The U18 NatWest Cup had a big week last week as the final few round 6 ties took place, meaning that the last 16 ties are now known.
The last 16 is the final regional stage of the competition, after they are played the eight regional winners are then redrawn nationally for the quarter final stage, which will be hosted live on www.englandrugby.com by Sky Sports’ Alex Payne and the RFU’s Rob Andrew on Thursday 29th January at 12.15pm.
It promises to be among the most hotly contested final few stages of the Cup in recent years, with a number of sides looking not just like outside bets but like genuine contenders.
What is clear it is that by the conclusion of the last 16 stage, some major names will have exited the tournament. Bromsgrove and Stamford, two serious challengers, meet in the Midlands A last 16 game, while down in South West B Monmouth and Hampton meet, again two real contenders.
London & South East A will see St Joseph’s College face either St Benedict’s or Whitgift (their 6th round tie was postponed due to frozen pitches), meaning tow major players will drop out there.
The triple champions Dulwich College face a tough task in London & South East B. They must travel to Trinity, who this year are incredibly strong, with two England players, a crop of academy players, and several ISRFC Lambs. Dulwich will likely play themselves down, but no side in the competition knows how to progress quite like the London side.
In North B Hymers, who have lost just twice, host Lymm High School, who reached the quarter finals last year, in what promises to be an excellent game of rugby. In the A side of that region St Peter’s York travel to the dangerous Wilmslow High School after a brilliant 45-24 win in the 6th round over Newcastle School for Boys. Wilmslow have knocked out both King’s Macclesfield and Stonyhurst though, they could be a real surprise package.
Another dark horse could be Oundle in Midlands B, who had an impressive term before Christmas and possess some top quality players. A home tie on their intimidating 1st XV pitch will further help them, however King’s Worcester are a talented side.
Finally to South West A, where Daunstey’s host Sherborne. Sherborne might have the greater schools rugby pedigree but Dauntsey’s have scored 149 points in their last three Cup games and must surely be treated as a potentially dangerous opponent, particularly at home. This could be a really interesting tie.
The tournament is still wide open, as ever the quarter final re-draw will be a huge factor in the final destination of the tournament, who draws who and who has to travel where are always important, but what is definitely certain is that there will be some outstanding sides competing all the way from now until finals day at Twickenham.
Who do you think will reach the NatWest Cup quarter finals? Let us know via @FifteenRugbyXV or via the comment box below.
NatWest Cup Last 16 Ties:
Wilmslow High School v St Peter’s, York (North A)
Hymers College v Lymm High School (North B)
Bromsgrove v Stamford (Midlands A)
Oundle v King’s Worcester (Midlands B)
St Joseph’s College v St Benedict’s/Whitgift (London & South East A)
Trinity v Dulwich College (London & South East B)
Dauntsey’s v Sherborne (South West A)
Monmouth v Hampton (South West B)
NatWest Cup Round 6 Results:
Bromsgrove 50-5 Bloxham
Dartford GS 11-37 St Joseph’s College
Dauntsey’s 54-10 St Peter’s, Gloucester
Dulwich College 26-7 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Gresham’s 18-22 Oundle
Gryphon v Monmouth – Monmouth Bye
King’s Worcester 11-0 Northampton School for Boys
The Leys 0-43 Stamford
Pocklington 7-11 Hymers College
RGS High Wycombe 8-20 Hampton
Sherborne 46-3 Truro
St Benedict’s v Whitgift – Still to play
St Peter’s, York 45-24 Newcastle School for Boys
Trinity 27-12 Berkhamsted
Wilmslow HS 10-7 Stonyhurst College
Worksop College 8-24 Lymm High School
Photo Credit – Stamford School
NatWest Cup Regional Knockouts:
U18 NatWest Cup – North A – Round 5 Results & Schedule | |||
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
King’s Macclesfield 26-29 Wilmslow High | Wilmslow High 17-6 Ermysted’s GS | Wilmslow High 10-7 Stonyhurst | Wilmslow v St Peter’s |
Ermysted’s GS 51-0 Austin Friars | |||
QEGS Penrith 3-35 Yarm School | Yarm 20-29 Stonyhurst | ||
Queen Elizabeth’s VI form College 5-34 Stonyhurst | |||
Hutton GS 36-7 Giggleswick | Hutton GS 8-50 St Peter’s, York | St Peters, York 45-24 Newcastle School for Boys | |
St Peter’s York 68-19 Prince Henry’s GS | |||
Newcastle School for Boys 40-28 Gateshead | Newcastle School for Boys 19-12 King Edward’s, Morpeth | ||
King Edwards Morpeth 26-5 Dame Allan’s | |||
U18 NatWest Cup – North B – Round 5 Results & Schedule | |||
