STONYHURST College made it back-to-back Lancashire Under 18s Cup victories after digging deep to beat Lancaster Royal Grammar School 12-10 in a dramatic final.

The Clitheroe team stood firm for the final 15 minutes to be crowned county winners for the second successive year.

Head of rugby Simon Charles was full of praise for his double winners who showed true grit and determination to repel LRGS’s late fightback.

The cup holders had been leading 12-3 thanks to tries from Robbie McDermott and Matthew Isola - which was converted by Josh Katz - before Lancaster scored a interception try to pile on the pressure.

But despite being stuck in their own 22 for the closing moments of the game, Stonyhurst refused to buckle to successfully defend the cup.

“It was a fantastic team performance and we got there in the end as Lancaster put us under a lot of pressure right in the closing stages,” said Charles. “They scored a breakaway try and for the final 15 minutes they put us under a lot of pressure but it was a great show of discipline from the lads.”

It has been a memorable two years for the Stonyhurst side who last year were named Gilbert School Team of the Month by Rugby World in December, 2013 after winning all 16 games that season scoring more than 1,000 points.

Last year Tom Morgan captain the Stonyhurst to county glory with Victor Keunen and Alex Cruz repeating the feat this season.

And this season they have suffered just the one defeat - losing in the last 32 in the National Cup - as they have once again swept all before them.

Charles says that success has been down to a strong team ethic rather that talented individuals although joint captains, number eight, Keunen played for England Under 16s last season and outside half Cruz is a part of the Spain Under 18s set-up.

“They are a very talented teams but there are no real stand out players and they all work for each other as they showed in the closing stages of the final.

“There is a great team ethic and that has real stood out in the last two years which has been memorable for all the players.”

In the final itself, McDermott and Isola took centre stage with the midfield pairing crossing for tries.

Outside centre McDermott opened the scoring after good work by the Stonyhurst forwards before Lancaster replied with a penalty to make it 5-3 to the East Lancashire side. Isola then touched down under the post to give Katz the easiest of conversions before LRGS late fightback.

But there was to be no denying Stonyhurst more Lancashire Cup glory.

Stonyhurst has a proud rugby tradition with World Cup winners Will Greenwood Kyran Bracken and Iain Balshaw all studying there while former England coach Brian Ashton taught at the College.

More recently, the Collenge created history when, in 2012, four teams reached county finals.