ONE year ago Jackie Stretton was lying in hospital in a drug-induced coma with a broken back after her car was hit in a 100mph police chase.

Today she is training, competing and winning professional athletics races across the country.

Jackie was confined to a body brace for three months after Jason Young, 21, of Axminster, Devon, and Tyrell O'Donnell, 20, of Torquay, caused a four-car pile-up on the A414 in Danbury in April 2012 in a Fiat Stilo stolen from Suffolk.

Jackie, a former St John Payne pupil, was driving from her home in Maldon to Chelmsford when her Toyota Aygo was hit by a blue VW Beetle before she crashed head-on with the police car.

With a broken back, broken leg and bleeding on the brain, she said she cried every day.

But now the 26-year-old is fighting fit after a miraculous recovery and is back competing in triathlons and adventure races where competitors run, cycle, climb or kayak their way through gruelling countryside courses with only their orienteering skills to guide them.

Jackie told the Chronicle: "I can't believe it has been a year – I spent six months lying on a sofa and six months trying to live the life I missed out on, I suppose.

"I have been pretty much working, training at the gym and racing.

"I was determined to compete in my first race before I turned 26-years-old on October 23 last year, and I did it on October 21 – and I won it!

"It was a Tri-Adventure which is two hours of running, cycling and orienteering in Surrey – so not an easy one."

Jackie, who couldn't even feed herself or stand up for longer than a minute last year, has even begun competing in trail racing, which her doctors advised her not to do because of her injuries.

But Jackie said: "As soon as someone tells me I can't do anything' I am determined that I will do it.

"I have done three trail races, and I've won two and came third in the last one.

"I am at the gym five days a week, I love it, I just have to keep training."

Jackie said she began training as soon as her back brace came off last year.

But despite her recent racing successes, she admitted her body is still recovering from the accident.

She said: "I am not fixed yet. I still see my physiotherapist, I get a lot of pain in my back and I am still sore all the time.

"There is still a visible difference in muscle between my legs and you can still see the big scar on my knee.

"I still have big lumps where my bones broke and the tissue has not settled back quite where it should have which I am quite self-conscious about.

"I will always be in some degree of pain for the rest of my life, but I am not going to let that stop me."

Jackie heard the news in January that Jason Young and the driver Tyrell O'Donnell had been released half way through their 16 and 18-month sentences, to which she sighed: "That's the criminal justice system for you.

"They have got over it, but I want to show them that what they did could not destroy my life.

"It was really upsetting to see that they were both released, but fingers crossed they have both learned their lesson and they won't hurt anyone else.

"I wouldn't wish what happened to me on my worst enemy."

Jackie, who works at Sainsbury's head office in Chancery Lane, London, is finally fulfilling another lifetime ambition – to move into her own flat, which is near Chelmsford train station.

She said: "I am very excited. That's the thing when you get a near-death experience, you suddenly realise the things you want in life, things you wouldn't have done otherwise.

"I really am a grown up now."

But her move from Maldon to Chelmsford also means she will have to be leaving her 'second home', Harpers Fitness gym at the Blackwater Leisure Centre.

"I am so upset to be leaving my gym – I know everyone there – I am actually so emotional about it," she said.

"I think they are going to be missing a very vital piece of equipment when I leave.

"I probably will go to Nuffield Health, in Chelmsford, but I have checked out all the gyms around me in Chelmsford and taken classes – it is quite comic that these are the things that matter to me."

BILLERICAY Town manager Craig Edwards wants his side to call on the spirit of last season as they enter the final stages of their battle to stay in Blue Square Bet South.

The Blues saw another game called off at the weekend when their trip to Farnborough fell foul of the snow, and, starting with tonight's visit of Boreham Wood, Edwards' men have four games in eight days.

They remain in the bottom three, and with just one win in ten and three defeats on the spin, it has been a tough time for the Blues in their first season at this level.

But Edwards insists last season's run-in was just as tough and that they can repeat that this time around.

"It's going to be a battle," he said. "But last year when we had ten games to go we had to win virtually all of them to get into this league and we don't have to do as much this year, but it's going to be as difficult as we're playing better sides.

"The boys are very upbeat which is fantastic considering we've had a very poor run.

"There's still a quarter of the season to go. The first half of the season was decent.

"We had a dreadful third quarter and now we're hoping for a good final quarter and if we do, we'll stay up."

