Skipper’s swansong treble helps side retain Berkshire Cup

CAPTAIN Rudi Derbyshire marked his final game at the Oratory with a memorable hat-trick to lead his troops to a convincing 52-7 Berkshire Cup final success against Piggott School.

The defending champions had to repel some early pressure under the Maidenhead RFC floodlights, but they nearly took the lead as Wilf Quinn collected Max Hucker’s kick before scorching clear, only for play to be called back for a knock-on.

Oratory did hit the front soon after, though, Adi Hector making the initial break before sending J Ramus over for a score added to by Hucker.

The latter, who enjoyed an outstanding game at fly-half, then timed a perfect pass for the electric Hector to double the try tally from some
40 metres out.

The conversion was again added for 14-0, and it was the versatile Derbyshire — starting at loose-head prop for the first time – who scored the third, burrowing under the posts from close range.

Hucker landed another simple kick, and there was further joy before the break as live wire wing Quinn raced home. The onslaught continued after the interval, pint-sized scrum-half Ethan Shuttleworth dancing through before being stopped just short of the try line, only for the ball to be spun wide for Max Schuetz to dot down.

To their credit Piggott kept battling away, and following a spell of sustained pressure — which saw their opponents concede four penalties inside their own five-metre line — grabbed a deserved converted score. Yet the powerful Derbyshire, an inside centre before converting to the pack in sixth form, got the show back on the road with his second of the afternoon out wide.

And the talismanic leader then wrote one final script following a superb season as skipper, bursting down the left before touching down for a treble. Hucker regained his range from the tee for 45-7, substituted late on along with Derbyshire and Hector as the trio were given an emotional departure.

There was still time for Oratory to breach the half century, one of the most improved players of the campaign, back row Charlie Mossop dotting down before Schuetz added the coup de grâce with the conversion.

Delighted head of rugby, Mike Hennessy, said: “The team has progressed particularly well in the last few weeks of term, beating Pangbourne College and Magdalen College School before defending the cup.

“Credit to Piggott who played well, but I thought we were excellent and at times played with real pace and power.

“My thanks to the players who leave at the end of the year, and I hope this will be a memory they cherish in the future.”