Watford Boys Grammar School might have the blazers, the Latin mottos, and a founder with a Dame’s name, but on Friday night it was the rag-tag Fullerians who walked off with the shiny new silverware — the inaugural Dame Elizabeth Fuller Trophy. And how fitting it was: Dame Elizabeth founded WBGS, but it was her “Old Boys” who, in 1925, first came together to form what we now know as the Fullerians. Nearly a century later, history repeated itself — the old school met the upstarts, and the upstarts pinched the prize.

A Clash of Styles

This was billed as a battle of rugby philosophies: WBGS arriving with their athletic, battle-hardened swagger, and Fullerians bringing structure, cohesion, and the kind of pack mentality normally reserved for a pack of hounds at feeding time.

From the first whistle, it was the Fullerians who made the early running. A thunderous maul, orchestrated at high volume by scrum-half Ellis (the whole Watford probably heard his instructions better than the forwards standing next to him), rumbled over for captain Lucas to score. The conversion went begging — and would continue to be an ongoing theme of the night.

The Fullerians’s then hunted like wolves, ripping and jackaling everything WBGS put on the floor. One turnover too many and Ollie N finished off a sweeping move for a team try straight out of the training ground.

The very next kick-off? Gathered cleanly, recycled smartly, and then Charlie turned into an express train from his own half. His run included the humiliation of the WBGS full-back, who was twisted inside out like a pair of gym shorts before being left on the turf wondering what just happened.

Tempers boiled, and yellow cards came out. Nobody — and I mean nobody — had Tom in the “first card of the season” sweepstake. Proud mum moment, though: nothing says “I’m growing as a player” like refusing to back down in front of Grammar boys.

WBGS struck back with a sharp pick-and-go try, but the half closed with more Fullerians pressure and Charlie dotting down again after a mountain of forward work.

A Nervy Second Half

The second period was a more even affair — mainly because the Fullerians temporarily forgot what a scrum was and started donating territory like it was a fundraiser. WBGS seized the chance to score first after the break, but the sides traded tries to the finish, keeping the crowd on edge. Fullerians crossed again through Ollie N and Charlie, while Ollie G and Zac put in huge defensive shifts to keep WGBS at bay. Tom redeemed himself too, snatching a jackal late on that snuffed out a WBGS rally at the try line.

Final score: Fullerians 34 – 26 WBGS. A new cup, a new rivalry, and the bragging rights head straight to Fullerians HQ.

Player Shoutouts
• Forward of the Match – Leon: Carried like a man possessed, scattering his schoolmates with relish. Somewhere, WBGS selectors are wishing they’d picked him instead of facing him. Point proven!
• Back of the Match – Ellis: Loud enough to direct traffic on the M1 and fast enough with his service to keep the Fullerians firing.
• Twonk of the Day – Tom: For winning nobody’s sweepstake by being the first yellow card of the season. Wear it as proudly as your mam’s beaming smile, lad!

The Spartans Badge

Coach Bez’s Spartans-themed pep talk clearly worked: Fullerians came out like a pack of possessed dogs, snarling and scrapping for every inch. Spartan badge: earned.

Coaches’ Corner

The electric attack and the fight were a joy to watch. The next step? Controlling emotions and keeping focus for 70 minutes. If the Fullerians’” can do that, bigger prizes are waiting.

What’s Next?

The Dame Elizabeth Fuller Cup sits safely in the Fullerians clubhouse — but the WBGS 1st XV will want it back when they face the Colts later this year. As for the U15s, the league campaign begins next week. Bring it on.