Dulwich College are going to Twickenham after winning a place in the Daily Mail RBS Schools Under 18 Cup final next month.

The College beat St Joseph’s College from Ipswich 22-16, largely thanks to scrum-half Tommy O’Flaherty’s hat-trick of tries, in a tight affair at Broadstreet RFC on Saturday to claim their place.

It was not the first time in the competition they have had to hang on at the death to get through but coach Sam Howard, who played at Twickenham for Cambridge University in a varsity match, was delighted.

“The last three games have been very close but the belief of the boys in their defence was outstanding,” he said.

“Fair play to St Joseph’s, they played the better rugby but our boys just tackled, tackled, tackled.

“They are a great bunch and their spirit has got us through a lot this year.”

“I think we will go and enjoy the day.

“It’s every rugby player’s dream to play at Twickenham and these guys have got the opportunity and they thoroughly deserve it.”

O’Flaherty’s early try was cancelled out as St Joseph’s took an 11-5 lead at the start of the second, and they went further ahead with another try after O’Flaherty had sneaked over again.

Prop Josh Ibuanokpe’s try was converted by Jamie Whitford to put Dulwich in front and O’Flaherty’s third try secured the win.

Dulwich face Old Swinford Hospital School from Stourbridge in the final on April 4 after they beat King’s School Worcester 20-3.