After a thrilling weekend of Under 18’s Daily Mail Cup and Vase action last weekend, it is the turn of the Under 15’s this weekend as Broadstreet RFC once again plays host to the semi finals of this wonderful schoolboy competition.
Once again the Cup takes place on Saturday with the Vase on Sunday, with games on each day kicking off at 11am and 1pm.
The first game of the weekend is Warwick v Bromsgrove in the Cup. Warwick’s 1st XV went out at the same stage last weekend after a brilliant comeback from Northampton School for Boys.
The Under 15’s will be looking to go one step further though, particularly after an exhilarating 18-17 quarter final victory over Wellington, one of the tournament favourites.
Bromsgrove are no slouches either though, they beat a good RGS High Wycombe side (is there ever anything else?) 13-3 to make the semi final and will have ambitions of their own.
Neither side has had much Under 15’s success in this tournament in the past, though back in 2007 Warwick’s 1st XV beat Barnard Castle 24-23 in the Under 18’s, a game in which England EPS member Callum Clark played.
The second game of the day sees QEGS Wakefield take on Bishop Heber High School. Like Warwick and Bromsgrove before them, both put out very strong sides in the previous round, with Bishop Heber dispatching St Paul’s 17-3 while QEGS won against London Oratory 32-12.
Bishop Heber may not have a great Daily Mail Cup pedigree but with victories against the likes of Bradford Grammar, RGS Lancaster, Wilmslow High and the aforementioned St Paul’s, they certainly pose quite a challenge this year.
QEGS by contrast are one of the most legendary sides in Daily Mail Cup history, between their Under 18’s and Under 15’s they have been in five finals but are yet to win one.
It is their Under 15’s who were most recently in the final too, back in 2006 where they lost to Bedford 16-3. Despite having never won a final though, QEGS have in fact lifted the trophy after a 5-5 draw with RGS High Wycombe in the Under 15 tournament led to a share of the trophy.
They may never have won the competition outright but they are experts in making the final and will be determined to do so again tomorrow.
In the Vase on Sunday Emmaunuel School v Felsted gets the day started at 11am. Felsted’s Under 18’s are already in the Senior Vase final so the Under 15’s will be looking to emulate them. Felsted’s 1st XV captain, Charlie Kingham, has been helping the Under 15’s out in training, passing on his experiences from last weekend.
Emmanuel have not been able to draw on the same type of experience but can look back on a 17-5 quarter final victory over Sherborne with real pride and they will take a lot of inspiration from that.
The final game of the weekend sees Royal Latin School play Kirkham Grammar School. Latin came through their quarter final against Tadcaster Grammar School 24-5 and with a 25-10 victory against RGS Worcester in the last 16 they will be full of confidence.
Kirkham meanwhile beat last year’s Under 18 finalists Old Swinford Hospital in their quarter final, their 34-20 victory making for arguably the tie of the round. Kirkham some inspiration from the past to draw from too, their 1997 1st XV went to the Final, losing 23-12 to the all conquering Colston’s side of that era.
It promises to be another fantastic weekend of Daily Mail Cup action and with the promise of finals day at Twickenham on the 23rd March, it is sure to be yet another weekend of high drama and tension too.
U15 Cup – Saturday March 9:
Warwick School v Bromsgrove School – 11am
QEGS Wakefield v Bishop Heber HS – 1pm
U15 Vase – Sunday March 10:
Emanuel School v Felsted School – 11am
Royal Latin School v Kirkham GS – 1pm
