Dauntsey’s School have been voted as our readers’ School Team of the Month for January.
It was a close run vote with Hampton and Oundle both also securing a vast amount of votes. Unsurprisingly all three are in the NatWest Cup quarter finals, their exploits clearly drawing plenty of attention from followers of schoolboy rugby from across the country.
Dauntsey’s might have played just once in January, but it was an impressive result nonetheless, a 13-11 win over Sherborne to put them through to the final eight in the NatWest Cup, a remarkable achievement.
The suspicion is though that it is not just that result that has earned them so many votes but their performances over the whole of the 2014/15 season. They are yet to lost this season, indeed their U6th year group have only lost 7 times in their school careers, yet this progress has been seemingly under the radar, so their January readers’ Team of the Month ago is long awaited and well deserved.
Readers’ Team of the Month – Dauntsey’s School
As for the official Fifteen Rugby January School Team of the Month, that was a tough call to make. All eight, or ten as it currently stands, NatWest Cup quarter finalists deserve mention, as do the likes of Dartford Grammar School and Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, while Kirkham Grammar School have kicked on from last term, completing an unbeaten season.
For us it felt like it had to be one of the Cup quarter finalists though, despite a relatively small number of games in the month, every game for them is crucial and therefore has added weight.
We opted to stick to the six who have already sealed their place in the last eight, who are Dulwich College, Hampton, Lymm High School, Oundle, Wilmslow High School, and of course Dauntsey’s.
Dulwich won their last 16 tie against Trinity, meaning they they are still never to lose a NatWest Cup game, having won all the three of the last competitions, the only three they have entered.
Hampton have beaten both RGS High Wycombe and Monmouth in the Cup this month, a stunning achievement, particularly their victory over Monmouth, which was on Monmouth territory against a side that had not lost to school opposition all year.
Lymm have just one defeat to their name all season, and have won both of their Cup games this month, against Worksop and Hymers College, Hymers themselves had only lost twice.
Oundle’s one game this term was a stunning 52-12 victory over King’s Worcester to put them through to the quarter finals, a truly stunning victory at this stage of the competition.
Wilsmlow High School have had a tremendous Cup run, beating King’s Macclesfield before Christmas and Stonyhurst College and St Peter’s York after, they have also won a couple of non-cup games this term.
Dauntsey’s as explained in our readers’ result, defeated Sherborne 13-11 to reach the quarter finals, a result that surprised many but on further examination should not have done.
All deserve recognition, and while it was tempting to agree with our readers and pick Dauntsey’s, our choice came down to one between Hampton and Wilmslow High School.
Both have done exceptionally well this month and deserve the highest praise.
In the end though the award went to Wilmslow High School. Their achievement in reaching this stage of the competition is superb, particularly as a non fee-paying school, one of just two left in the competition. They have beaten high class outfits to get to the quarter finals, and while an away trip to either St Joseph’s College or Whitgift will be tough, they deserve the highest recognition for their efforts this month. The dominance of their last 16 victory over St Peter’s only served to underline their efforts and quality.
Hampton too have been impressive though, that away win over Monmouth will live long in the memory even if they do not make it was Dulwich College in the next round. Some of the biggest names in schools rugby have travelled to Monmouth and lost, to come away with a win like theirs is some achievement.
Fifteen Rugby Team of the Month – Wilmslow High School.
Wilmlsow High School January Results:
36-24 v Stockport Grammar
10-7 v Stonyhurst College (NatWest Cup)
29-19 v St Ambrose College
32-3 v St Peter’s York (NatWest Cup)
Do you agree with our Team of the Month decision? Let us know what you think via @FifteenRugbyXV or via the comment box below.
