This weekend saw the final stages of pre-season get wrapped up, including a number of big festivals, while for some it was the start of the competitive season.
It is always an interesting weekend, a chance to see roughly where each side sits as we start the season, though results should be taken with a pinch of salt, countless sides have performed badly at this early stage in the past only to rally and have superb seasons, with the opposite also true.
One side who looked like they are headed for another top year though are Wellington College, who were outstanding as they charged to a 40-5 victory over RGS High Wycombe despite a number of injury concerns. This is an RGS side that looked comfortable against Solihull in their midweek victory on Wednesday.
Also in impressive form were City of London Freemen’s, who beat Emanuel 47-0, while RGS Worcester got their Daily Mail Trophy campaign off to a flyer with a 30-7 with over KES Birmingham. Nottingham High were in the points too, beating King’s Grantham 33-15.
Clifton College secured a highly impressive 19-5 win over a good Denstone College side in their final pre-season game of the season, with Kirkham Grammar looking very solid by all accounts in a final pre-season warm up against Ellesmere College.
Monmouth went down in their final pre-season tour game, losing 38-24 to Chritan Brothers, while it was a tough trip to Scotland for RGS Newcastle, who lost 20-15 to George Watson’s College.
Sevenoaks and Colfe’s both picked up good wins, Sevenoaks beating Christ’s Hospital 14-3 and Colfe’s with a 34-21 effort against St Olave’s. On Friday Wallington County Grammar beat Tiffin 12-8, an excellent result ahead of their game against Trinity in midweek.
There was a huge Oxford derby too, which Abingdon won across 1st XV, U16, and U15 sides, though exact scores are yet to be confirmed.
Pre Season Tournaments
Saturday
Saturday was a busy day for pre-season tournaments and festivals. Some were competitive, while others were more about game time with scores not being kept and positions not being established.
Where scores were certainly being kept was at Reigate Grammar School, where Brighton College won out over a strong field including the likes of Tonbridge.
Sir William Borlase’s were in fine form a Shiplake College, winning four games from four, while at Wellingborough Bedford Modern were the winners for the second year running.
King’s Macclesfield held an astonishingly strong tournament that featured the likes of Warwick, St Joseph’s College, and Bristol Grammar all make the trip. Brentwood went unbeaten at their own tournament, while at Merchant Taylors’ the competition was fierce but unrecorded, so too at Royal Hospital School, while Woodhouse Grove looked good against hosts Stockport Grammar and Aylesbury Grammar.
Sunday
Sunday saw three huge tournaments taking place, the Esher RFC President’s Cup, the Tynedale Festival, and the South Coast King’s.
King Edward’s Southampton were the hosts of the South Coast King’s, and it was Blundell’s who claimed the crown in a strong field that included Champions Trophy winners Bedford. Bedford reached the semis but drew 0-0 with Dean Close, who then won the drop goal shoot-out. Blundell’s were the deserved winners though, seeing off Dean Close in the final.
Over at Esher it was Whitgift for the second year in a row who claimed the title, beating St John’s Leatherhead 5-0 in the final, the perfect preparation for their next game, against Sedbergh on Saturday. (You can see our report from the President’s Cup here: Esher RFC President’s Cup)
Sedbergh will be tough opponents on Saturday though, once again, as they showed that they are very much in form at the start of the season as they charged to the title at the Tynedale Festival, beating what seems to have been a very good Merchiston Castle side 14-10 in the final.
Midweek Results
There were a few competitive and pre-season games in midweek, Wedenesday saw some particularly thrilling games, in particular Sir Thomas Rich’s 26-26 draw with Seaford College.
Oakham were in flying form with a 21-7 win over Hampton on tour, with RGS High Wycombe also looking good with a 38-19 win over Solihull.
St Paul’s were the dominant force on Wednesday though, beating Camption 46-7. Lymm High School took that a step further on Thursday with a 54-14 destruction of Cokethorpe, while Clifton College showed their strength, winning 34-17 against Lord Wandsworth’s College.
If you have any photo, reports, or videos from the weekend’s school rugby, please do send them into us via email (writers@fifteenrugby.com ), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby ), or via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV).
Schools Rugby Weekend Results:
Friday 2nd September
Tiffin 8-12 Wallington CGS
Saturday 3rd September
Christian Brothers College, Monktown 38-24 Monmouth
City of London Freemen’s 47-0 Emanuel
Clifton College 19-5 Denstone College
Ellesmere College v Kirkham Grammar School – Pre Season, Kirkham win
George Watson’s 20-15 RGS Newcastle
King’s Grantham 15-33 Nottingham High School
RGS Worcester 30-7 KES Birmingham (DMT)
Sevenoaks 14-3 Christ’s Hospital
Skinners’ 8-15 KCS Wimbledon (DMT)
St Edward’s Oxford v Abingdon (DMT) – Still to come (Abingdon win)
St Olave’s 21-34 Colfe’s
Wellington College 40-5 RGS High Wycombe (DMT)
Sunday 4th September
Uppingham v St John’s College, Zimbabwe – Still to come
Pre Season Tournaments:
Saturday 3rd September
Brentwood @ Brentwood School – Unbeaten Brentwood
King’s School, Macclesfield @ King’s Macclesfield – Not Sure
Merchant Taylors’ School @ Merchant Taylors’ School, Northwood – scores not counted
Reigate Grammar School @ Reigate Grammar – Brighton College
Royal Hospital School @ RHS
Shiplake College @ Shiplake – Sir William Borlase’s, 4 from 4
Stockport Grammar School @ Stockport Grammar – SGS, WG, & AGS
Wellingborough @ Wellingborough – Bedford Modern
Sunday 4th September
Esher RFC President’s Cup @ Esher RFC – Whitgift (5-0 v St John’s)
South Coast King’s @ King Edward’s, Southampton – Blundell’s (Beat Dean Close, who beat Bedford after 0-0 then DG)
Tynedale @ Tynedale RFC – Sedbergh (14-10 v Merchiston)
Midweek Results
Wednesday 31st August
Durham v Stamford – Pre Season, Stamford win
Hampton 7-21 Oakham
RGS High Wycombe 38-19 Solihull
Sir Thomas Rich’s 26-26 Seaford College
St Paul’s 46-7 Campion
Thursday 1st September
Clifton College 34-17 Lord Wandsworth’s College
Lymm High School 54-14 Cokethorpe