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
Wath 7-57 Wirral Grammar School | Wirral GS 7-34 Pocklington | Pocklington 7-11 Hymers College | Hymers College v Lymm High School |
Pocklington 18-5 Bishop Burton | |||
Hymers College 46-0 John Leggott | Hymers College 22-5 Crossley Heath | ||
AKS Arnold 18-44 Crossley Heath | |||
Hartlepool 12-29 Worksop College | Worksop 9-3 Manchester Grammar | Worksop College 8-24 Lymm High School | |
Mount St Mary’s 3-39 Manchester Grammar | |||
Lymm High School 57-0 Merchant Taylots | Lymm High School 55-7 Altrincham GS | ||
Calday Grange 11-21 Altrincham GS | |||
U18 NatWest Cup – Midlands A – Round 5 Results & Schedule | |||
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
Bromsgrove 61-17 Solihull | Bromsgrove 23-13 Warwick | Bromsgrove 50-5 Bloxham | Bromsgrove v Stamford |
Bishop Vesey’s 9-38 Warwick | |||
Bishop’s Stortford College 10-50 Bedford Modern | Bedford Modern 10-17 Bloxham | ||
Richard Hale 13-36 Bloxham | |||
Roundwood Park 5-14 Tring School | Tring 9-15 The Leys | The Leys 0-43 Stamford | |
Princethorpe 15-24 The Leys | |||
Loughborough GS 34-10 Nottingham HS | Loughborough GS 14-26 Stamford | ||
Carre’s Grammar School 0-50 Stamford | |||
U18 NatWest Cup – Midlands B – Round 5 Results & Schedule | |||
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
King’s Grantham 20-25 Gresham’s | Gresham’s 22-8 Norwich | Gresham’s 18-22 Oundle | Oundle v King’s Worcester |
Wymondham College 10-27 Norwich | |||
Oundle School 48-8 The Perse | Oundle 36-5 Trent College | ||
Wyggeston & QE College 17-22 Trent College | |||
Hereford Cathedral 27-55 King’s Worcester | King’s Worcester 25-7 Old Swinford Hospital | King’s Worcester 11-0 Northampton School for Boys | |
Old Swinford Hospital 27-10 KES Brimingham | |||
RGS Worcester 17-13 Ellesmere College | RGS Worcester 5-20 Northampton School for Boys | ||
Adams GS 0-10 Northampton SfB | |||
U18 NatWest Cup – London & South East A – Round 5 Results & Schedule | |||
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
Dartford Grammar School 29-0 Colfe’s | Dartford Grammar School 22-21 Skinners’ | Dartford GS 11-37 St Joseph’s College | St Joseph’s College v St Benedict’s/Whitgift |
Skinners’ 61-0 Sussex Downs | |||
St Joseph’s College 39-28 Felsted | St Joseph’s College 33-9 Campion | ||
Davenant Foundation 0-71 Campion | |||
KCS Wimbledon 17-34 Wimbledon College | Wimbledon College 3-52 St Benedict’s | St Benedict’s v Whitgift (Postponed) | |
University College School 3-55 St Benedict’s | |||
St Cecilia’s, Wandsworth 0-52 Whitgift | Whitgift 42-17 Seaford College | ||
City of London Freemens 19-22 Seaford College | |||
U18 NatWest Cup – London & South East B – Round 4 Results & Schedule | |||
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
Tiffin w/o College of Richard Collyer | Tiffin v Trinity w/o | Trinity 27-12 Berkhamsted | Trinity v Dulwich College |
Reigate Grammar School v Trinity w/o | |||
Parmiters 0-90 Berkhamsted | Berkhamsted 59-0 St Clement Danes | ||
St Celment Danes 21-0 Cardinal Vaughan | |||
New Hall 0-34 Dulwich College | Dulwich College 14-5 John Fisher | Dulwich College 26-7 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS | |
John Fisher w/o Dover Grammar School | |||
Duke of York RMS 0-53 Chislehurst & Sidcup | Chislehurst & Sidcup 32-10 Judd | ||
Judd 31-20 Maidstone Grammar | |||
U18 NatWest Cup – South West A – Round 4 Results & Schedule | |||
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
Dauntsey’s 50-0 Bournemouth School | Dauntsey’s 45-0 Lord Wandsworth College | Dauntsey’s 54-10 St Peter’s Gloucester | Daunstey’s v Sherborne |
Lord Wandsworth College 57-7 Milton Abbey | |||
St Peter’s Gloucester 38-7 The Crypt | St Peter’s Gloucester 35-5 Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital | ||
Wellsway v Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital | |||
Sherborne 45-7 Richard Huish | Sherborne 28-24 Exeter | Sherborne 46-3 Truro School | |
Blue School 3-23 Exeter School | |||
Exeter College 37-17 v Torquay Boys GS | Exeter College 7-18 Truro School | ||
Truro School 60-10 Bodmin College | |||
U18 NatWest Cup – South West B – Round 4 Results & Schedule | |||
Round 4 | Round 5 | Round 6 | Round 7 |
Gryphon 19-15 Beechen Cliff | Gryphon 20-12 Portsmouth GS | Gryphon v Monmouth (BYE) | Monmouth v Hampton |
Portmouth GS 24-10 Oaklands Catholic School | |||
Backwell School 12-31 Monmouth | Monmouth 11-7 Stowe | ||
Sir Thomas Rich’s 13-36 Stowe | |||
RGS High Wycombe 55-0 Dr Challoner’s | RGS High Wycombe 27-19 Aylesbury | RGS High Wycombe 8-20 Hampton | |
Desborough 5-45 Aylesbury Grammar | |||
Pangbourne College 13-38 Hampton | Hampton 29-7 Bishop Wordsworth | ||
Peter Symonds’ 12-23 Bishop Wordsworth | |||
