Jesmond’s Royal Grammar School remains on course for a trip to Twickenham after progressing to the quarter-finals of rugby’s prestigious Daily Mail RBS Cup.

The under-18 team of RGS secured its place in the last eight of the schools competition after a battling 0-0 draw against King’s Macclesfield in the seventh round last month.

As the score suggests, defence was firmly on top at Macclesfield. RGS boasts an international starlet amongst their ranks, but even England under-18 fly half Joel Hodgson (pictured) could not break the deadlock. Only a try-saving tackle in the last minute from winger Tom Fawcett kept the scores level, which saw RGS progress on the “away draw” rule.

Coach Andy Watt was delighted with his team: “I’m very happy with the players’ performance – they put in a very impressive defensive effort. We showed our rustiness in attack after a six-week layoff, but by the quarter-final we will have had a few games under our belts again and should be ready to go.”

More than 500 schools from across the country entered the first round of the under-18 competition, and RGS is now just one of eight teams still standing. The independent school is hoping for a return to Twickenham, 16 years after lifting the trophy in 1994.

The quarter-final draw has been unkind to RGS, handing the school a long trip to Skinners in Tunbridge Wells. “The long away trip will make it a very close game. Hopefully we should have enough quality and big game experience in our side to see us through and onto the semi-final,” Wells added.

Jesmond Local will be following RGS in the Daily Mail RBS Cup – check back for updates on the team’s progress.