Champions Trophy: 2nd Round draw pits heavyweights together after thrilling 1st Round

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The draw for the Champions Trophy second round has been made following a stunning opening round of games.

 

One fixture still remains to be played in the first round, St Paul’s v Berkhamsted on Saturday, but they know who they will be playing in the second round.

 

Kingswood also played a delayed fixture, playing on Thursday afternoon against Bryanston. It meant that they two sides knew what awaited them should they win. Unfortunately for them it is a trip to Canford, who absolutely stunned Marlborough College on Wednesday, beating them 57-10 to lay down one of the biggest statements of the round.

 

Kingswood will be the side to travel, after beating their visitors 20-7 on Thursday afternoon. No doubt the second round will be another tough game, but Kingswood will feel they have a good chance.

 

The St Paul’s v RGS Guildford winners face a hugely difficult task. They will have the advantage of a home draw, but they must host the 2015 Champions, Bedford, who had a bye in the first round and have been in startling form elsewhere this season, topping the Daily Mail Trophy table.

 

Bedford were one of five sides with a first round bye. 2014 Champions Millfield were another, and their second round draw looks likely to be one of the most anticipated fixtures of the second round. They were drawn away to Tonbridge, with Tonbridge Head Coach Chris Morgan actually participating in the live draw as it was held by the Tonbridge 1st XV pitch following their 28-22 win over Hampton, a thrilling game that saw Tonbridge lead 28-3 at the half, only for Hampton to charge back, with only time stopping them.

 

The game will be a repeat of the 2014 fixture, held at Millfield, that remains one of the great fixtures in this competition’s short history. Millfield won that day, going on to win the title, so Tonbridge will be looking to get their own back.

 

The action in the Champions Trophy officially began this week, however two games took place last week. The first was Monmouth v Radley, with Monmouth showing their class to secure a 21-13 victory. Their reward in the second round draw was to be last out of the pot, and therefore secure a bye to the quarter finals, as there were only fifteen teams available for the last sixteen places.

 

The other early fixture was Dulwich College v Eton College. It was a typically dramatic Champions Trophy encounter, when are they ever not, with the game ending in a 17-17 draw, Eton College progressing on try count. You can see our report from that game here, Dulwich College 17-17 Eton College.

 

Eton’s reward is a home tie against Grammar School at Leeds. Grammar School at Leeds reached the 2014 final but exited early last year, however they got off to a good start on Tuesday, beating Uppingham 25-17.

 

Uppingham might not have made the last sixteen but their Rutland neighbours and rivals, Oakham, did. They did so in brilliant style too, beating Berkhamsted 38-7 on Tuesday. It was just 11-7 at the break but Oakham upped the intensity brilliantly in the second half to secure a big win. You can see our report from that fixture here: Oakham 38-7 Berkhamsted.

 

Oakham will have another home tie in the second round, but they face a tough task in the form of Clifton College, who had a bye in the first round, but like the other sides to receive a bye, they have absolutely flown out of the traps on other fronts this year.

 

So too Blundell’s, who sit unbeaten in second place in the Daily Mail Trophy. They also received a bye, but face a tough second round away trip as they travel to Bristol Grammar School, who reached the second round in quite sensational fashion, progressing on try count after a 29-29 draw with Sherborne, when at one point they had been 29-5 down.

 

The final game of the second round sees Epsom College host local rivals St John’s Leatherhead. Epsom reached the final last year and received a bye in the first round, while St John’s faced Cranbrook on Wednesday. They faced a spirited Cranbrook side, but secured a good 36-19 victory without ever really having to accelerate into top gear. You can see our report from that game here: Cranbrook 19-36 St John’s, Leatherhead.

 

Across the board the second round looks like being a sensational seven games of rugby, and if the first round is anything to go by then it is sure to turn up plenty of stories throughout. Time and time again the Champions Trophy seems to produce real drama, and in this first round, and even just in the second round draw, it has done so once again.

 

If you have any photos, reports, or videos from the Champions Trophy, please do send them into us via email (writers@fifteenrugby.com ), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby ), or via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV).

 

You can see photos from a number of the games on our Facebook Page here: Gallery – Champions Trophy Round 1

 

Champions Trophy 2nd Round Fixtures:

Bristol Grammar School v Blundell’s

Canford v Kingswood

Epsom College v St John’s Leatherhead

Eton College v Grammar School at Leeds

Oakham v Clifton College

St Paul’s/RGS Guildford v Bedford

Tonbridge v Millfield

Monmouth v BYE

 

Champions Trophy 1st Round Results:

Bristol Grammar 29-29 Sherborne – Bristol on try count

Canford 57-10 Marlborough College

Cranbrook 19-36 St John’s Leatherhead (Click for report)

Dulwich College 17-17 Eton College – Eton on try count (Click for report)

Grammar School at Leeds 25-17 Uppingham

Kingswood 20-7 Bryanston

Monmouth 21-13 Radley College

Oakham 38-7 Berkhamsted (Click for report)

Tonbridge 28-22 Hampton

Byes:

Bedford, Blundell’s, Clifton College, Epsom College, Millfield

Still to play:

St Paul’s v RGS Guildford – Still to Play

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