Schools Rugby Midweek Preview – Huge NatWest Cup ties & Millfield v Sedbergh dominate week

After a brilliant weekend of school rugby, the action does not let up as we head into one of the last midweek fixture lists of the term.

It is a week that will be dominated by NatWest Cup action, although there are a couple of non-cup games that will certainly grab the attention too.

Tuesday

On Tuesday we have one of the most hotly anticipated NatWest Cup ties of the term as Warwick make the short trip to Bromsgrove for a defining Midlands game. It is not stretching the realms of possibility to imagine that the winner of this could well make it all the way to the final, though with Stamford also in this section, there are plenty of challenges ahead.

Warwick had the weekend off, while Bromsgrove were in action, beating Cheltenham 20-0. Will rest or battle-hardedness pay off? Each has been having fine seasons, only losing to top opposition, and only twice for Bromsgrove and three times for Warwick.

One of those losses from Bromsgrove could be telling though, for it was Warwick who inflicted that defeat. It is going to be fascinating.

Wednesday

On Wednesday there are two games in the Cup that really stand out. Dulwich College v John Fisher, and Monmouth v Stowe.

Dulwich have won the Cup the last three years in succession and are looking to be in great form this season again. They have already beaten John Fisher outside of the Cup this season but the Croydon school will be very determined to be the first side ever to inflict defeat on Dulwich in this competition. It will be a fascinating game and represents the first real test for Dulwich in the competition this season.

Monmouth v Stowe could possibly be even better. Monmouth have only lost once all season and on Saturday they beat the Champions Trophy and St Joseph’s Festival Champions, Millfield – a brilliant victory that will see them arrive full of confidence.

Stowe are hardly short of confidence themselves though, they only have two defeats to their name all season, to Bromsgrove and Stamford, and are coming off the back of a brilliant away win against St Joseph’s College. Like the previous two games in this piece, the winner of this could very easily end up reaching the final.

Elsewhere in the Cup on Wednesday, Worksop host Manchester Grammar School, Gryphon host Portsmouth Grammar School, and Seaford College must make the trip to the 2010 & 2011 Champions, Whitgift.

Outside of the Cup there is one game that will be grabbing the focus of schools rugby fans all around the country – Sedbergh v Millfield.

In the reverse fixture last year these two were among the very best in the country, and having lost to Millfield in Abu Dhabi earlier in the year, Sedbergh managed to beat Millfield on Millfield turf, a magnificent performance.

This year both again turn up as among the best in the country. Millfield have won the Champions Trophy and the St Joseph’s Festival, while Sedbergh proved their credentials with a sensational victory over Wellington College.

Both have lost games but with the quality and intensity of their fixture lists, that is an inevitability. What we can say is that Wednesday’s game will be a top game between two of the very best around, you can bet that John Fletcher and Peter Walton will make the short trip to watch this one!

Friday

The midweek fixtures are rounded off on Friday by Skinners’ v Trinity a game that should be an exciting one to watch, and certainly one with plenty of quality. Trinity will likely be favourites thanks to a very successful season to date, but Skinners’ are more than capable of challenging, as they proved earlier in the season, among other games, when they almost shocked Whitgift.

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Midweek Fixtures:

Tuesday

Bromsgrove v Warwick (NatWest Cup)

Wednesday

Dulwich College v John Fisher (NatWest Cup)

Gryphon v Portsmouth GS (NatWest Cup)

Lymm High School v Altrincham Grammar School (NatWest Cup)

Monmouth v Stowe (NatWest Cup)

Whitgift v Seaford College (NatWest Cup)

Worksop College v Manchester GS (NatWest Cup)

Hurstpierpoint College v Worth (NatWest Vase)

Ampleforth College v Mount St Mary’s College

Bishop’s Stortford College v Wisbech GS

Bishop Vesey’s v King Edward’s, Aston

Bryanston v Filton College

Eltham College v Wimbledon College

QES Kirkby v Giggleswick

Sedbergh v Millfield

Shiplake College v Reading

Shrewsbury v Hereford Cathedral School

St Benedict’s v London Oratory

Tewkesbury v King’s Worcester

Friday

Skinners’ v Trinity

SHARING IS CARING!
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