This week saw the first real batch of midweek fixtures of the term, including the Ryan Bresnaham memorial match where Colston’s narrowly beat Clifton College 16-11 and a surprising win at home for Marlborough College, beating Wellington College 10-5.
Elsewhere we saw Bedford continue their impressive run of from with a powerful win away at schoolboy giants Oakham, while Harrow surprised a few by beating RGS High Wycombe 22-8. Haileybury meanwhile enjoyed a confidence boosting 17-0 win against Felsted.
This weekend brings us some really top-drawer fixtures though as we see some school rugby greats go head to head.
The headline fixture of the weekend looks like being Bryanston v Colston’s. Coston’s are of course the most decorated side in schoolboy rugby history with their fantastic six Daily Mail Cup’s in a row. They have begun this season in outstanding from too having beaten both Sedbergh and Clifton in tight games.
Two wins out of two against opposition of that standard shows that Colston’s are a real force this year.
Bryanston meanwhile were impressive in defeat against Marlborough last weekend, and while they were disappointed by the result, they should be encouraged by the fact that Marlborough defeated Wellington in midweek. This Marlborough side is clearly a good one.
Bryanston boast many top players, and fly half Rory Jennings is probably the star of the show for them. He will be looking to boss the game for them in the hope of being able to bring in his speed merchant George Trick on the wing.
The other headline act of the weekend sees Sedbergh play RGS Newcastle. Traditionally two of the strongest sides in the North of England, and indeed the whole country, both have struggled a bit in the early stages of this season.
Sedbergh lost out to Colston’s in a defeat that will have hurt them deeply, particularly as it cam on the same weekend as bitter rivals Millfield put over 40 points on RGS High Wycombe.
RGS meanwhile lost heavily to George Watson’s before a tough defeat to Durham at Kingston Park set them back further. RGS are a strong rugby side though with a great tradition and will be determined to bounce back strongly against Sedbergh.
This could be a really interesting game with two sides eager to impress and to set up the rest of their season.
Fresh off the back of two narrow defeats, Oundle face an in form Rugby XV. It has been a few years since rugby really showed the best of themselves, but the early signs are there that this is a top notch Rugby side. After a draw with Cheltenham followed by a crushing defeat of St Edward’s Oxford, they will be looking to keep moving forward.
Oundle lost first to Bedford in a 24-17 thriller and then 16-10 to Stamford. They have been vocal about their disappointment with these results, but they must bear in mind that they have been playing tough opposition, particularly Bedford who are looing like one of the strongest sides around.
They posses some excellent ball carriers in the forwards, particularly Lamprell and Walker, while fly half Sam Olver has been guiding them around the park with his expert boot.
Elsewhere, Radley take on St Paul’s, both are unbeaten so far this season and we can expect a tough battle as they both strive to maintain that record. St Paul’s have already demonstrated that determination in their 13-13 draw with KCS Wimbledon.
Meanwhile St Edward’s Oxford play Uppingham as both side look to regain a little pride after heavy defeats to Rugby and Bedford respectively. It looks all set to be an intense game, with both sides talking up the need for more aggression in defence and a more organised approach.
We have all of these and many more to look forward to in what looks set to be one of the toughest weekends of the season so far, as sides begin to settle into their strides.
Fifteen Rugby will have all the results, and please make sure to send in your match reports via the website or promotions@fifteenrugby.com We’ll be sure to include the author and feature the team highly over the next few weeks. It’s in your hands.
