In our preview to the weekend’s school rugby we said that a classic weekend lay ahead, and so it proved as some brilliant games of rugby were played out across the country.
Conditions were unpleasant for many, and there were a few scores that reflected that, a 3-0 win for Merchant Taylor’s over Bloxham and a 5-3 Sherborne victory over Canford chief among them, but there were also some highly impressive scorelines despite the weather.
5 Key Fixtures
Our five key fixtures certainly did not let us down, with some results and scores that need reading twice and some great drama thrown in too.
Arguably the result of the day was Kirkham Grammar School’s 27-0 win over Sedbergh. Building up to the game there were many who thought Kirkham could win, particularly having done so last year, but nobody could have been predicting such a brilliant and dominant scoreline.
Things were much tighter in North West London as Harrow hosted Warwick. A tight game was at 15-15 heading into the last play but a Harrow penalty at the death gave them the spoils, 18-15.
Tonbridge absolutely stunned St Paul’s, winning by an astonishing 31-0 score. St Paul’s have been outstanding all season, and Tonbridge have been very good of late, nobody could have been predicting quite such a dominant victory, particularly in such torrid conditions.
Wellington College showed all of their undoubted quality to beat Champions Trophy finalists Epsom College. Wellington put in a good display to secure a 22-10 win.
It was a good display from Whitgift too, as they beat Dulwich College 16-6. Whitgift have only lost to Wellington and Sedbergh this season and are certainly a side to look out for.
5 Previews
Our other previewed fixtures had plenty of entertainment too. Stonyhurst College backed up our strong billing of them with an excellent 22-7 win at Ampleforth College, always a tricky place to play at.
QEGS Wakefield and Barnard Castle played out a game that befitted their status as two schools with an outstanding rugby pedigree. It was a tight game throughout, with QEGS taking the spoils, 21-17.
Millfield showed that they are back in business with a gutsy 18-17 victory over Blundell’s, who came so close to reaching the Champions Trophy final in their heartbreaking semi final defeat to Epsom in midweek.
Bromsgrove kept their impressive unbeaten record alive with another excellent victory, they beat Monmouth 23-16 in Wales, a brilliant win.
Marlborough College put in a sterling effort to beat Cheltenham, winning 24-13 on Cheltenham College turf.
Around the Grounds
Elsewhere there were plenty of impressive results, a 50-7 victory at Adams Grammar for King’s Macclesfield being one.
Berkhamsted again showed that they are a force to be reckoned with, they beat Stamford 12-0. Bryanston and Clifton College played out a close fought and low scoring 7-7 draw.
Colston’s were back on the winning horse with a 15-12 win over Kingswood, while King’s Canterbury put in an outstanding display to beat a good Haileyburyu side 31-3.
Cranleigh notched up a decent 25-10 win over Hurstpierpoint, and Eton College secured a 26-13 victory away at John Fisher.
Oundle beat Oakham for the second time this season, they were at their impressive best again, winning 21-0. Reigate Grammar School notched up yet another big scoreline, beating Sutton Valence 42-0.
Abingdon beat Rugby 13-0, and Seaford College won their derby against Brighton College by an impressive 22-13 margin.
Stowe were at their best against Uppingham, winning 24-0, Trinity were similarly good against an organised Tiffin side, they won 31-19.
RGS High Wycombe and Sir Thomas Rich’s played out a real slugfest, which RGS eventually took 16-11. Meanwhile a last minute crossfield kick secured victory for King’s College Taunton in the Taunton derby in the most dramatic fashion.
If you have any reports, photos, videos, or score updates, please do send them in to writers@fifteenrugby.com
Schools Rugby Results:
5 Key Fixtures
Kirkham GS 27-0 Sedbergh
Harrow 18-15 Warwick
Tonbridge 31-0 St Paul’s
Wellington College 22-10 Epsom College
Whitgift 16-6 Dulwich College
5 Previews
Ampleforth College 7-22 Stonyhurst College
Barnard Castle 17-21 QEGS Wakefield
Blundell’s 17-18 Millfield
Cheltenham College 13-24 Marlborough College
Monmouth 16-23 Bromsgrove
Other Key Fixtures
Adams GS 7-50 King’s Macclesfield
Ashville College 29-18 Worksop College
Aylesbury GS 14-26 Magdalen College
Bablake 10-44 Bishop Vesey’s GS
Bedford 28-10 Radley College
Berkhamsted 12-0 Stamford
Bishop Wordsworth’s 21-18 Dauntsey’s
Bolton School 5-22 Cheadle Hulme
Bradford GS 15-0 Trent College
Bryanston 7-7 Clifton College
Calday Grange 0-25 Ellesmere College
Canford 3-5 Sherborne
Caterham 13-18 Sevenoaks
Christ’s Hospital 10-18 Churcher’s College
City of London Freemen’s 5-19 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Colston’s 15-12 Kingswood
Dean Close 0-22 Malvern College
Downside 7-10 Prior Park College
Durham 45-12 Yarm
Eltham College 10-15 Colfe’s
Giggleswick v Austin Friars – Cancelled
Grammar School at Leeds 0-14 Woodhouse Grove
Haileybury 3-31 King’s Canterbury
Hampton v Campion – Cancelled
Hurstpierpoint College 10-25 Cranleigh
John Fisher 13-26 Eton College
KCS Wimbledon 38-10 Shiplake College
KES Birmingham 6-46 Solihull
KES Stratford 14-24 Pate’s GS
King’s Worcester 11-12 Bristol GS
Leys 8-15 Royal Hospital School
Lord Wandsworth College 18-11 Pangbourne College
Lymm HS v St Ambrose College – Cancelled
Manchester Grammar 31-22 Wirral Grammar
Merchant Taylor’s 3-0 Bloxham
Mill Hill 8-18 Feslted
New Hall 26-15 London Oratory
Northampton SfB 12-5 Leicester GS
Norwich 31-11 Gresham’s
Nottingham HS 6-13 Loughborough GS
Old Swinford Hospital 13-17 RGS Worcester
Oundle 21-0 Oakham
Pocklington 34-0 Hymers College
Portsmouth GS 3-15 St George’s, Weybridge
Reading Blue Coat 33-13 Claire’s Court
Reigate GS 42-0 Sutton Valence
RGS Guildford 27-12 Judd
Rugby 0-13 Abingdon
Rydal Penrhos v St Edward’s College
Seaford College 22-13 Brighton College
Sir Thomas Rich’s 11-16 RGS High Wycombe
Skinners’ 3-7 Eastbourne College
St George’s, Harpenden 10-13 St Columba’s College
St John’s Leatherhead 10-13 Reed’s
Stowe 24-0 Uppingham
Taunton 10-12 King’s College, Taunton
Trinity 31-19 Tiffin
Wimbledon College 7-22 St Benedict’s
Worth 13-8 King Edward’s, Southampton
Still to come:
Bishop’s Stortford College v The Perse
Bishop’s Stortford HS v Dartford GS
Harrogate GS v Crossley Heath
St Joseph’s College v Langley
