Under 18 Premiership Preview

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With every side having now played at least one match in the U18 Premiership, there is a sense of awareness now as word of this great innovation spreads.

There are six U18 fixtures this weekend, with Gloucester and Worcester getting things kicked off first at Hartpury College tomorrow morning.

Fixtures:

Saturday

11.00 – Gloucester v Worcester @ Hartpury College

13.30 – Newcastle v Leicester @ Durham University

14.00 – Harlequins v London Irish @ Surrey Sports Centre

14.00 – Leeds v Saracens @ Selby

Sunday

13.30  – Bristol v Exeter @ Oaklands

14.00  – Sale v Northampton @ Heywood Road

Gloucester claimed victory on the opening day of the league, a narrow 10-8 win over Northampton Saints in what was their only game of the season so far. With Billy Burns and Ross Moriarty coming in fresh form first team action, they will be confident of doubling their tally in the ‘W’ column.

Worcester meanwhile have had a rather tough start to the campaign with a tough loss at Newcastle, despite a strong comeback, followed by a heavy defeat to Leicester at Sixways. Andrew Boyce of King’s Worcester leads the side, with two of his schoolmates playing alongside him in a team dominated by the strength of AASE College, Worcester 6th form College.

Worcester’s two conquerors, Newcastle and Leicester, meet on Saturday too, at Durham University.  Newcastle have had a mixed campaign so far, with that win over Worcester followed by a 22-9 defeat at Sale. Ollie Hodgson of Gosforth Academy leads the side from six alongside five of his Gosforth teammates, while unbeaten Durham School lend three of their players to the cause, including Craig Willis at ten.

Leicester are yet to announce their squad but having defeat first Leeds and then Worcester, without conceding a single try, they are unlikely to change much. They have also scored 62 points in those two games and are looking like one of the top sides in the competition.

Harlequins may have something to say about that though, having beaten Bristol 50-12 last time out. A heavy defeat against Saracens in their first game though means that they still have plenty to prove against London Irish to show that that defeat was just first game cobwebs.

Led by Brighton College and England U18’s James Chisholm, they boast bags of talent including Wellington’s McClean and Cranleigh’s Piper, and the effervescent Tom Whiteley of Millfield at full back, while Epsom and John Fisher are particularly well represented.

London Irish themselves will have something to prove too, having won 42-38 against Bristol on the opening weekend, before losing narrowly to Wasps next time around.

Their squad is dominated by talent form St Paul’s Catholic College, with fifteen of the 23 hailing from school. Tom McDonald leads the side from the back row where he will be supported by Eton’s James McRae and Buchan Richardson of Wellington College, who supply four of the squad.

Saturday’s action is rounded off by Saracens’ trip to Leeds. Leeds have been working closely with Prince Henry’s Grammar School whose players make up almost the entire squad. It has been an unfortunate start for Leeds though whom Leicester heavily defeated before the weather forced their game with Gloucester to be postponed.

Saracens too had their previous game, against Exeter, scuppered by the elements but can fall back on that impressive 56-7 win over Harlequins if any thoughts of rustiness enter their heads.

With a number of Oaklands College players to call on, including Nick Tompkins in the centre, they are certainly an impressive outfit and the addition of Uppingham’s Joss Linney on the wing could be exciting.

Sunday sees an exciting local derby as Exeter head to Bristol for one of the most hotly anticipated games of the season. Bristol are yet to register a win, despite boasting some real talent throughout the side, in particular Filton College’s Lucas Slowik. With Colston’s and Hartpury also featuring well in the side, it is certainly a team rich in rugby culture.

Exeter meanwhile had a stunning win away at Bath before their fixture against Saracens succumbed to the weather. Like Bristol they have AASE talent throughout their side and in Sam Denham they have a potent finisher.

The final game of the weekend sees Northampton travel to Sale, a path Jim Mallinder knows well. Saints are looking for their first win having lost their opening encounter to Gloucester. Sale meanwhile should be full of confidence having won their only game so far, but for both this will be a real chance to gauge where they are.

