ST Ambrose College rugby team came up agonisingly short in a once in a lifetime trip to Twickenham.

The cherry and blues lost 17-12 to Northampton School for Boys in an end-to-end National Schools' Plate final.

Despite dominating possession and playing some fluid running rugby, the Ambrosians forgot the plot at the death failing to convert after laying siege to the Northampton line for the last 10 minutes.

Cheered on by an army of 300 travelling fans at the spiritual home of world rugby, the young men from the Hale Barns Catholic grammar school were quick out of the blocks and it was mighty Sale and Cheshire number eight Ciaran Booth who rampaged over for the first try after a clinical rolling maul off the back of line-out.

Jacob Daldry converted with calm assurance, then adding another penalty before Northampton opened their account with a charge down and chase to the line.

Sale and Cheshire centre, the livewire Conor Doherty, then made a dashing break through the cover to put Ambrose 12-7 in front.

But then the big man Niall Broderick, a stalwart of the team's progress to the finals, was sin-binned for handling in the maul, and Northampton took control with another converted try and drop kick.

With Broderick chastened but back to his best on the pitch, Ambrose were gunning for the win but continually fluffed their lines, knocking on at vital moments and and not seeing the over laps emerging before them.

St Ambrose College coach Paul Rush said: “It was a great occasion and the RFU treated us like kings, but we are disappointed.

"We failed to play heads-up rugby when it mattered most.

"We genuinely felt if we played again we would win, but you have to take your chances.”