TO beat Millfield, consistently the strongest rugby school in the country, you need a number of things. You must play to your full potential, you must take every chance available and you require a healthy slice of luck. Unfortunately the School fulfilled none of these criteria.

Millfield began ominously well, handling crisply and confidently, despite the appalling conditions. Their heavier forwards asserted themselves and twice in the opening 10 minutes the School line was breached as Millfield built up a 12 point lead.

The School gradually settled and began to come into the game. However, when they did get into promising position, basic errors forced them back again. Failure to secure line out ball being the biggest. A Will Edwards penalty was the School's only score of the half.

Turning around 12-3 the School at last began to play with some fluency. Unfortunately more basic errors let Millfield in for a third try. Will Edwards cut the deficit with two well struck penalties and the School proceeded to launch a series of attacks with Will Kershaw Naylor going close.

Millfield sealed victory in a fashion which summed up the home side's day. Under pressure near their own line they took a strike against the head only to then lose the ball from the subsequent ruck. Quick handling released the Millfield right winger to cross to complete the scoring, leaving the final score at 22-9 in Millfield's favour.

On Saturday the School travel to Taunton to play King's School.