The final two U18 NatWest Cup last 16 ties take place this week, with Bromsgrove v Stamford on Tuesday and St Joseph’s College v Whitgift on Wednesday.
With the quarter final draw having taken place on Thursday last week, each side is aware of who they will be facing in the quarter final should they get there, and where.
The winner of Bromsgrove v Stamford will be at home to our Readers’ Team of the Month, Dauntsey’s, who beat Sherborne in the last 16 to represent South West A in the quarter finals.
Meanwhile the winner of St Joseph’s v Whitgift will host the official Fifteen Rugby School Team of the Month, Wilmslow High School, it what will be a long and tough away trip for the North A representatives, who put in a dominant 32-3 display against St Peter’s York in the last 16.
Bromsgrove v Stamford
Stamford are unbeaten this season, and have not lost for over four years at home, so the prospect of a home quarter final will be one they will be relishing. However a serious injury crisis which sees five players unavailable including their captain and vice captain will make their task away at Bromsgrove a tough one.
Making it even tougher will be Bromsgrove’s quality. The West Midlands side have beaten the likes of Millfield, Stowe, and Cup quarter finalists Oundle, and have lost just twice all season.
In the likes of captain and fly half Luke White they have some serious quality and will draw some great support at home on Tuesday. Nevertheless the momentum that Stamford have, despite their injuries, will be tricky to overcome and it seems likely that this will be a last sixteen tie to savour.
A quarter final is long overdue for Stamford who have fallen at this stage a number of times, including last year where a 22-22 draw with Warwick saw Warwick progress as the away side.
Bromsgrove too will fancy that this is their time, this has been a year to remember for them, but they will want it to get better yet.
St Joseph’s College v Whitgift
Another game that should be a real classic. Both have been among the best in the country for a few years now, and Whitgift are the last side since Dulwich College to lift the NatWest Cup, picking up back to back titles in 2010 and 2011.
St Joseph’s College won the St Joseph’s Festival last season and were among the favourites for the NatWest Cup title, only to fall to a shock defeat to Campion in the regional stages. This year they finished runners up in their festival, still a fine achievement, and will be looking to really avenge that early Cup exit from last year – how better than by reaching the National stages?
This year has been an odd one of Whitgift, beating the likes of Sedbergh and Dulwich College, yet losing or struggling to a few sides that they ought to have beaten. Having come through a tough test at Ealing RFC a fortnight ago though against St Benedict’s, they will be ready and raring to go for this one.
St Joseph’s have more than proved their quality, but with a less demanding fixture list that Whitgift it will be imperative that the Suffolk side come out firing and at the right level right from the start. As with Bromsgrove v Stamford, it ought to be a superb last sixteen tie.
Bromsgrove v Stamford – Midlands A, Tuesday, 14.30
St Joseph’s College v Whitgift – London & South East A, Wednesday, 14.30
U18 NatWest Cup Quarter Finals:
1 Oundle v Lymm High School
2 Bromsgrove/Stamford v Dauntsey’s
3 St Joseph’s College/Whitgift v Wilmslow High School
4 Dulwich College v Hampton
