This week sees the NatWest Cup and Vase quarter finals take place across both the U18 and U15 age-groups.
Wednesday sees the bulk of the action, with eleven games set to take place, including all four U18 Cup quarter finals.
U18 Cup
Whitgift v Wilmslow High School will be live streamed by the RFU as part of their ‘Trail to Twickenham’ series – all semi finals and finals will then be live streamed. It ought to be fascinating, with the 2010 & 2011 winners Whitgift facing last year’s semi finalists.
RGS High Wycombe will be one of the games of the day, RGS were outstanding on a tough day against Stowe in the last 16 but face a very tricky task against the reigning champions Bromsgrove, who were sublime last week against Bedford Modern, if anything even better than last year’s title winning wide.
Warwick, 2014 finalists and a side compromising of two year’s worth of U15 Cu winners, host Hampton, 2013 semi finalists, on Wednesday too. Again this looks like being a top level clash between two outstanding school teams.
The final U18 Cup quarter final on Wednesday is one of the longest away trips in schools rugby as QEGS Wakefield travel to Truro. In theory QEGS are favourites having reached the U15 finals in 2013 and 2014 and having both of those yeargroups in their 1st XV now, but an away trip like that against a top Truro side is tough.
U18 Vase
St George’s Weybridge face 2013 Cup finalists Northampton School for Boys on Wednesday, with Bloxham v Altrincham Grammar also on Wednesday.
On Thursday there is a huge derby between Downside and Pangoburne College, who will know who they are competing to play against in the semi finals, with their game coming a day after St Ambrose College v Cooper’s Coborn.
U15 Cup
The U15 Cup quarter finals line up is arguably one of the strongest ever. It all kicked off on Tuesday with Bromsgrove v Warwick. Warwick have reached the U15 final three years running, winning in 2013 and 2014, but they found themselves 12-0 down early in the second half. They fought back superbly though to level the scores at 12-12, and with the try count even, they progressed as the away side.
They will now play the winner of that playing the winner of another monumental clash, Dulwich College v Wellington College, which takes place on Wednesday, in the semi final at Allianz Park.
The other two quarter finals are also on Wednesday, another pair of monumental clashes, and huge away trips, as Millfield welcome Woodhouse Grove, and Sedbergh make the long trip down to Whitgift.
U15 Vase
The U15 Vase is the only competition with quarter final results so far, with Dr Challoner’s beating Manchester Grammar 28-10 last week. They will face either Bridgewater or Devenport High, who play on Wednesday, in the semi final.
On Monday Bishop Vesey’s hosted New Hall. The away side were 15-0 up at the break but a superb comeback from Bishop Vesey’s saw them claim a 19-15 victory. They will have to wait to find out their semi final opponent though, Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar do not host Sir Thomas Rich’s until Thursday.
NatWest Cup & Vase Quarter Final Fixtures:
U18 Cup
RGS High Wycombe v Bromsgrove – QF1 – Wednesday 10th February
Whitgift v Wilmslow High School – QF2 – Wednesday 10th February (Live Stream)
Warwick v Hampton – QF3 – Wednesday 10th February
Truro v QEGS Wakefield – QF4 – Wednesday 10th February
U18 Vase
St George’s College, Weybridge v Northampton School for Boys – QF1 – Wednesday 10th February
Bloxham v Altrincham Grammar – QF2 – Wednesday 10th February
Downside v Pangbourne College – QF3 – Thursday 11th February
St Ambrose College v Cooper’s Coborn – QF4 – Wednesday 10th February
U15 Cup
Millfield v Woodhouse Grove – QF1 – Wednesday 10th February
Whitgift v Sedbergh – QF2 – Wednesday 10th February
Bromsgrove 12-12 Warwick – QF3 (Warwick through as the away side)
Dulwich College v Wellington College – QF4 – Wednesday 10th February
U15 Vase
Bridgewater v Devonport High School – QF1 – Wednesday 10th February
Manchester Grammar 10-28 Dr Challoner’s Grammar – QF2
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar 19-15 New Hall – QF3
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar v Sir Thomas Rich’s – QF4 – Thursday 11th February