Edwards has boosted his squad this week with three new signings, but goalkeeper Kevin Scriven, defender Blaine Hudson and midfielder Bai-Mas Lettejellow have all had to wait to make their debut – a wait made longer after the game with Boreham Wood was put back 24 hours.

Edwards added: "The major concern was the weather, to get the pitch recovered from Saturday.

"But with England playing as well, there would be an impact on the gate. As much as our supporters are a loyal lot, minus 1C, a cold night and we're playing Boreham Wood or England on the TV, the chances are that a lot of people will take the latter option.

"I had to add to the squad. It's a great help to be able to bring in Kevin Scriven. He was the best goalkeeper in the league last year, he's vastly experienced and that can only help in the run-in.

"Blaine Hudson, he's not cost us anything, it's part of the deal for Joe Anderson going to Cambridge so that's a great deal for us at this stage and Bai-Mas is another very experienced player."

The Blues host Hayes & Yeading on Saturday, after which the club is holding a benefit night for Edwards' son Craig, who suffered a career-ending injury at Dorchester last month.

And Edwards added: "I want to say a few thank yous. The shops down the high street have been extremely generous, the club have been fantastic, we've had donations from other clubs which has been really great.

"It's fantastic. It's the response not just from the people of Billericay and the club itself but the wider footballing community, it's been wonderful.

"Craig would like to pass on his thanks. It should be a good night, there'll be a lot of faces old and new and hopefully it'll help him get through the next few months."

AN ISLAMIC interfaith group has called on the people of North Weald to show tolerance to Islam and think of Muslims as peaceful people.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community held an exhibition at North Weald Village Hall last Saturday to try and change the perceptions of the Islamic community and mark its 100th anniversary in the UK.

Talking at the meeting, Fazal Rehman, regional president of the community, explained that people too often think terrorist when they see a Muslim.

"A handful of people who call themselves Muslims have given Islam a bad name. The majority of Muslims are good, peaceful people. We want to clear up the misconceptions," he said.

"We are not terrorists. In our community we believe in peace, freedom and equality and we condemn the acts of terrorism.

"We want to show you a true picture of Islam rather than what you see in the media."

The event was attended by members of the community and councillor Kay Twitchen, chairman of Essex County Council, who have recently given £9,500 to the village hall.

Nick Dorras, 65, chairman of the village hall, said the event was a success and, considering the snowy conditions, well attended.

"The event was excellent and everyone got involved. I was surprised anyone came when I saw the snow but enough turned up to make it a success.

"This should be the start of a really nice relationship within the community and it may be turning into an annual event.

"From our point of view they fulfilled our charity's aims to provide entertainment and education and, most importantly, they made a perfect cup of tea and laid on free sandwiches."

The Ahmadiyya Community was open to questions throughout the event and locals asked about all manner of things.

Cllr Twitchen and several other attendees were particularly interested in the issues surrounding women in education and head covering.

The Ahmadiyya Community built London's first purpose-built mosque in 1924 after establishing itself in Britain in 1913 and now has more than 90 branches in the UK.

More information about their work can be found at ahmadiyya.org.uk

REGULARLY visiting his mum in the county, Jack Straw admits he easily falls back into being "Essex".

Having grown up in Epping Forest, the politician was an obvious choice to join this year's Essex Book Festival tour, having recently released his first book.

Last Man Standing: Memoirs of a Political Survivor tells the tale of how he rose from being one of five children brought up by a single parent in an Essex council house to spending 13 years and 11 days in government – a Labour record.

During his career, he has spent long and influential spells as Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary.

Before going on stage in front of a packed audience at The Helena Romanes School, in Parsonage Downs, Great Dunmow, he said: "I didn't hesitate in accepting the invitation to do the Essex Book Festival because of my Essex connection.

"I have not lived in Essex since I was 18, but it is where I am from. "My mum still lives three-quarters of a mile from where she was born, in Loughton. I joined the Labour group in the very building she lives in, in the 1960s.

"I decided to write the book now because I am no longer in government, I had the time and I was lucky enough to have an agent and publisher who wanted me to write it.

"It has given me a great satisfaction to write a book that has been well-received.

"When you spend ages looking at a blank screen and then you get inspiration, it's very exhilarating."

The Right Honourable Jack Straw MP – his current full title – was interviewed on stage by BBC political documentary-maker Michael Cockerell.

Mr Straw, who believes he suffered depression for 30 years due in part to his "wacky" childhood, admitted he would not have gone into as much detail about his private life in his book had he still been in government.