Squads:

Gloucester:

1. Jack Spencer (Hartpury College); 2. Ryan Charles (Hartpury College); 3. Will Goodrick-Clarke (Cheltenham College); 4. Jonny Hill (Hartpury College); 5. Simon Linsell (Marling); 6. Tom Lushington (Cheltenham College); 7. Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby Academy); 8. Lewis Ludlow (Hartpury College); 9. Reece Boughton (Hartpury College); 10. Billy Burns (Gloucester Rugby Academy); 11. Jack Lawthom (Hartpury College); 12. Harry Priestner (Rendcomb College); 13. Ollie Thorley (Cheltenham College); 14. Mark Harrison (Hartpury College); 15. Julian Osbourne (Wycliffe College)

Replacements:

16. Kieran Routledge (Abingdon School); 17. Alex Chalklin (Pates Grammar School); 18. Syd Haskawye (Cheltenham Tigers); 19. Will Safe (Hartpury College); 20. Tyler Jerrum (Wyedean School); 21. Ollie Young (Sir Thomas Rich’s School); 22. Tiff Eden (Dean Close School); 23. Robson Skipsey (St Peters RC High School)

Worcester:

1. Joe Wrafter (Worcester 6th Form College);
2. Antonio Harris (Worcester 6th Form College);
3. Dave Whiting (Worcester 6th Form College);
4. Matt Perks (Dudley Kingswinford RFC);
5. Scott Makepiece (Worcester 6th Form College);
6. Huw Harris (Old Swinford Hospital School);
7. Andrew Boyce (c)  (Kings Worcester);
8. Sam Smith (Old Swinford Hospital School);
9. Ben Williams (Worcester 6th Form College);
10. Elliott Davies (Bromsgrove School);
11. Colin Dickson (Ellesmere College);
12. James Young (Bromsgrove School);
13. Dan Hope (Worcester 6th Form College);
14. David Sarafini (Kings Worcester);
15. John Hughes (RGS Worcester).

Replacements:

16. Callum Young (Bromsgrove School);
17. Adam Johns (Kings Worcester);
18. Lewis Hodnett (Shrewsbury School); 19. Will Elt (Kings Worcester);
20. Louis Chaudron (Ellesmere College);
21. Josh Feek (Old Swinford Hospital School);
22. Jake Pratley (Worcester 6th Form College);
23. Luke White (Tarporley High School).

Newcastle:

1. Dan Elkington (Sedbergh School); 2. Ben Wilkinson (Gosforth Academy); 3. Callum Sheldon (QE Kirkby Lonsdale School); 4. Josh Hedley (Northumbria University); 5. Glen Young (Jed Forest RFC); 6. Ollie Hodgson (c) (Gosforth Academy); 7. Stuart Cannon (Gosforth Academy); 8. Nick Cairns (Prudhoe HS); 9. George Jirka-Lacina (Dame Allans School); 10. Craig Willis (Durham School); 11. Zach Kibirige (Yarm School); 12. Sam Hanks (Blaydon RFC); 13. Tom Small (Hartlepool 6th Form College); 14. Sean Brown (Mowden Park RFC); 15. Thomas Penny (RGS Newcastle).

Replacements:

16. David Nelson (Durham School); 17. Aston Whitlow (Gosforth Academy); 18. Mark Forster (Austin Friars School); 19. Harry Snowdon (Gosforth Academy); 20. George Hedgley (Giggleswick School); 21. Charlie Birkett (Ampleforth College); 22. Matthew Douglas (Gosforth Academy); 23. Jack Blakeney-Edwards (Durham School).

Leicester: TBA

Harlequins (from):

Loizias; Bramhall; Whiteley (Millfield); Forrest (Brighton College); McClean (Wellington College); G.Taylor (Whitgift); Woollams (Epsom College); Anscombe; Arnold (Cranleigh); Francis (Epsom College); Adeniran-Olule (Wellington College); Piper (Cranleigh); Wilkey; Treadwell (John Fisher); McGeekie (John Fisher); Forshaw; J.Chisholm, captain (Brighton College); Wilcock (Seaford College); Robinson (Epsom); South; Cordery; Hillicks (Collyers).

