After the drama of last week with the NatWest Cup and NatWest Champions Trophy, midweek in the schools rugby world this week ought to be a much quieter affair.
There is still a fair amount going on though, including a few catch up NatWest Cup games and some excellent looking Friday night fixtures.
Tuesday
There are two NatWest Cup fixtures on Tuesday as Felsted welcome Brentwood in London and South East A, while in the evening Durham will meet Yarm under the lights in North B.
There is also a huge Daily Mail Trophy fixture under the lights in the evening as the excellent Epsom College face a Hampton side who bounced back from midweek defeat to Tonbridge with an excellent win at RGS High Wycombe.
Wednesday
Wednesday is the busiest day of the week and features plenty more NatWest Cup action. Trinity and Tiffin will meet London and South East B, while in North B there is an early second round fixture as RGS Newcastle host Dame Allan’s, RGS previously beat Hartlepool 6th form College, while Dam Allan’s had a walkover.
The final Cup game of the day sees Colston’s and Weston College meet under the lights in South West B, though there is also a Vase game as Hilbre High School host Bishop Heber.
Outside of the Cup there is an exciting evening game between Merchant Taylors’ and Mill Hill, while Sandbach host St Ambrose and Princethrope College host Lawrence Sherriff.
Emanuel travel to Royal Alexandra & Albert, while Pate’s Grammar are hosting Cokethorpe, Marling meanwhile will welcome The Crypt. In London, London Oratory will be hosting UCS, while further North there should be a decent game between King Edward VI Five Ways and Bloxham.
Further North still and the ever watchable King’s Macclesfield travel to Stockport Grammar School, for what ought to be a great game of rugby.
Thursday
There is a big NatWest Cup second round game on Thursday as RGS High Wycombe travel just down the road in South West B to Aylesbury Grammar School. RGS reached the second round by beating Magdalen College, while Aylesbury saw off St Columba’s College 14-12, so both sides have already faced good opposition.
There is a huge Daily Mail Trophy game between RGS Worcester and Malvern College, a game that ought to be a good and close encounter, while Hill House also welcome Ratcliffe College.
The talk of the town this week are Oakham after their destruction of Berkhamsted in the Champions Trophy followed by their win over the champions, Bedford, on Saturday. They are in action again on Thursday, hosting Queen Ethelburga’s College.
Friday
Friday is all about the two big evening kick offs as Caterham face Colfe’s and Woodhouse Grove host their big local rivals, Bradford Grammar School. Both should be excellent matches, with Woodhouse Grove in particular looking like a real force this season.
There is also action a little earlier as Wallington County Grammar host Langley Park and Windsor Boys host Latymer.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Durham v Yarm (NatWest Cup) – Evening Kick Off
Epsom College v Hampton (DMT) – Evening Kick Off
Felsted v Brentwood (NatWest Cup)
Wednesday
Colston’s v Weston College (NatWest Cup) – Evening Kick Off
Hilbre HS v Bishop Heber HS (NatWest Vase)
Fallibroome Academy v St Joseph’s College, Stoke
King Edward VI Five Ways v Bloxham
London Oratory v UCS
Marling v Crypt
Merchant Taylors’ v Mill Hill – Evening Kick Off
Pate’s GS v Cokethorpe
Princethorpe College v Lawrence Sherriff
RGS Newcastle v Dame Allan’s (NatWest Cup)
Royal Alexandra & Albert v Emanuel
Sandbach v St Ambrose
Stockport GS v King’s Macclesfield (DMT)
Trinity v Tiffin (NatWest Cup)
Thursday
Aylesbury GS v RGS High Wycombe (NatWest Cup)
Hill House v Ratcliffe College
Oakham v Queen Ethelburga’s College
RGS Worcester v Malvern College (DMT)
Friday
Caterham v Colfe’s – Evening Kick Off
Wallington CGS v Langley Park
Winsdsor Boys v Latymer
Woodhouse Grove v Bradford GS – Evening Kick Off