The midweek rugby is steadily cranking up ahead of next week’s double whammy of Champions Trophy and NatWest Cup, and this week saw some very high quality rugby.
The other significant factor in this period is the sheer number of touring sides who are playing at the moment, no doubt the Rugby World Cup has encouraged a particularly large number of tourists this season.
Tuesday
Fifteen Rugby were lucky enough to witness one of those touring sides on Tuesday as Ignatius Park, from Australia, beat a heavily depleted Shiplake College side 40-7. You can see our report from that game here: Shiplake College v Ignatius Park. Hustrpierpoint College were also in action against tourists, losing to New Zealanders Massey High School.
The NatWest Cup was also up and running on Tuesday as New Hall started their campaign with a solid 25-12 victory over Ipswich.
There was a draw in Bishop’s Stotford as the College and Sevenoaks finished at 12-12. Monmouth kept their good form going with a 26-13 victory over Christ College.
The game of the day though was of course the Ryan Bresnahan Memorial game at Clifton RFC, which was fittingly won by Clifton College, 50-0 against Colston’s.
Wednesday
Following Monday’s second round draw (which you can see here – Champions Trophy second round), Wednesday saw the final first round game take place, Marlborough College v Sherborne. Fifteen Rugby was live at this game and we were treated to a classic as Marlborough came from 27-5 down to lose just 27-24 to Sherborne, who now face St John’s Leatherhead in the next round. You can see our report here: Marlborough College v Sherborne.
There was more tour action on Wednesday as Tauranga Boys, from New Zealand, were hosted by Cranbrook. The New Zealanders showed no mercy on the field though, winning 42-7.
Elsewhere the big game of the day was Stowe v RGS High Wycombe, a genuine heavyweight clash. Stowe won it 33-20, a superb win against a top opposition. Elsewhere there were a number of big wins for King’s Macclesfield (57-5), Simon Langton (67-12), St Peter’s Gloucester (80-7), Yarm (45-3), Felsted (62-5), and perhaps most impressive of a all, a 65-5 win for St Peter’s York over Hymers College.
Sir Thomas Rich’s meanwhile beat RGS Worcester 43-14 and Caterham beat Tiffin 35-29.
Thursday
Thursday was yet another big day, and Fifteen Rugby were live for the Oxford derby between St Edward’s and Radley College, a game that could have gone either way, but was won by Radley, 27-13. You can see our report here: Teddies v Radley.
New Zealand side Massey High School were in action again on tour, beating Bishop’s Stortford High School 67-7.
Rugby School were back to winning ways, beating a good Trent College side 30-15, while Haileybury were also in good form, beating Verulam 28-13.
Canford showed some good form to beat Dauntsey’s 25-10, while Cranleigh continued their blistering start to the season with a superb 52-0 win over Bede’s. Prior Park fell 31-12 to Beechen Cliff, with Beechen Cliff looking strong once again.
With another busy midweek to come after a busy weekend, the month looks as though it will end with a bang!
Do you have any missing results, or any photos, videos, or reports from this weekend? Please send them in to writers@fifteenrugby.com – alternatively you can get in touch via @FifteenRugbyXV or www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby
Schools Rugby Midweek Results
Tuesday
Bishop’s Stortford College 12-12 Sevenoaks
New Hall 25-12 Ipswich – NatWest Cup
Shiplake College 7-40 Ignatius Park (Australia)
Hurstpierpoint College v Massey High School (New Zealand) – Massey win, score unconfirmed
Christ College 13-26 Monmouth
Clifton College 50-0 Colston’s
Wednesday
Marlborough College 24-27 Sherborne – Champions Trophy
Cranbrook 7-42 Tauranga Boys School (New Zealand)
St Ambrose College 19-21 Altrincham GS
King’s Macclesfield 57-5 Cheadle Hulme
Simon Langton 67-12 Maidstone GS
Gordon’s 10-39 Salesian
Stowe 33-20 RGS High Wycombe
Tiffin 29-35 Caterham
Hymers College 5-65 St Peter’s York
The Crypt 7-80 St Peter’s, Gloucester
Bloxham 29-0 King Henry VIII School, Coventry
RGS Lancaster 28-0 MTS Crosby
Harrogate GS 3-45 Yarm
Sir Thomas Rich’s 43-14 RGS Worcester
Sexey’s 26-26 Wells Cathedral School
Culford 5-62 Felsted
Thursday
St Edward’s Oxford 13-27 Radley College
Craneligh 52-0 Bede’s
Prior Park College 12-31 Beechen Cliff
Canford 25-10 Dauntsey’s
Trent College 15-30 Rugby
Haileybury 28-13 Verulam
Bishop’s Stortford High School 7-67 Massey High School (New Zealand)
Still to come:
The Perse v St Joseph’s College
Sandringham v Sir John Lawes – NatWest Cup
Wilsmlow HS v Stockport GS
Bristol GS v Sydney GS
