The quarter final and semi final draws for the U18 & U15 NatWest Cup and NatWest Vase competitions have been made.
All four competitions look as though they are going to be of an extraordinarily high standard, and there are some absolutely mouthwatering ties ahead!
The four competitions, U18 Cup, U18 Vase, U15 Cup, and U15 Vase have had their quarter finals labeled 1, 2, 3, and 4, which means that the semi finals will take place as follows in each competition:
Quarter Final 1 v Quarter Final 2 and Quarter Final 3 v Quarter Final 4.
U18 Cup
In the U18 Cup, quarter final 1 sees RGS High Wycombe, the perennial high achievers in all age groups of this competition who beat Stowe 14-0 in the last 16, host either Bedford Modern or the 2015 Champions, Bromsgrove.
That will mean a semi final against the winners of quarter final 2, which sees the 2010 and 2011 Champions, Whitgift, at home to Wilmslow High School, who reached the semi finals last year. Wilmslow beat Woodhouse Grove 11-8 in the last 16, while Whitgift came from 8-0 down to St Joseph’s College to win 11-8, a gave that was live streamed, as this quarter final will be, as part of the RFU’s Trail to Twickenham.
The third quarter final sees 2014 finalists, and a side made up entirely of U15 Cup winners, Warwick, face the 2013 semi finalists, Hampton. Hampton were the most dominant of last 16 winners, beating Simon Langton 46-0, while Warwick were just sublime against 2015 semi finalists Oundle, winning 32-7.
The winners of that game will face the winners of Truro v QEGS Wakefield, another side with serious Cup pedigree, QEGS’ side faced Warwick in both of their U15 Cup finals so have plenty of Cup experience and quality. In the last 16 Truro beat former winners St Peter’s Gloucester 15-8, while QEGS beat St Peter’s York 18-0.
U18 Vase
The first quarter final sees St George’s Weybridge , 24-10 winners over Ipswich yesterday, face the 2013 Cup finalists Northampton School for Boys, who beat Hereford 6th form College 32-7 yesterday too.
The winners of that game face the winner of Bloxham v Altrincham Grammar School. Bloxham had to dig deep yesterday to beat The Leys 22-18, while Altrincham Grammar sealed a 22-15 victory over Crossley Heath on Tuesday.
Quarter final three sees a huge derby between Downside and Pangbourne College. Downside came through a thriller in the last 16 against Plymouth College 31-24, while Pangbourne College beat Cokethorpe 20 13.
The winners of that game will face either St Ambrose College or Cooper’s Coborn in the semi final, it will be a long and tough trip for Cooper’s Coborn, who ebat Caterham 20-5 in the last 16. St Ambrose came through a tight one against 2014 winners Yarm, 21-20.
U15 Cup
The first U15 quarter final sees Woodhouse Grove consigned to a very long and very difficult trip to Millfield. Millfield beat St Peter’s Gloucester 20-3 in the last 16, while Woodhouse Grove were 11-8 winners over U15 champions QEGS Wakefield.
The winners of that game face another almighty task as the mighty Whitgift take on the equally legendary Sedbergh. Whitgift beat Brighton College 28-10 in the last 16 as Sedbergh crushed St Ambrose College 42-3. This is one of the ties of the round.
Quarter final three is another brutal tie as Bromsgrove welcome 2013 and 2014 winners, and 2015 finalists, Warwick to town. A huge game and a huge derby. In the last 16 Bromsgrove beat Uppingham 17-12, while Warwick werestrong 24-8 winners over Northampton School for Boys.
The final quarter final in the U15 Cup is anther monumental game of rugby as Dulwich College and Wellington College meet. 2012, ’13, and ’14 U18 Cup winners, and 2015 finalists, Dulwich were 28-0 winners over Hampton in the last round, while Wellington College were even more impressive as the marched to a 43-14 win over Ivybridge Community College.
U15 Vase
Quarter final 1 sees Bridgewater and Devenport High School drawn together, Bridgewater were huge 52-5 winners over Rodillian in the last 16, while Devenport beat Pate’s Grammar19-14.
The winner of that game plays the winner of Manchester Grammar v Dr Challoner’s in the semi final. Manchester Grammar beat Queen Ethelburga’s 39-0, while Dr Challoner’s had arguably one of the result of the last 16 when they beat Clifton College 32-0.
Quarter final 3 looks like a high quality affair as Bishop Vesey’s Grammar face New Hall. Bishop Vesey’s beat St George’s Harpenden in a tight last 16 game, 9-7, while New Hall were 22-19 winners over Langley Park.
Their semi final will be against either Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar or Sir Thomas Rich’s, another high quality game. Chislehurst & Sidcup were 23-7 victors over Judd in the last 16 as Sir Thomas Rich’s won 24-7 against Trent College.
Overall it is a superb looking draw across all four competitions, and it should be an exciting few weeks of rugby coming up! The quarter finals are scheduled to take place on the week of the 8th February, while the U18 semi finals are on the 27th February, with the U15 semi finals on the 6th March.
The NatWest Schools Cup finals day will be Wednesday 16th March.
NatWest Cup & Vase Quarter Finals Draw:
U18 Cup
RGS High Wycombe v Bedford Modern/Bromsgrove – QF1
Whitgift v Wilmslow High School – QF2
Warwick v Hampton – QF3
Truro v QEGS Wakefield – QF4
U18 Vase
St George’s College, Weybridge v Northampton School for Boys – QF1
Bloxham v Altrincham Grammar – QF2
Downside v Pangbourne College – QF3
St Ambrose College v Cooper’s Coborn – QF4
U15 Cup
Millfield v Woodhouse Grove – QF1
Whitgift v Sedbergh – QF2
Bromsgrove v Warwick – QF3
Dulwich College v Wellington College – QF4
U15 Vase
Bridgewater v Devonport High School – QF1
Manchester Grammar v Dr Challoner’s Grammar – QF2
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar v New Hall – QF3
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar v Sir Thomas Rich’s – QF4
Last 16 Results:
U18 Cup
St Peter’s York 0-18 QEGS Wakefield
Wilmslow High School 29-5 Woodhouse Grove
Bedford Modern v Bromsgrove – Wednesday 3rd February
Warwick 32-7 Oundle
Whitgift 11-8 St Joseph’s College
Simon Langton 0-46 Hampton
RGS High Wycombe 14-0 Stowe
Truro School 15-8 St Peter’s Gloucester
U18 Vase
Yarm 20-21 St Ambrose College
Crossley Heath 15-22 Altrincham GS
The Leys 18-22 Bloxham
Northampton School for Boys 32-7 Hereford 6th form College
Coopers Coborn 20-5 Caterham
Ipswich 10-24 St George’s College, Weybridge
Pangbourne College 20-13 Cokethorpe
Plymouth College 24-31 Downside
U15 Cup
St Ambrose College 3-42 Sedbergh
Woodhouse Grove 11-8 QEGS Wakefield
Northampton School for Boys 8-24 Warwick
Bromsgrove 17-12 Uppingham
Dulwich College 28-0 Hampton
Whitgift 28-10 Brighton College
Millfield 20-3 St Peter’s Gloucester
Ivybridge 14-43 Wellington College
U15 Vase
Queen Ethelburga’s 0-39 Manchester GS
Rodillian Academy 5-52 Bridgewater
Bishop Vesey’s GS 9-7 St George’s, Harpenden
Sir Thomas Rich’s 24-7 Trent College
New Hall 22-19 Langley Park
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 23-7 Judd
Devenport HS 19-14 Pate’s GS
Clifton College 0-32 Dr Challoner’s GS