QUEEN Elizabeth High School warmed up for their appearance in the U18 schools county cup final with eye-catching performances this week.

The Hexham school booked their place in the final, to be played at Kingston Park on March 2, with a phenomenal 37-7 drubbing of the much fancied Royal Grammar School, Newcastle, in the semis. Their final opponents are yet to be determined.

While nine of the starting XV which impressed in the final four were missing, QE again showed their might in this week‘s Northumberland RFU Schools U18 Rugby Festival by finishing as joint winners.

Scores at the festival are not kept as the idea of the event is to entice more teenagers to play the sport, but the Hexham lads will be encouraged by the fact they remained unbeaten against the three teams providing opposition.

They were joined at Druid Park, in Woolsington, by Tyne Valley neighbours Haydon Bridge High who also put in good displays throughout and came close to holding Hexham in a close opener only for QE to secure the game‘s only try late on.

Hexham ran riot against a composite side from St Mary’s and Tyne Metropolitan with six tries, and then made sure they shared top spot with The Duchess‘ High School, of Alnwick, with a late try ensuring it was one apiece.

Haydon Bridge, who needed to draft in a couple of players from Kenton High, showed plenty of promise too and scored three tries in their win over St Mary‘s/ Tyne Met and managed to restrict a rampant Alnwick side to two as they went down.