Another excellent week of schools rugby beckons, and with some crucial NatWest Cup ties and a key Daily Mail Trophy fixture, it could go some way to dictating the end of season fall out.
It is not quite as busy as the last couple of weeks have been, but there is still plenty of quality rugby ahead.
Monday
On Monday St Albans beat St Columba’s College 12-3 in the County Cup, while there was also NatWest Vase action, though that is yet to come through.
Tuesday
Tuesday did not have many games either, but what games it did have were excellent.
There were two key NatWest Cup fixtures, Oundle v Leicester Grammar School and Stowe v Wycliffe College. Oundle v Leicester Grammar in Midlands B saw the two sides compete for a trip to Langley in the last 32, Oundle took the spoils with a powerful 22-5 win. You can see our report here: Oundle v Leicester Grammar School.
Stowe will host Portsmouth Grammar in South West A after they beat Wycliffe College by a strong 39-7 scoreline. St Edward’s Oxford lost 15-0 to Australian side King’s Parramatta, they will see each other again soon though, St Edward’s meet them again on their own tour in July.
Wednesday
As ever, Wednesday is the busiest day of the week and it features some crucial games.
Arguably the biggest game of the week is Millfield v Sedbergh. The two have already met this season, when Sedbergh again travelled to Millfield in the Champions Trophy, winning a tough game 19-15.
Millfield will be desperate to avenge that loss and to build on a win over Whitgift on Wednesday, but Sedbergh are in the hunt for the Champions Trophy and will be giving everything for this one.
There are a couple of NatWest Cup ties, St Joseph’s College travel to Campion, the scene of a shock defeat in the Cup for them a couple of years ago, they will want to avoid that happening again.
RGS Newcastle host St Peter’s York in the Cup, and it is a game that should be fascinating, both sides are in great form and will require a huge performance to get the win.
There are six NatWest Vase games, perhaps the pick of the bunch is Dame Allan’s hosting former winners Yarm, while St Ambrose v Ashville and Reading Blue Coat v Churcher’s College also look promising.
St Benedict’s and London Oratory meet for what should be a very special occasion as they compete in the county cup final.
Elsewhere there is a fascinating looking game between Stockport Grammar and King’s Macclesfield.
Thursday
On Thursday King’s Paramatta’s tour continues with a game at Louhborough Grammar School, who have been playing some good rugby this year.
As ever, if you have any results, photos, or reports from this week’s games, please send them in to writers@fifteenrugby.com
Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (Predictions in bold):
Monday
Beechen Cliff v Bishop Wordsworth – Cancelled
Coopers Coborn v KEGS Chelmsford (NatWest Vase)
St Albans 12-3 St Columba’s College
Tuesday
Oundle 22-5 Leicester Grammar (NatWest Cup) – See report here
St Edward’s Oxford 0-15 King’s Paramatta (Aus)
Stowe 39-7 Wycliffe College (NatWest Cup)
Wednesday
Bishop’s Stortford College v Mill Hill
Campion v St Joseph’s College (NatWest Cup)
Dame Allan’s v Yarm (NatWest Vase)
Dartford GS v Colfe’s (NatWest Vase)
Giggleswick v Austin Friars
Hymers College v Craven College (NatWest Vase)
Kent College v Simon Langton
King’s Worcester v Tewkesbury
Latymer Upper v Emanuel
Millfield v Sedbergh
Mount St Mary’s v Ampleforth College
Reading Blue Coat v Churcher’s College (NatWest Vase)
RGS Newcastle v St Peter’s York (NatWest Cup)
Seaford College v Hurstpierpoint College (Cobham RFC)
Shrewsbury v Newcastle-Under-Lyme (NatWest Vase)
St Ambrose College v Ashville College (NatWest Vase)
St Benedict’s v London Oratory (County Cup Final)
Stockport GS v King’s Macclesfield
Thursday
Loughborough GS v King’s Paramatta (Aus)