The MP for Blackburn in Lancashire said: "You have to be very careful not to appear as though you are looking for sympathy. Plus, my wife and I agreed early on if we were going to survive we had to keep our family below the radar.

"Your family life and where you live are irrelevant to whether you can do your job properly.

"I don't go to my GP and ask about his family life; it's no different."

Mr Straw's family did hit the headlines, however, when he was Home Secretary and his son William, then aged 17, was caught by an undercover newspaper reporter selling drugs.

He said: "It was terrible; the whole thing was vile. I received a call from Piers Morgan telling me the story was going to run.

"I felt very sorry for William, but I also felt very angry and guilty as he would not have been in that position if I were not Home Secretary.

"We were all bloody idiots at 17, but the difference is our dads weren't Home Secretary."

Mr Straw also spoke openly about his time in government and, when asked if he believed in the war in Iraq, he said: "I had my reservations about the decision to go to war, but in the end I decided it was the right thing.

"With hindsight, knowing what we know now, of course not.

"But, would I make the same decision again with the same information available to us at the time? Yes, I would.

"It was the biggest, most difficult decision of my life. One thing I can assure everybody is that nobody lied. We were all trying on big, heavy rubber suits to protect our staff from chemical and biological warfare."

Last Man Standing is available now for £20.

ESSEX's pre-season preparations have been hindered after the snow caused their two-day friendly with Worcestershire to be called off.

Last week's clash with Middlesex could hardly be described as a "warm-up", with the sight of fielders and even bowlers wearing beanie hats.

That fixture amounted to two one-day games, one 45 overs and one 35, and Essex were victors in both, with their bowlers particularly impressing.

In the first, on Thursday, Middlesex were restricted to 123-9 in their 45 overs, with the wickets shared around Essex's five bowlers – Maurice Chambers, Tymal Mills, Graham Napier, Reece Topley and newcomer Saj Mahmood.

Essex chased down the target with three wickets and four overs to spare, thanks to a patient 75 not out from Greg Smith after Toby Roland-Jones had ripped through the top order on his way to figures of 4-15.

Sam Arthurton offered good support to Smith with 26, but even though he and Napier both fell late on, Smith saw the home side through. The following day, Essex batted first and scored 146-3 in their 35 overs, with Mark Pettini top scoring with an unbeaten 53. Tom Westley made 43 and skipper James Foster 46 as the home side set a challenging total in bitterly cold conditions.

In truth, Middlesex never looked like getting close and they eventually ended up with 94-5. They made just three in their first six overs before Mills took the first of his two wickets. Napier and Mahmood grabbed one each, with a run out also sending a Middlesex man back to the warmth of the pavilion.

With this week's game cancelled, Essex are next in action for the annual three-day fixture with Cambridge MCCU on April 5, before starting their LV> Championship campaign at home to Gloucestershire on April 10.

AS his partner battles cancer in hospital, Jim Wakeling is desperately hoping her missing cat will show up and provide a welcome boost to her morale.

Sylvia Manning, 54, went into Basildon Hospital with multiple myeloma on Friday, February 22 – the same day the couples' beloved "Bear" was last seen.

The two-year-old short-haired tabby and white cat has a distinctive folded over right ear, was wearing an orange collar and is micro-chipped.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Mrs Manning said: "I was called in to hospital and got kept in.

"Bear was with Jim at home that night but he hasn't been back since – I feel terrible I can't do anything or go and look for him.

"I really hope someone will find him, so far we have had a few people thinking they have found him and Jim has rushed home only to find it was another cat that looked similar to Bear.

"He is a lovely playful little boy, who we rescued at the same time as Tatiana, one of our other cats.

"They are the youngest cats in our family and love to play. Tatiana has been missing him more than anyone else as they were very good friends."

Mr Wakeling, 55, of Buntling Lane, Billericay, has been doing all he can to find Bear since, including posting notices on missing cat websites, flyering the neighbourhood and contacting the Gazette.

He said: "Bear is very friendly and loves food. We got him six months ago from former model Celia Hammond's rescue centre.

"My partner and I are big cat lovers and have six cats in total. I've listed Bear on missing cat websites and leafleted a large area of Billericay to the east of the high street and south of the railway and some of the sightings have led us to think he may have crossed over to the west side of the High Street.

