John Fisher have won the Evening Standard 1st XV Team of the Year Award. The Purley-based side, Team of the Month in November, enjoyed sixteen wins from their twenty one matches this season.

After making an indifferent start to the season, winning just six of their opening ten matches, Fisher showed great character to lift themselves and produce a ten-match winning run. It began with a hard-fought 17-13 victory over Dulwich College and included heavy defeats of rivals Hampton 37-5, and Tiffin 41-6.

The run enabled Fisher to peak at the right time for important cup ties. In January they demolished Worthing College 33-7 in Round Six, with forward Jordan Saunders scoring a hat-trick of tries. In the quarter-finals they faced stiff opposition in Moulton College, but progressed into the semi finals with an 18-15 victory courtesy of two tries from another forward, Ryan Keates.

Their semi-final opponents came in the form of Truro College, who had previously knocked out RGS High Wycombe 31-13 in Round Six. Fisher lost to RGS in their opening league game of the season, 35-14, so this match was a real test of how far they had come, with a place in Twickenham's showpiece final up for grabs.

Trailing 12-0 at half-time, Fisher showed great courage to end the game 19-19 with tries from Charlie Jackson, Lee McLaughlin and man-of-the-match, No.8 Brad Bosman. However in a cruel, penalty shoot out rarely seen in rugby, Fisher fell short.

Head coach, Matt Gold, in his second year in charge of the 1st XV said: "The boys were really disappointed, but we went to watch the Twickenham final and although a few lads were apprehensive beforehand, afterwards they were really pleased because Truro won 39-18.

"There's no arrogance in team and there was no bitterness. They train very hard, they're incredibly fit and they've been friends since they were eleven so they're determined to win for each other. They are a credit to all the teachers who have coached them in the past six, seven years.

Led by captain Philip Jones and vice-captain Jack Walsh, the team do not contain any England U18 representatives, instead promoting the values of teamwork. Gold gave a special mention to back row Ben Bowling and prop Niall Martin who "typified everything the team is about."

Gold is looking forward to next season when the majority of the boys are still involved, including Ben Axten-Burrett, an England U16 A centre, who prematurely inspired the 1st XV this year: "The lads are determined to train as hard as they can and hopefully enjoy another successful year."

Another team in contention for the award this year was Mill Hill School, who remained unbeaten all season with 14 wins and one draw. Wellington College topped the official league rankings with 18 wins and one loss. Hampton School did manage to reach Twickenham, in the Vase competition, but fell short to John Cleveland College in the final.