Abingdon School suffered heartbreak in rugby’s Daily Mail Under 18 Schools’ Cup quarter-final – with Dulwich College taking victory as the away side following a 17-17 draw with tries level.

Having reached the last eight for the first time, Abingdon were 17-3 down at half-time, before staging a stirring fightback to take Dulwich to the wire.

Abingdon were left shell-shocked as Dulwich scored two converted tries in the first ten minutes in front of a crowd of more than 500.

Firstly, centre Dominic Fraser’s powerful run set up full back Jamie Whiteford for a try, which Fraser converted.

Then following a Dulwich scrum on the Abingdon five-metre line, the ball spilled out for flanker John Winter to touch down, Fraser again converting.

Abingdon rallied and Henry Sensecall’s penalty got them on the board.

Dulwich hit back and Whiteford’s penalty kick made it 17-3 at the break.

After relentless Abingdon pressure in the second half, full back Peter Moore sprinted between two defenders to touch down, with Sensecall converting.

Abingdon stormed forward again, and Hamish Grant sneaked over a pile of bodies to score wide out on the right.

Sensecall kicked the conversion from the touchline to level the scores with ten minutes left, but brave Abingdon were unable to break through again with play confined to midfield.