"Basildon Leaflets kindly helped us and covered an extra area around South Green at no cost. It's likely that he is moving between other houses without being seen. "

Mr Wakeling pointed out that often people are unsure what to do if they find a stray cat.

He said: "Checking the stray's collar and phoning the number is a good start and if not taking it to the vets to scan for a microchip, which is free.

"They could also check out various lost cat websites"

Bear was last seen near Greens Farm Lane. A small reward will be given to whoever manages to return him to his home.

Anyone who has any information on Bear's whereabouts should call Mr Wakeling on 01277 632527 at the weekend or in the evening, 01268 400554 on weekdays or 07429 277434 on his mobile.

A man and woman trapped following a seven-vehicle crash on the M25 were rescued by firefighters on Easter Sunday morning.

A FOUR-LEGGED friend is helping youngsters in Brentwood feel at ease with dogs – although her breed is often associated with less amiable behaviour.

Cassie, a nine-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, has recently become a Cynophobia Assistance Dog.

Cynophobia is the fear of dogs and Cassie will now take part in classes in Brentwood to help cure children of this fear.

The black and white staffie collected her certificate alongside owner Mark Lee last Sunday and has been taking classes with children for four weeks.

Mr Lee, 34, of Burns Way, Hutton, said: "Staffies have a bad name they don't deserve, that's one of the reasons that I put Cassie in for the classes.

"She's a lovely dog and I wanted to be able to show people that staffies can be very friendly and intelligent dogs."

Cassie had to pass a test to become a Cynophobia Assistance Dog and got through without any trouble. She now attends weekly classes at Essex Dog Training Centre in Doddinghurst Road, and helps children get used to the animals alongside 15 others.

Roy Dyer, who runs the classes, said: "Cassie was tested on her temperament, control, canine behaviour and obedience.

"Staffies generally respond very well to training. I've worked with hundreds of dogs of that breed and they are usually great with youngsters.

"The problems, if they do have any, are that they can react very quickly when challenged by another dog. But many do not behave in such a way, for instance Cassie, who works alongside 15 other dogs and is as good as gold."

To pass the tests Cassie had to behave well while being brushed by a stranger, left alone with a stranger, nudged and grabbed – all the things a child might do. She also had to lie down and stay without her owner, run alongside a person and sit with children and leave food alone as asked.

"If a dog jumps up once during training or their assessment, they will not be able to participate in training or retake the test for another year," said Mr Dyer. "This is because jumping up is often what is most feared by those who are scared of dogs."

Mr Lee has owned Cassie since she was a puppy and wants to improve the image of Staffordshire bull terriers.

He said: "People only ever hear the bad about Staffies. Like any dog they should be trained but they tend to be friendly and intelligent.

"Cassie's sessions are going really well and she enjoys the attention. It's nice to be able to educate children and their parents about dogs and show them that the breed is not what they may have expected."

"Staffies are misunderstood" – see Your views pages 18&19

ESSEX'S top pair of professional racing cyclists, Chelmsford-born Ian Stannard (Team Sky) and Great Baddow's Alex Dowsett (Movistar Team), have been clocking up the miles in recent weeks, and in doing so have produced some great results.

After an early season programme that has seen Stannard racing in Australia and the Middle East, the 25-year-old has been tapering his form for the one-day Classics in March and April.

He opened his account putting in a heroic ride at Italy's top one-day race of the year, the Milan-San Remo.

Usually held over a near 300-kilometre route, this year's race was cut short by nearly 50 kilometres because of horrendous snow.

That meant after racing for nearly 120 kilometres, the riders were transported in their team buses to a new starting point.

Stannard was riding the race to help Sky's leaders, Geraint Thomas and Edvald Boasson Hagen. But after Thomas had crashed at the foot of the Cipressa, and Boasson Hagen had drifted off the pace later, the Essex rider was left to race for himself.

On the final climb of the day, Stannard and the French rider Sylvain Chavanel, pulled away to open a lead they held for five kilometres before they were pulled back.

But with eventual race winner Gerald Ciolek and pre-race favourite Peter Sagan, breathing down his neck Stannard bent over his bike to take sixth place.

Stannard had hardly dried out from the snow and rain of San Remo before he was once again lining up for three Belgstannard races in five days.

Starting with nearly 200 kilometre, Stannard didn't seem to be suffering from his efforts the previous weekend and was still at the forefront of the action in the final kilometre.

However, he was again out-done by the race winning sprinter and finished ninth overall

Dowsett has just completed a hectic racing schedule that included ten races in under three weeks.

