A stunning weekend of school rugby made selecting this week’s Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend as pleasurable a task as it ever has been – the list of sides with a legitimate claim to be in the Top 5 was huge.

That only serves to highlight just how impressive the results were for the five sides that made the Top 5.

Top 5

Kirkham Grammar School

Sedbergh had only lost once this season, a mammoth away trip on the opening weekend to Sedbergh. Since then they had been imperious, capping it all off with a stunning 37-34 victory over Wellington College last Tuesday, one of the great school games.

Kirkham were therefore the underdogs on Saturday, despite actually being unbeaten all season, including a brilliant victory over Tonbridge. To win 22-12, at Sedbergh, was therefore a simply stunning victory for Kirkham, one that made the entire schools rugby community sit up and take notice.

The prospect of an unbeaten season for Kirkham is now a serious prospect, and a shot at the Daily Mail Trophy title is well within their reach, they currently sit third behind Wellington College and the vanquished Sedbergh.

Monmouth

Monmouth, like Kirkham, are flying high in the Daily Mail Trophy, sitting fourth with seven wins from seven. It is the seventh of those that has been their most impressive to date though, beating Bromsgrove 13-10 on Saturday was an exceptional result, Bromsgrove have been in stunning form this season.

Saturday was one of the toughest games for Monmouth of the season, second only to their sole defeat of the season, a friendly against Crawshays Welsh, and sets them in good stead for what is likely to be their toughest fixture of the season in a fortnight’s time, against Millfield. With Millfield having lost to Bromsgrove earlier this season, and this fixture coming just three days after they compete in the Champions Trophy final, it could be a real chance for Monmouth to make a statement.

Wellington College

Last Tuesday Wellington competed in one of the great school games of the last few years, however in losing that game 37-34 to Sedbergh the disappointment will have been crushing.

Therefore to follow that up with a game against Epsom College, unbeaten last year and with just one defeat to their name this season, was as tough an assignment as there is. For Wellington to come out and win in such stunning fashion was therefore the ultimate show of the character and quality.

They put in a simply stunning first half performance and came away with a 37-10 victory, securing their place in people’s minds an one of the most extraordinary teams in the country. A victory like that showed desire, quality, and strength of character, the ultimate combination.

Whitgift

Speaking of desire, Whitgift’s last gasp try from England U18 full back Matt Gallagher to grab a 12-10 victory at the death away at Dulwich College was another example of serious desire for victory.

Bear in mind as well that Dulwich were unbeaten up until Saturday, winning every game bar a draw against Wellington College, this was a tough assignment.

Whitgift have proved themselves to be more than capable of rising to a tough assignment this season though, beating Sedbergh and now Dulwich, and running Wellington close.

By all accounts, this was a game that Dulwich were in charge of for the large part but that Whitgift stuck in at through sheer determination, eventually claiming victory. Impressive, to say the least.

Woodhouse Grove

This has not been a classic season for the 2013 Daily Mail Trophy champions, so a fixture against the unbeaten Grammar School at Leeds, who are preparing for the Champions Trophy final in just over a week was as tough an assignment as any.

That they did raise themselves to win this passionate West Yorkshire derby was therefore hugely impressive, to reduce Grammar School at Leeds to nil was simply superb, to secure a 22-0 was stunning.

It was without doubt the best Woodhouse grove result of the season, and one which deservedly puts them in this week’s top 5. With Kirkham Grammar School coming up in a fortnight there is another monstrous challenge on the horizon for them, but after this they will fancy having a shot at them.

Do you agree with this week’s Top 5? Let us know who you would have chosen by getting in touch below or by contacting us on Twitter, @FifteenRugbyXV