It has been a pretty fascinating, busy, and ever changing midweek of schoolboy rugby.
The real highlight of the week was the start of the new School Champions Trophy, of which you can see our round-up here, but there was plenty else to get excited about, including the AASE league, the return of the NatWest Cup, touring sides, and just some plain old midweek fixtures.
It is there that we start after Sedbergh showed just how ruthless they are, beating Wilmslow High 78-31, while Shiplake College posted the highest ever scoreline in their derby match with Henley College, winning 62-5.
It was a little closer elsewhere as Nottingham High edged to a 20-17 victory over Welbeck, while things were similarly close for Lord Wandsworth College as they beat Pangbourne 30-26. Worksop meanwhile beat King’s Grantham 30-10.
The NatWest Cup did not see a lot of action, but what little there was was very decisive. Dartford GS beat St Dunstan’s 50-0, Oakwood Park beat Folkstone Academy 24-0, and Enfield beat Gunnersbury 31-12.
On Tuesday Craighouse carried on where they left off against Oakham last week, beating Canford 23-10. They take of Bristol Grammar School today and will be pretty confident of adding another victory to their list.
The AASE League really fired this week, with some astonishing results.
Hartpury College showed just why they are so respected, feared even at times, putting Gosforth Academy to the sword and winning by a staggering 83-5 score, securing their second win form two games in the league.
Filton were equally dominant, if not so score happy. They beat Henley College 41-3, like Hartpury securing a second win from two, backing up their unbeaten performance at the pre season festival.
Oaklands and Myerscough were both battling for a second win in two games, the only sides to be competing directly for that tally. It was a close run thing but Oaklands ran out winners, just, 22-21.
Moulton College and Worcester 6th form College were the only sides playing each other that both lost last week. That stung them both into a real tussle yesterday, which resulted in a high scoring 36-32 victory for Worcester.
Like Hartpury and Filton, St Paul’s were unbeaten at the pre season festival and then won again last week to compound that early promise. They did so again yesterday, beating Ivybridge 42-22.
Bicton College announced their arrival in the AASE with a strong victory over that same Ivybridge side last week and were hopeful of doing so again against a Truro College side that lost 15-5 to Filton.
A ten point loss to Filton is actually pretty good this year though, as proved by Filton’s demolition of Henley, and Truro further proved that by impressively beating Bicton 25-15.
There is still plenty to come this week. Today Craighouse travel to Bristol Grammar School, while Monmouth welcome Wycliffe in the Cup and Magdalen College host Dean Close. The big one today though is Haileybury’s trip to Eton College for their Champions Trophy clash.
Schools Rugby Midweek Results (for the Champions Trophy, please click here):
AASE
SGS Filton 41-3 Henley College
Hartpury College 83-5 Gosforth Academy
Oaklands College 22-21 Myerscough College
Moulton College 32-36 Worcester 6th form College
St Paul’s Catholic College 43-22 Ivybridge Community College
Truro College 25-15 Bicton College
Tuesday:
Canford 10-23Â Craighouse (Chile)Â
Wednesday:
Dartford GS 50-0 St Dunstan’s (NatWest Cup)
Folkstone Academy 0-24 Oakwood Park (NatWest Cup)
Gunnersbury 12-31 Enfield GS (NatWest Cup)
Lord Wandsworth College 30-26 Pangbourne
Sedbergh 78-31 Wilmslow High
Shiplake College 62-5 Henley College
Welbeck 17-20 Nottingham High School
Worksop 30-10 King’s Grantham
Still to come:
Thursday:
Bristol GS v Craighouse (Chile) (14.45)
Magdalen College v Dean Close (16.30)
Monmouth v Wycliffe