He hopes that his results have consolidated his position with his Spanish team for a debut in the Giro d'Italia in May.

Dowsett competed in the seven day Tirreno-Adriatico and it was his performances in Italy's second biggest stage race that really boosted his chances in the Giro. A podium placing in his first time trialling effort for the team was a great reward for Dowsett.

Dowsett then had to ride five other stages before the closing 9.2 kilometre individual time trial.

Dowsett commented: "It was a good time trial. Perhaps not what I'd hoped for, but my first one for the team."

Both Dowsett and Stannard will be lining up for their teams soon in the Tour of Flanders.

For many, it's a race bigger than the World Road Race championships.

A MUSLIM group which battled to retrieve thousands of pounds pledged for a mosque in Brentwood could soon launch a renewed bid to find a permanent home.

The modest community of Brentwood Muslims were dealt a cruel blow when the imam they thought was acting to help them build a mosque in 2005 tricked them out of more than £32,000.

Miah Rahman working with Mohammed Edoo, promised to use the thousands of pounds in donations collected from supporters to build a Muslim temple they could call their own.

The group, which had been using a local community hall near Brentwood Station, were left out of pocket after the proposals were shelved when the pair were outbid on a 1.4 acre former garden centre in Pilgrims Hatch in 2008.

From the ashes of the failed bid, the Brentwood and South Essex Cultural Association (Baseca) was born.

The group was given a glimmer of hope last month when a county court judge ordered Rahman and Edoo to repay more than £32,000 to 13 claimants after being found guilty of breach of trust.

Secretary Rajack Soobratty says the sum was a fraction of the £266,000 he says was given to the pair and urged anyone who had lost out to the East London-based cleric to lodge their own cases.

This week, the 63-year-old said Baseca, which now has more than 300 members, was ready to actively search for somewhere to call home again.

Members are currently using a modest, nondescript community hut owned by the Brentwood army cadets.

Mr Soobratty said: "Before any further fundraising takes place, we are keen that the group is seen to act transparently. We do not want to go through what we went through with Rahman again.

"We want to create a solid mechanism and an airtight system that will protect people's money as well as insulate the trustees against any problems.

"Once the structure is in place, we will approach people who are willing to help us find a place for us to set up a place of worship which could be used as a community centre as well.

"We have got a few trustees in place, but we need to properly set up an executive committee to make sure that everything is done above board.

"Once we have established that group, we can use that as a springboard to the next stage.

"We are reaching to people of all faiths and those of no faith. We want it to be somewhere for the whole community."

A 27-year-old man was carried on the bonnet of a car for 300 metres after it collided with him on Billericay high street.

The man from Billericay was attempting to hail a mini-bus style cab from outside the Chequers Public House when the vehicle collided with him at around 12.25am on Sunday March 31.

He is then reported to have been carried on the bonnet for approximately 300 metres before coming off.

It is believed there was a further collision between the mini-bus and the man before it drove off without stopping.

The pedestrian suffered injuries to his head and back but did not require hospital treatment.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident they can call Laindon Traffic Police on 101 or ring Crimestoppers 0800 555 111.

SOFT and furry they might not be but there is no shortage of cuteness when it comes to the latest in miniature pets.

About 30 pygmy hedgehogs went head to head in a competition that attracted visitors from as far afield as Leicestershire.

One of the stars of the show in Bishops Hall, Pilgrims Hatch, was Truffles, the spikey but adorable pet of Emma Styles, 30, from Nevendon Road, Wickford.

Emma was delighted when Truffles, aged two months, won the best male under five months at the contest on March 23. She said: "They are really fun to own and be with. They have different colours and completely different personalities. They love being cuddled."

Pygmy hedgehogs are a quarter the size of a normal hedgehog – and unlike their larger cousins cannot hibernate and need warm conditions throughout the year.

African pygmy hedgehogs are a cross between an Algerian and white-bellied hedgehog, and were first bred in the US about 25 years ago. They come in 92 different shades and albinos are relatively common.

They grow to just two pounds and have a lifespan of between thre e and five years. They are normally fed on a diet of cat food but love grasshoppers, crickets and other small insects.

As they are nocturnal, they are more active at night, when they can spend hours clocking up several miles on a treadmill.

Kevin and Rachel Barker had come from Colchester to show 14-month-old Lola. "They are just great pets to look after," Rachel said.

