Another fantastic weekend of schools rugby game us plenty to ponder when selecting this week’s Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend.
Despite some atrocious weather in places, the skill level was still incredibly high all over the country and there were some outstanding performances. There were also some incredibly tight games of rugby, including Rugby and Bedford recording 3-0 wins over Abingdon and Warwick respectively, while Marlborough College and Radley College played out a 3-3 draw.
In a competitive week though, none of these teams quite make our top 5, despite their determined and spirited performances this weekend.
Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend
Cheltenham College
A game against Stowe is traditionally a tough fixture for anyone, and while they had lost their last two games heading to Cheltenham, they were against Bromsgrove and Warwick, two top class sides. For Cheltenham to therefore record such a strong 20-3 victory was highly impressive, and a sign of their excellent form in recent weeks, that has seen them beat Radley College and St Edward’s Oxford.
Clifton College
Clifton College put in arguably the performance of the weekend with a victory over Bryanston that was quite simply sensational. They beat the school that has seen the likes of Ollie Devoto, Henry Pyrgos, and Charlie Ewels pass through in recent years by a staggering 80-5 margin. This is a Bryanston side that is struggling, they have only one win to their name this year, but this was a result on another level altogether for Clifton, who have only lost one game so far this year, to Oakham in the Champions Trophy, and are undoubtedly one of the best around.
Dulwich College
The 2016 season has been a tough one for Dulwich College, they have played some exciting rugby but had not one a game outside of the shortened fixtures of the St Joseph’s Festival. An away trip to John Fisher is a tough ask for a side looking for a first victory but Dulwich found a way, a quite brilliant way as they secured a simply brilliant 46-7 away victory. It was a victory that will surely fill every player with confidence, a confidence they will need as they enter a tough two week period, with Whitgift and Tonbridge coming up next.
Tiffin
Tiffin hosted Trinity having not had a win since they beat Haberdashers on the 1st October. Trinity are a school who have produced two England U18 internationals in the last two years and an England Counties U18 player, and they had beaten Tiffin just a few weeks ago, 42-30. For Tiffin to secure the win was therefore a huge challenge, but one that they rose to absolutely outstandingly, securing a 21-17 victory that will live long in each and every player’s memory. It was truly a brilliant victory.
Trent College
Trent College have been in fantastic form this season, and have only lost once, to Rugby School who are currently riding high in the Daily Mail Trophy table. Nevertheless, being in good form and having an excellent record are not guarantees of stunning victories and high scores, though they were coming off the back of an exceptional 70-12 win in midweek over KES Stratford. They more than matched that on Saturday, beating Bradford Grammar School by an exceptional 60-0 margin of victory, making the rest of the schools rugby world sit up and take notice after a fantastic week of play from the midlands men.
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