This week sees a whole host of midweek fixtures after an unusually quiet weekend of school rugby. What a line up of midweek games we have to compensate with though.
The highlight clash of midweek has to be on Tuesday afternoon when Tonbridge travel to Bedford for one of the most hotly anticipated games of the year.
Bedford have been in quite outstanding form this year, sweeping all before them, including a 44-7 mauling of Uppingham and a determined 22-11 victory at Oakham, an impressive place to win any game.
Tonbridge too have been in impressive form and after a narrow loss to Epsom College, they came firing out last time around to win handsomely against Eastbourne.
One of the best rugby sides around, Tonbridge will be determined not to let Bedford beat them and creep into that exclusive group of top rugby schools. On this season’s form though, Bedford are already there and are looking to prove to the country that they are part of the rugby elite.
We can expect an intense and physical game, with two sides playing not just for the win but for their pride.
The other big game on Tuesday sees Millfield take on Hartpury College. It is always tough when a school side takes on these academy colleges, and often the likes of Hartpury put out their B’s or C’s against school sides.
It is a mark then of just how well respected, and how good, Millfield are that there is absolutely no doubt that Hartpury will without question play their 1st XV.
For Millfield it will be a tough game, but such is their class that they ought to be confident of coming away from this with a victory. It will be one of their toughest fixtures of the year, but with talent like they have, it is still a winnable one.
Wednesday sees RGS Newcastle take on New Zealand touring side, Lindesforne, is what promises to be a tough encounter. It seems certain that Lindesforne will be a committed and hard side, but after a strong performance in defeat to Sedbergh, RGS will be confident of causing a stir and stealing their first win of the season.
Thursday sees another enticing encounter, as a side made up of schools from the south of Scotland come to Rugby to take on the founders of the oval ball game.
In what looks set to be a passionate and emotional match, Rugby ought to be confident of a good result, despite their smaller playing pool, after impressive victories against Oundle and St Edward’s and a gutsy draw with Cheltenham on the opening weekend.
They are developing into one of the best Rugby School sides for a few years, and this game offers them an excellent chance to prove that point.
Other midweek fixtures include:
Haileybury v Bishop Stortford High
Stowe v Mill Hill
Colston’s v Sir Thomas Rich’s
Eton v Radley
St Edward’s Oxford v Shiplake
It looks set to be an exciting and intense week of school rugby, with scores to be settled and points to be proven.
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