Jo Davies, from Leicestershire, brought three-month-old Holly and Coco, two, which won overall best in show.

She said: "I love my pets and I love the fact they all have their own personalities."

Roisin Seale, from Kent, who organised the event and who brought her own pygmy hedgehog Ralph, said: "The event has gone really well considering the weather. I'll put another show on at a later date."

For pictures, visit www.thisistotalessex.co.uk

ASPIRING young dancers, singers and actors can now take classes with a new performing arts school.

Helen Arber, 31, is bringing her musical theatre academy to Billericay.

Students will learn routines and songs from a range of shows including Oliver, Les Miserables and Mary Poppins.

The school is open to children aged five up to 18 years old.

There will be an open day on Saturday as an introduction to the classes, which will be held on a weekly basis.

Classes begin at Mayflower Hall in Chapel Street on April 20.

Miss Arber, who lives in Stock with her partner and four-month-old baby, said: "The classes will always work towards a production and each year we will do three productions.

"This includes a showcase production at Her Majesty's Theatre, London.

"I already lead classes in Rochford and we teach children from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities. It's lovely to see them progress from being quite shy to having the confidence to enjoy performing.

"There is no pressure and children can enjoy a bit of everything in the classes including acting, singing and dancing. Our first production will be West End To Broadway."

Miss Arber was a secondary school teacher in performing arts until 2009 when she left her job to open her own dance school, Helen Arber Performing Arts.

She has a rich background in performing arts and was taught at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

She said: "I've always wanted to open my own school and am really pleased to be able to bring it to Billericay.

"The open day will involve a performance from my Rochford students who will enact a medley of songs from Legally Blond and Les Miserables. There will also be acting sketches for new children to take part in.

"Girls and boys are welcome to join in and their first rehearsal class is free. They are welcome to join the classes at any stage."

The open day will be run from 10am until 4pm and parents and their children can drop in and out as they please. There will also be a raffle for four scholarships which will offer a free term of tuition and a goody bag for every child.

Classes will run on Saturdays, from 10am until 1pm with groups split between ages.

A 12-week term costs £99 per pupil and this charge covers the cost of everything including the uniform and shows.

Log on to www.helenarber performingarts.co.uk or e-mail info@helenarberperformingarts .co.uk for more information

DIRECTOR of rugby Andrew Le Chevalier insisted Felsted's rugby teams still felt like winners, despite two narrow defeats on the hallowed turf of Twickenham.

The Essex school made history by getting both their U15 and U18 sides in the final of the Daily Mail Vase, and they both featured at the famous venue on March 23.

A bitter wind and constant snow flurries made for highly unfavourable playing conditions for all teams on the day – and it was double disappointment for Felsted as both sides just came up short.

The U15s were beaten 19-13 by Royal Latin after a last-minute try, while the U18s were left heartbroken by a 17-15 defeat to Yarm – especially after having a late try of their own chalked off.

James Lennon gave the U15s a good start with a simple penalty, but Sam Burgin put Royal Latin in front with a try in the corner.

But Felsted hit back with tries from Matthew Lumb and captain Stefan Warner to regain the lead.

A try from Elliot Pittwood made it 13-12, and then, with time ticking down, the Buckinghamshire side grabbed another try despite a strong effort from the Felsted defence, and the conversion gave Royal Latin the trophy.

The U18s started like a train and raced into a 10-0 lead thanks to tries from captain Charlie Kingham and winger Joshua Hunter-Jordan.

But Yarm hit back through Zach Kibiridge and Conor Hartigan, only for Will Malins to put Felsted back in front.

With time running out, fly-half Will Guthrie side-stepped through and ran in to score – and he converted it to give his side a vital two-point advantage.

Felsted refused to give up and thought they had won it when Charlie Wood touched down in the corner after collecting a cross-field kick, but the officials said he had gone into touch, and Yarm held on to win.

Le Chavalier said: "It still feels like a victory to me coming from a 530-pupil co-education and one-term rugby school, with 25 of our 44 players having come through from our preparatory school.

"The boys played with such heart and are a true band of brothers. We got to Twickenham, made memories and galvanised a community of friends and families along the way.

"I'd like to thank masters Charlie Knightley, Richard Feldman and Francis Barrett for all their time and commitment on top of their demanding teaching schedules.

"Thanks also go to all the individual players. It's not just a 15-man game and every player is as important as the next.

"I'd like to celebrate how far we have come, and here's to next season."