A thrilling few days of NatWest Cup and NatWest Vase action saw the semi final lineups for all four competitions decided.
Twitter was ablaze with score updates as the excitement spread the length and breadth of the country, with the overriding theme being that it was an extremely tense Wednesday afternoon for many.
The quarter final news was then rounded off on Thursday with the final U18 and U15 Vase results.
U18 Cup
In the U18 Cup the Champions, Bromsgrove, travelled to Schools Cup legends, RGS High Wycombe. RGS turned up the heat on Bromsgrove, but Bromsgrove responded in real style to win 31-13. Fifteen Rugby attended the game, and you can see our report here: RGS High Wycombe v Bromsgrove.
Bromsgrove will face the 2010 and 2011 champions, Whitgift. The Croydon based side were in action against last year’s semi finalists, Wilmslow High School. With the game in front of the RFU’s live cameras, there was plenty of extra excitement for this one, which turned out to be one of the most tense of the day. Whitgift were 10-0 up, but a late try for Wilmslow gave the game a thrilling end, with Whitgift just hanging on as 10-7 winners.
Warwick, finalists in 2014, secured a very narrow and tense 10-9 win over Hampton. Warwick led for much of the second period, but Hampton refused to budge, and with the penalties ticking over there were plenty of nerves around, but Warwick held on for a 10-9 win.
QEGS Wakefield took the other semi final, a more straightforward 20-0 win over Truro School in incredibly muddy conditions. It was not as straightforward as it might appear though, the distance involved meant that flying became the only practical option for QEGS travel wise.
It means that the second U18 semi final is Warwick v QEGS Wakefield, which is a repeat of the last three U15 Cup semi finals, showing just how valuable Cup pedigree is in this competition. Warwick won the first two of those three, and those two yeargroups now make up the 6th form at both schools, suggesting a slight advantage for Warwick.
U18 Vase
The Vase saw 2013 Cup finalists Northampton School for Boys travel to St George’s Weybridge and secure a 27-17 victory. Their semi final opponents will be Bloxham, who came through a real battle against Altrincham Grammar to win 16-13.
The other semi final will see St Ambrose College, who beat Cooper’s Coborn 20-0, face a Pangbourne College side who defeated local rivals Downside 29-7 on Thursday afternoon, with a sterling performance from ISRFC Lambs star, James Costin-Pratt.
U15 Cup
The U15 Cup quarter finals featured one of the strongest lineups in U15 Cup history, and the semi finals look set to be no different.
Millfield secured their place with an excellent 19-6 victory over Woodhouse Grove, and will play their old rivals Sedbergh, who were quite simply outstanding on their long away trip to Whtigift, where they secured a brilliant 34-17 win. You can see our report from that game here: Whitgift v Sedbergh.
Warwick are in line for a stunning 4th final appearance in a row still, though they were oh so close to being knocked out on Tuesday, they progressed against Bromsgrove by virtue of being the away side after a 12-12 draw.
Their opponents will be Wellington College. Wellington, despite a lengthy injury list, put in a stunning display to beat Dulwich College 20-3, at Dulwich. An outstanding win. You can see our report here: Dulwich College v Wellington College.
U15 Vase
The U15 Vase was already taking shape last week when Dr Challoner’s beat Manchester Grammar 28-10. The discovered today that their semi final opponent will be Bridgewater, after they beat Devonport High School 20-3.
On Monday Bishop Vesey’s came through a tough test against New Hall, winning 19-15. They had to wait until Thursday to find out their semi final opponent though, as Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar played host to Sir Thomas Rich’s. Sir Thomas Rich’s held off a late Chislehurst comeback in that one to win 19-13.
Overall it looks as though we are set for a couple of the great semi final days that the NatWest Cup has seen. The U18 semi finals will take place on Saturday 27th February, with the U15 semi finals taking place on Sunday 6th March. All semi finals will be played at Allianz Park and will be Live Streamed.
If you have any reports, photos, or videos from the NatWest Cup and Vase quarter finals, please do send them in to writers@fifteenrugby.com
NatWest Cup & Vase Quarter Final Results:
U18 Cup
RGS High Wycombe 13-31 Bromsgrove – QF1
Whitgift 10-7 Wilmslow High School – QF2
Warwick 10-9 Hampton – QF3
Truro 0-20 QEGS Wakefield – QF4
U18 Vase
St George’s College, Weybridge 17-27 Northampton School for Boys – QF1
Bloxham 16-13 Altrincham Grammar – QF2
Downside 7-29 Pangbourne College – QF3
St Ambrose College 20-0 Cooper’s Coborn – QF4
U15 Cup
Millfield 19-6 Woodhouse Grove – QF1
Whitgift 17-34 Sedbergh – QF2
Bromsgrove 12-12 Warwick – QF3 (Warwick through as away side)
Dulwich College 3-20 Wellington College – QF4
U15 Vase
Bridgewater 20-3 Devonport High School – QF1
Manchester Grammar 10-28 Dr Challoner’s Grammar – QF2
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar 19-15 New Hall – QF3
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar 13-19 Sir Thomas Rich’s – QF4
NatWest Cup & Vase Semi Final Fixtures:
U18 Cup (Saturday 27th February)
Bromsgrove v Whitgift – 17.00
Warwick v QEGS Wakefield – 15.00
U18 Vase (Saturday 27th February)
Northampton School for Boys v Bloxham – 11.00
Pangbourne College v St Ambrose College – 13.00
U15 Cup (Sunday 6th March)
Millfield v Sedbergh – 15.00
Warwick v Wellington College – 17.00
U15 Vase (Sunday 6th March)
Bridgewater v Dr Challoner’s Grammar – 11.00
Bishop Vesey’s v Sir Thomas Rich’s – 13.00
