With a number of schools on half term now, this midweek is a little quieter than the last few.
Nevertheless, for those still at school there are a number of huge games, not least on Thursday, where there are four cracking games.
Tuesday
The action starts on Tuesday, and one game that many will have their eyes on is Beechen Cliff v Canford. Beechen Cliff have qualified for the AASE Final play offs, in a very tough southern conference of that league that includes Hartpury College, while Canford have been in stunning form all year and have reached the Champions Trophy quarter finals, so this game ought to be a huge battle between two top sides from differing competitions.
There is action in the NatWest Vase as New Hall travel to Brentwood, New Hall are probably the favourites but will not have it all their own way against a tough Brentwood side.
Monmouth host the famous Welsh invitational side, Crawshay’s Welsh, in what should be a very special occasion on Wednesday afternoon, while Wisbech Grammar host St Ivo.
On Tuesday evening Felsted will host Langley in what should be a cracking encounter. Feslted are playing well and have won three in a week, while Langley, though little spoken about, have been performing very well this season and have sprung a few surprises.
Wednesday
Wednesday is dominated by a few tidy up Cup fixtures as schools look to get in the fixtures that weren’t able to be played last week. In the NatWest Cup Durham will travel to Barnard Castle for what ought to be a classic Cup encounter, while Campion host Dartford Grammar, another game that should go down to the wire.
Bishop Wordsworth’s travel to Dauntsey’s, Dauntsey’s had a real dark horse run in the Cup a couple of years ago, but you fancy that Bishop Wordsworth might be the side with that opportunity in the locker this year.
Pangbourne College will host Peter Symonds’, while 2010 and 2011 champions Whitgift host Chislehurst and Sidcup.
In the Plate, for sides knocked out in Round 1 of the Cup, Bradford Grammar travel to Cheadle Hulme, with Portsmouth Grammar, fresh from a crushing victory on Saturday, hosting Churcher’s College.
The Vase sees a two of games, Austin Friars v QEGS Ashbourne, and Enfield v Barking and Dagenham, while the Bowl sees Lord Wandsworth’s College travel to Royal Wootton Bassett.
Outside of the Cup there is a huge game at Caterham as they host Skinners’, while QEGS Wakefield, so impressive at the St Joseph’s Festival, travel to Crossley Heath.
Perhaps the biggest game of the day will take place on Wednesday evening at Sixways as RGS Worcester and King’s Worcester meet in the annual Modus Cup.
Thursday
There are four huge classic schools fixtures on Thursday afternoon. Perhaps the biggest will be Epsom College v Eton College, two sides who are performing very well this season, and a game that could potentially be repeated in the latter stages of the Champions Trophy if both sides progress from the quarter finals and are drawn together.
The unbeaten, and highly impressive, Harrow are hosting Berkhamsted on Thursday. Harrow will be favourites, but Berkhamsted are more than capable of making life difficult and causing an upset. Harrow are up there with the very best around this year though.
There is a real classic in Oxfordshire as Radley College host Cheltenham College in their annual pre-half term fixture. Radley have had the advantage in recent times, but Cheltenham College will really fancy their chances this year after some impressive performances.
Also in Oxford, St Edward’s will host Dean Close in another games that ought to be a tight and keenly fought contest.
If you have any photos, videos, or reports from the week’s schools rugby, please do send them in via email (writers@fifteenrugby.com ), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby ), or via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV).
Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures:
Tuesday
Beechen Cliff v Canford
Brentwood v New Hall – NatWest Vase
Felsted v Langley – 19.30
Monmouth v Crawshay’s Welsh
Wisbech GS v St Ivo
Wednesday
Austin Friars v QEGS Ashbourne – NatWest Vase
Barnard Castle v Durham – NatWest Cup
Brentwood v Robert Clack
Burford v Cokethorpe
Campion v Dartford GS – NatWest Cup
Caterham v Skinners’
Cheadle Hulme v Bradford GS – NatWest Plate
Crossley Heath v QEGS Wakefield
Dauntsey’s v Bishop Wordsworth’s – NatWest Cup
Enfield GS v Barking & Dagendham – NatWest Vase
KES Southampton v St John’s College
King’s Canterbury v Sir Roger Manwood’s
King’s Grantham v Queen Ethelburga’s
Pangbourne College v Peter Symonds’ – NatWest Cup
Portsmouth GS v Churcher’s College – NatWest Plate
QES Kirkby v Hutton GS – NatWest Vase
RGS Worcester v King’s Worcester – Modus Cup – 19.00
Royal Wootton Bassett v Lord Wandsworth College – NatWest Bowl
Watford GS v Bishop’s Stortford HS
Whitgift v Chislehurst & Sidcup GS – NatWest Cup
Thursday
Epsom College v Eton College
Harrow v Berkhamsted
Radley College v Cheltenham College
St Edward’s, Oxford v Dean Close
