SWEET BASSETT SENDS BERKSHIRE UNDER 20s INTO SEMIS

SEVERAL Rams are now just one game from a Twickenham final after Berkshire Under 20s secured a spectacular 35-29 Jason Leonard County Championship win at Cornwall.

The visitors fell behind against the run of play to an Oli Roberts penalty, but responded well.

Firstly Ethan Bassett, the livewire wing who has featured for both the Development XV and Under 23s, finished a well-worked team score.

Will Hibberdine added the extras, and repeated the trick after recent Colt, scrum-half Louis Roumignac, darted over.

Cornwall cut the gap to 14-10 before the break as Roberts converted Dan Kent’s maul effort.

But with the slope advantage, Berkshire began the second half superbly.

Windsor’s Liam Thomas burrowed over for his third’s try, before Ollie Ireland – another former Rams’ Mini – pushed his side 28-10 to the good.

Penalty try gives hosts’ hope

Cornwall received a late lifeline as Hibberdine was yellow carded and a penalty try awarded after Bracken Headland had the line at his mercy.

And the wing then got his try to leave the Royal County only six points behind.

Berkshire hit back, though, Reading Uni ace Bassett with his second before the returning Hibberdine kept up his perfect record.

And it meant a late Jake Walker try for the hosts was merely a consolation, Tom Tanswell with the extras.

Berkshire next host Hertfordshire on Sunday, May 17.

They crushed Kent 64-19 on Sunday.

Other Rams involved in the victory were last season’s Colts title winners Charlie Burton and captain Aaron Preston, along with Reading Uni No. 8 Olly Marsh (Dev/U23s).

Outside centre Theo Pett-Ridge has been at the club since the Minis, with Llyr Jones another Uni flyer to become involved this term.

Among the replacements, Jake Scott and Matt Cox won three consecutive youth titles from 2023-25, while Reading students Sam Kaminaris and Ollie Morgan have played for the Development side this year.