In our preview we said that this weekend’s school rugby fixtures had the potential to make this weekend the best of the term to date, and it would appear as though we were right.
Right across the country there were some stunning looking fixtures, and they reached expectations with some outstanding results coming through.
5 Key Fixtures
Our five ‘key fixtures’ certainly lived up to the billing, perhaps none more so than Millfield v Bromsgrove. The Champions Trophy champions against the NatWest Cup champions. The billing suggested it should have been a close contest but it turned out to be far from that as Bromsgrove posted one of the results of the season as they dismantled Millfield 42-7, on Millfield’s patch. A result that has confirmed what we already know, that Bromsgrove are a top side, and that will have left Millfield nervous of Sedbergh’s visit on Wednesday.
Sedbergh will have no such worries as they went back to the top of the Daily Mail Trophy table after they beat the side who had replaced them there last week, Durham, by a commanding 38-14 scoreline.
Sticking to the northern circuit, Stonhyhurst certainly showed their quality as they beat the very much in form RGS Lancaster 17-7. They are a side to keep an eye on for the remainder of the term.
Our other two key fixtures were local derbies, usually close-fought dogfights, both turned out to be strong wins. In the Croydon derby Whitgift upset the home fans as they won by a supreme 32-0 scoreline over John Fisher, while in Abingdon the home side beat local rivals Radley College 22-3.
Five Previews
Our other five previewed games were no less exciting and in some cases surprising too, all adding to a sensational day of rugby.
One of the results of the day was Stowe’s 35-11 victory over Epsom College, who are one of the very best sides in the country in many observers eyes. Stowe must surely begin to fit into that bracket too.
Most sensational of all though was Tonbridge’s 15-10 victory over Cranleigh. Tonbridge are a good side but Cranleigh have been looking like they might fit into that handful of sides right at the very top of the game, for Tonbridge to get the win therefore deserves great credit.
As do Brighton College, who put in a sensational performance to beat Trinity 43-13, as too did Clifton College, who beat Marlborough College 35-7.
RGS Newcastle were also in fine form as they beat an Ampleforth College side that have been playing some top quality rugby by a 29-5 scoreline.
Around the country
Arguably the most sensational result of the weekend though was Sherborne’s outstanding 34-29 victory over Wellington College – a result that will see Director’s of Rugby across the country take note, and will see Sherborne head into this week’s Champions Trophy quarter final full of confidence.
Bedford were also highly impressive as they beat Dulwich College 29-3, as were Blundell’s, who beat Bryanston 23-8.
Hampton’s 20-9 win over St Benedict’s caught the eye, as did St Paul’s, who beat one of the real pace-setters this year, Harrow, 23-20.
Barnard Castle were once again in stunning form, they beat Hymers College by an outstanding 80-3. RGS High Wycombe were in impressive in their 22-12 win over Warwick, while Stamford also warrant a mention after their 35-0 over Uppingham keeps that incredible unbeaten home run, stretching to November 2010, rolling.
Another of the sensational results this weekend was Framlingham College’s stunning comeback against The Leys. From 29-0 down, Framlingham bounced back with thirty-six unanswered points to win 36-29, a comeback that the school is rightly immensely proud of.
If you have any reports, photos, or videos from this week’s matches, send them in to writers@fifteenrugby.com
Schools Rugby Results:
5 Key Fixtures
Abingdon 22-3 Radley College
Durham 14-38 Sedbergh
John Fisher 0-32 Whitgift
Millfield 7-42 Bromsgrove
Stonyhurst College 17-7 RGS Lancaster
5 Previews
Brighton College 43-13 Trinity
Clifton College 35-7 Marlborough College
RGS Newcastle 29-5 Ampleforth College
Stowe 35-11 Epsom College
Tonbridge 15-10 Cranleigh
Other Key Fixtures
Bedford 29-3 Dulwich College
Bedford Modern 16-22 Berkhamsted
Bishop Vesey’s GS 22-6 KES Stratford
Bishop Wordsworth’s 38-12 Kingswood
Blundell’s 23-8 Bryanston
Bristol GS 26-12 King’s College Taunton
Campion 15-13 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Cheltenham College 3-13 St Edward’s Oxford
Cranbrook 8-12 Eastbourne College
Dame Allan’s 21-21 Yarm
Dartford GS 24-34 New Hall
Dean Close 28-34 Bloxham
Denstone College 14-24 Kirkham GS
Felsted 74-0 Eltham College
Framlingham College 36-29 The Leys
Grammar School at Leeds 0-28 St Ambrose College
Gresham’s 57-3 Wymondham College (NatWest Cup)
Hampton 20-9 St Benedict’s
Harrow 20-23 St Paul’s
Hereford Cathedral School 18-10 Christ College
Hurstpierpoint College 25-0 Worth
Hymers College 3-80 Barnard Castle
Judd 13-11 Skinners’
King’s Canterbury 12-41 Reed’s
Langley 14-5 Norwich (NatWest Cup)
Leicester GS 5-25 John Cleveland
Lord Wandsworth College 17-41 Reigate GS
Loughborough GS 0-48 King’s Worcester
Magdalen College 34-10 Portsmouth Grammar School
Nottingham HS 50-3 KES Birmingham
Oratory 24-24 Canford
Princethorpe College 12-19 Bablake
QEGS Wakefield 28-14 Crossley Heath
Reading Blue Coat 34-0 Churcher’s College
RGS Colchester 32-21 Bishops Stortford HS
RGS High Wycombe 22-12 Warwick
Rugby 44-17 Haileybury
Sandbach 12-14 Ellesmere College
Sherborne 34-29 Wellington College
Shiplake College 12-17 Pangbourne College
Sir Thomas Rich’s 45-0 Monmouth
Solihull 38-25 St Peter’s, Gloucester
Stamford 35-0 Uppingham
St Columba’s College 13-0 St Albans
St George’s College, Weybridge 12-5 Wimbledon College
St John’s Leatherhead 54-12 RGS Guildford
Stockport GS 39-0 Cheadle Hulme
Trent College 27-10 Worksop College
Wilmslow HS 36-41 Wirral GS
Friday
Bradford GS 21-3 Woodhouse Grove
Caterham 29-10 Colfe’s
Wallington CGS 16-6 Langley Park
Still to come:
Beechen Cliff v Colston’s
City of London Freemens v Christ’s Hospital (NatWest Cup)
KES Bath v Malvern College
Monkton Combe v Prior Park College
Mount St Mary’s College v Ashville College
Seaford College v Glyn
Sevenoaks v Mill Hill
St Anslem’s College v Manchester GS