London Irish:

1. George Sewell (St Pauls Catholic College); 2. Jerome Trail (St Pauls Catholic College); 3. Ryan Wilkie (St Pauls Catholic College); 4. Ryan Bifield (St Pauls Catholic College); 5. Max Berry (St Pauls Catholic College); 6. Tom McDonald (c) (St Pauls Catholic College); 7. James McRae (Eton College); 8. Buchan Richardson (Wellington College); 9. Ed Hoadley (St Pauls Catholic College); 10. Brett Heron (Wellington College); 11. Jake Whitby (Lord Wandsworth College); 12. Jacob Knight (St Pauls Catholic College); 13. Tom Fowlie (St Pauls Catholic College); 14. Jordan Gott (St Pauls Catholic College); 15. Sean O’Hagan (St Benedicts, Ealing).

Replacements:

16. Joel Armitage (St Pauls Catholic College); 17. Max Hayes (Wellington College); 18. George Frampton (St Pauls Catholic College); 19. Luke Schrieber (St Pauls Catholic College); 20. Ollie Curry (Hartpury College); 21. Connor Murphy (St Pauls Catholic College); 22. Charlie Wicks (Wellington College); 23. Cameron Cowell (St Pauls Catholic College).

Leeds:

15. Nick Rawsthorne (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 14. Rob Rekis (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 13. Jack McPhillips (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 12. Josh Walters (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 11. Dan Tai (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 10. Max Green (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 9. James McDaniel;
 1. Lewis Boyce (Prince Henry’s Grammar School);
2. Jack Walker (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 3. Paul Hill (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 4. Dan Preston-Routledge (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 5. Declan Dunn (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 6. Josh Bainbridge;
 7. Jack Barnard (c) (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 
8. Dan Grange (Prince Henry’s Grammar School);

Replacements:

16. Toko Tedoradze (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 17. Harry Wales; 
18. Will Witty; 19. Tom Burridge (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 20. Sam Gaudie (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 21. Cam Leadley (Prince Henry’s Grammar School); 22. Tom Gorman.

Saracens:

1. Webb; 
2. James (Bishop’s Stortford High School); 3. Reason (Dulwich); 4. Patterson; 
5. Farrance;
 6. Thacker;
 7. Ward;
 8. Kinghalm;
 9. Maplesden (Woodhouse Grove); 10. Sharp (Oaklands College); 11. Linney (Uppingham); 12. Reeder;
 13. Tompkins (Oaklands College); 14. Gannon; 15. Morris.

Replacements:

16. Taylor;
 17. Woolard;
 18. Wheadon;
 19. Eliet (Tonbridge); 20. A. Brown;
 21. Calder; 
22. Lawrence;
 23. Perkins.

Bristol:

15. Jack Hughes (Filton College); 14. Adam Lambert (Cleve RFC); 13. Lucas Slowik (Filton College); 12. Nick Carpenter (Filton College); 11. Chay Smith (Filton College); 10. Julian Mogg (Filton College); 9. Alex Haynes (Colston’s); 1. Tom Boot (Clifton RFC ex Coltston’s); 2. Ben Gompels (Clifton College); 3. Jason Puddy (Filton College); 4. Joe Joyce (c) (Crusaders RFC ex Filton College); 5. Fergus Manners (Clifton RFC ex Colston’s); 6. Jake Polledri (Filton College); 7. Alex Colborne (Weston Hornets RFC); 8. Monty Reed (Filton College).

Replacements:

16. Ryan Roach (Filton College); 17. Luke Panting (Filton College); 18. Ellis Genge (Hartpury College); 19. Ben Charlton-Hibbert (Filton College); 20. Callum Wallis (Filton College); 21. Andy Uren (Filton College); 22. Ollie Thompson (Filton College); 23. James Floyd (Filton College).

Exeter (from):

Dan Pullinger; 
Jack Innard;
 Luke Chapman (Truro College);
 Charlie Hewitt (Ivybridge College); Marcus Garratt;
 Matt Bolwell
(Truro College); Sam Simmonds;
 Tom Edwards (Sherborne);
 Jack Oulton;
 Ben Vellacot; Sam Denham (Millfield); Laurence May;
 Tom Hendrickson;
 Kai Little;
 Max Bodilly;
 Richard Bayliss (Ivybridge College); Tyler Gendall;
 Mike Roach;
 Luke Mingo; 
Todd Lowry; Rory Christopher; Josh Maloy; Ned Warne.

Sale: TBA

Northampton Saints: To Follow…

Please get in touch with us if you know the schools of any of the players whose school we have not listed.

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