It has been an exciting week of schools rugby, with plenty of excitement in the form of touring sides too.
There is more to come as well, with four games this evening, and then we are into a busy weekend of school fixtures, for which you can see our preview and predictions for here: Schools Rugby Weekend Preview. You can also make your own predictions on our ten featured games.
Back to the midweek rugby though, and it has been a busy one, with games every day this week.
Monday
Monday had just the one game as Sir Thomas Rich’s welcomed Colegio Cardenal Newman to town. The Buenos Aires side showed that they had learned from their compatriots who are performing so well in The Rugby Championship, putting together a fine performance for a 29-5 victory.
Tuesday
Tuesday saw another touring side in action, this time it was RGS Newcastle who played host, and another South American side touring, this time from Chile. Craighouse were the opposition, who also had a successful UK tour last year, and they were highly impressive, beating and RGS side, who only days before had been scintillating in beating Durham at Kingston Park, by a 17-5 margin.
There was also action in the Scottish National Cup as schoolboy powerhouses Loretto strolled past Preston Lodge 42-14.
Wednesday
Wednesday was when the pace picked up this week, with a number of games taking place the length and breadth of the country.
One of the highlights was Marlborough College v Sedbergh at Stourbridge RFC. Sedbergh have impressed in pre-season and did well to beat a strong Whitgift side on Saturday having been 11-0 down, but here they were on another level, scything past Marlborough for a 41-0 win.
Woodhouse Grove were also in stunning form, beating Prince Henry’s Grammar School 53-5. Huge credit must go to Prince Henry’s though, who stepped in at the last minute after Woodhouse Grove’s original fixture was cancelled.
Shiplake College picked up the victory in their annual early season derby with Windsor Boys’, winning 22-5, while Welbeck were in fine form against Leicester Grammar, beating them 36-3.
Abingdon continued their strong start to the year with a 20-5 victory over a spirited Cokethorpe side, with Eltham College also continuing their good early form with a 29-16 win over City of London Freemen’s.
Ampleforth College confirmed some of the optimism surrounding them at the moment with a simply outstanding 50-5 victory over Dame Allan’s, while Bablake performed well for a 26-12 victory over KES Aston.
Gravesend were unlucky to miss out due to a missed conversion against Hayes, losing 7-5, while King’s Grantham will be feeling it after a 14-9 defeat to Worksop College. KES Stratford have cause for celebration after an excellent 29-12 win at home to Kind Edward VI Five Ways.
There were also two games in the NatWest Vase as Cardinal Vaughan and Sir Roger Manwood booked their places in the second round. Cardinal Vaughan were superb in securing a 45-10 win over Isleworth & Syon, while Sir Roger Manwood secured an excellent 12-5 win over Dover Grammar. This is not the end of the road for either Isleworth & Syon or Dover though, as following the shake up to the tournament they are now in the Bowl competition.
Thursday
There was just the one fixture on Thursday, with the Chileans, Craighouse, back in action. They faced Bradford Grammar this time, and while their result against RGS Newcastle showed that they were a threat, few could have predicted just how big a threat as they secured a superb 50-5 victory over their hosts.
Friday
There are a couple of massive fixtures under the lights on Friday night. The first sees Stockport Grammar meet Manchester Grammar at Stockport RFC for an 18.15 kick off, before Barnard Castle host Dame Allan’s, in what will be Dame Allan’s second midweek game this week, at 18.30 on Darlington Mowden Park’s artificial pitch.
Friday also sees Ravens Wood travel to St Olave’s, and Warminster host Wells Cathedral School.
Don’t forget that if you have any photos, reports, or videos from the week’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 Midweek Results:
Monday 12th September
Sir Thomas Rich’s 5-29 Colegio Cardenal Newman, Buenos Aires
Tuesday 13th September
Loretto 42-14 Preston Lodge (Scottish National Cup)
RGS Newcastle 5-17 Craighouse (Chile)
Wednesday 14th September
Abingdon 20-5 Cokethorpe
Ampleforth College 50-5 Dame Allan’s (DMT)
Bablake 26-12 KES Aston
City of London Freemen’s 16-29 Eltham College
Dover GS 5-12 Sir Roger Manwood (NatWest Vase)
Gravesend GS 5-7 Hayes
Isleworth & Syon 10-45 Cardinal Vaughan (NatWest Vase)
KES Stratford 29-12 King Edward VI Five Ways
King’s Canterbury v Cranbrook – Postponed
King’s Grantham 9-14 Worksop College
Leicester GS 3-36 Welbeck
Marlborough College 0-41 Sedbergh (DMT) – 19.00 at Sixways
Reigate GS v St George’s College, Weybridge (DMT) – Postponed
Windsor Boys’ 5-22 Shiplake College
Woodhouse Grove 53-5 Prince Henry’s GS
Thursday 15th September
Bradford GS 5-50 Craighouse (Chile)
Friday 16th September
Barnard Castle v Dame Allan’s (DMT) – 18.30 at Darlington Mowden Park
St Olave’s v Ravens Wood
Stockport Grammar v Manchester Grammar (DMT) – 18.15 at Stockport RFC
Warminster v Wells Cathedral
