HEREFORD Cathedral School, continuing their round of the schools' sevens circuit, were within seconds of lifting the trophy at the King's School, Worcester Sevens for the first time when Warwick School snatched the title with the last play of a pulsating final.

Having lost by 40-5 to Warwick in their opening match, Cathedral woke up to book a quarter-final place with wins over King Edward's School, Birmingham, 24-7, and Ellesmere College, 19-12.

They beat the much fancied Bromsgrove School 26-17, thanks to fine individual performances from Charlie Meredith and Perry Pudge, and then booked a final place with a 19-14 semi-final win over their Daily Mail Cup conquerors Old Swinford Hospital School.

In the final, they did not put a foot wrong in taking a 17-5 interval lead against Warwick with tries from 'player of the tournament' Meredith, Pudge and Ben Price.

Warwick, aided by a stiff wind, hit back to edge into a 19-17 lead until Meredith regained the lead with an unconverted try following a superb length of the field move.

With seconds left on the clock Cathedral were penalised and Warwick claimed possession to go over under the posts with the last play of the game.