Frampton Cotterell win a thriller to see off Hornets and reach the semi-finals

Junior rugby: Frampton Cotterell Under-13s 12 Hornets Under-13s 10: Frampton Cotterell squeezed past arch-rivals Hornets to book themselves a place in the Combination Cup semi-finals at a windswept School Road, writes John White.

Frampton came into this quarter-final on the back of some high-scoring victories, but, as expected, their Weston counterparts proved to be formidable opponents and were equal to the home side in every department.

The game went down to the wire, but, ultimately, a first-half conversion by full-back James Knight proved decisive for Frampton, whose delighted coach Mark Wiggins paid tribute to his side for playing the right game in the conditions.

He said: "I think we played better than them when we didn't have the ball and our defence and commitment was fantastic. We played a bit more direct than we usually do and it paid off for us."

Hornets got off to a great start when wing Jamie Hoar scored out wide on the right in the third minute.

The visitors produced some excellent handling skills in near gale-force winds to work the ball along their backline to Hoar, who rounded his marker and dived in at the corner for the opening try.

Frampton replied five-minutes later when a determined run by Ben Puddy was rewarded with a try. The lock managed to dot the ball down close to the uprights, which helped Knight to land the conversion.

Frampton, now in the ascendancy, began to press and extended their lead in the 14th minute when flanker Callum Bleakman, who was in scintillating form for Cotterell, drove over for an unconverted try to make it 12-5 to the home side.

Hornets defended stoutly and managed to keep the home team at bay for the remainder of the half, knowing they would have the advantage of playing with the wind and the slope in the second period.

The second half was played largely in the Frampton Cotterell half. Hornets' influential No 8 Josh Caulfield carried the ball strongly and centre Thomas Davison made several snaking runs.

And it was Davison who crossed out wide on the left 15 minutes into the half for another unconverted try to make it 12-10.

Both teams had further chances but it was the home side who prevailed to join Chippenham, Clifton and Winscombe in the last four.

Hornets coach Matt Langdon said: "We got off to a great start but then went to sleep for the rest of the first half.

"We were camped in their 22 for much of the second half but just couldn't turn our possession into points."