powerful break, forced a fumble on the try line, gathered the loose ball and, with remarkable composure, ran the length of the pitch, stepping defenders and holding off the final challenge to score under the posts. A truly spectacular effort that lifted players and supporters alike.

The momentum continued as Alfie B, playing in the backs for the first time, powered over from fullback to add a third try and cap a stirring second-half display.

Although the final score didn’t fall in Surrey’s favour, the performance spoke volumes about the squad’s resilience, teamwork and pride. London Irish were quick to congratulate the boys afterwards, praising both their attitude and the quality of their rugby.

A very proud coaching team, and a performance the entire club can celebrate - very well done boys!