St Joseph’s College v Wilmslow High School
Wednesday 25th February, 14.00
Preview:
An interesting game from a coaching perspective as St Joseph’s College head coach Joel Unsworth used to play under Wilmslow High School Head Coach Roger Hancock when he himself was at Wilmslow.
Both school have reached relatively recent semi finals, St Joseph’s in 2012 and Wilmslow High School in 2011, both going on to lose to the eventual Champions. St Joseph’s are a side best known in their region for their Festival and Cup exploits, their regular fixture list does not see them face too many household school names, but their October Festival sees the best in the business come to town. This year they reached the final of it, losing to Millfield, last year they won it, beating RGS High Wycombe – that is the standard of side we are talking about.
Wilmslow are a good team themselves though, they have consistently been knocking on the door of the national stages over the last few years, and they have even reached Twickenham before, finishing runners up in the Vase in 2007.
More importantly, in their run to this year’s quarter finals they have beaten Stonyhurst College and King’s Macclesfield, two of the strongest teams in the region. Wilmslow are a big threat this year, the long away trip could make life tough though.
St Joseph’s have had to take some big scalps themselves though, their last 16 opponents were Whitgift, the 2010 and 2011 champions. St Joseph’s always looked in control though, and their passionate home crowd made a big difference too, you can expect more of the same tomorrow – it truly is one of the most passionate home crowds in the country, and Wilmslow will ahve to be mentally tough to combat it. St Joseph’s will have to be wary of becoming too caught up in the emotion of the game and the crowd too though.
Route to the Quarter Finals:
St Joseph’s College
Round 2: Bye
Round 3: 57-8 v Brentwood
Round 4: 39-28 v Felsted
Round 5: 33-9 v Campion
Round 6: 37-11 v Dartford Grammar
Last 16: 20-12 v Whitgift
Wilmslow High
Round 2: Bye
Round 3: 20-10 v St Ambrose College
Round 4: 29-26 v King’s Macclesfield
Round 5: 17-6 v Ermysted’s Grammar
Round 6: 10-7 v Stonyhurst College
Last 16: 32-3 v St Peter’s York
2014 NatWest Cup Record
St Joseph’s – Round 5
Wilmslow High – Cup Round 3, Vase Quarter Final
Best Cup Run:
St Joseph’s – 2012, Cup Semi Finals
Wilmslow High – 2011, Cup Semi Finals; 2007, Vase Runners Up
Semi Final: v Dulwich College, Saturday 7th March 17.00, Allianz Park
XV Favourites:
St Joseph’s College. On their own patch they really are one of the best supported sides around, add that to their quality and they are a tough nut to crack. Wilmslow have proved they have no problems in cracking a big scalp though.
