This week has been a busy one in the world of schools rugby, with Champions Trophy, NatWest Cup, Vase, Plate, and Bowl fixtures.
There was even time for one of the best games of the season, despite its low scoreline.
Monday
There was just the one game on Monday at Gordon’s beat Saint Cecilia’s 19-17 to progress in the NatWest Bowl in London & South West A.
Tuesday
On Tuesday there were two big NatWest Vase fixtures. Sevenoaks secured their place in the alst 16 with a 22-0 win away at Chatham & Clarendon, while in South West A, Taunton beat Wells Cathedral 26-0.
Outside of the Cup competitions there was a stunning win for Gresham’s as they beat King’s Ely 50-0.
Wednesday
Wednesday was a fascinating day, particularly in the NatWest Cup where the first four quarter finalists were confirmed. Back to back Champions Bromsgrove progressed to the national stages of the competition with a 25-6 win over Sandbach.
In South West A Bishop Wordsworth’s proved their undoubted quality to move into the quarter finals with a brilliant 41-22 win over Christ’s Hospital.
The South West B quarter final spot goes to Sir Thomas Rich’s after they saw off Exeter School 29-15.
That left one more side to secure their quarter final spot on Wednesday, Manchester Grammar School in North A, who beat Stockport Grammar School 27-9.
North B’s quarter finalists will be able to be decided soon after the last 16 tie between Barnard Castle and RGS Newcastle was played on Wednesday, with RGS winning 17-8.
John Fisher also reached the last 16 with a fantastic 33-6 victory over a KCS Wimbledon side who are very much in form.
The Plate also saw action, with Lymm High School beating Cheadle Hulme 31-12, while Solihull were in fine form for a 43-20 win over Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
Meanwhile in the Vase Trent College continued their stunning form with a 39-7 win over King Henry VIII Coventry. London Oratory also progressed thanks to a 17-12 win over Alton, while Seevic also performed outstandingly for a 31-8 victory over Watford Grammar School.
There was a huge game in the evening at Sherborne RFC as Millfield beat Sherborne 14-10 in a superb game of rugby, a tight and engaging encounter.
King’s Macclesfield saw off Bishop Heber 28-7, while Latymer Upper were 44-19 victors over Drayton Manor, and Hayes held off a late St Dunstan’s fightback for a 26-17 victory.
The Oratory beat Pangbourne College 19-7, while St Peter’s Gloucester were 38-12 victors over Cokethorpe, and Woodbridge beat King’s Peterborough 33-0.
There were two absolutely stunning performances, Rydal Penrhos saw off Brine Leas by a stunning 80-19 margin, with UCS also in stunning form, beating QES Barnet 51-0.
Thursday saw one of the finest games of the season as Bedford reached the final of the Champions Trophy, beating the side they beat in last year’s final, Epsom College, by a narrow 10-5 margin. It was a stunning game of rugby, with bone-shattering physicality, you can see our report form the game here: Epsom College v Bedford.
Wellington College v Cranleigh has become a bit of a classic in recent years. This year was expected to be a close game, but following an early Cranleigh penalty a Ben Loader brace took Wellington 12-3 ahead at the break. Matt Frost then extended the advantage to 19-3, before Sam Spink further extended the advantage. Cranleigh then scored a try of their own, but Wellington bounced back for a further score for a 31-8 victory.
It was a stunning achievement from Wellington, Cranleigh have conceded just eight tries all season, yet the back to back Daily Mail Trophy Champions managed five in one game. They would yet become triple champions, they are now top of the table again, and face their closest rivals, Harrow and Sedbergh, in the next two weeks.
Eton College were also victorious on Thursday, beating Marlborough College by an impressive 32-11 margin, while Sexey’s were in fine form against Clayesmore, winning 31-0.
Friday
There are two games on Friday evening as Merchant Taylors’ play Shiplake College, the game is Shiplake’s second Friday night game in a row, and for Merchant Taylors’ it is the culmination of their fantastic ‘rugby week’ that has seen training sessions with Schalk Brits and Chris Ashton and a talk from James Haskell. The other game sees St Benedict’s face Trinity in what promises to be a very good game of rugby.
You can see our preview and predictions for the weekend’s school rugby here: Schools Rugby Weekend Preview – Saturday 19th November.
If you have any photos, videos, or reports from the week’s school rugby, please do send them in via email (writers@fifteenrugby.com ), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby ), or via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV).
Schools Rugby Midweek Results:
Monday
Gordon’s 19-17 Saint Cecilia’s – NatWest Bowl
Tuesday
Chatham & Clarendon 0-22 Sevenoaks – NatWest Vase
Gresham’s 50-0 King’s Ely
Taunton 26-0 Wells Cathedral – NatWest Vase
Wednesday
Alton 12-17 London Oratory – NatWest Vase
Barnard Castle 8-17 RGS Newcastle – NatWest Cup
Bishop Heber 7-28 King’s Macclesfield
Bishop Wordsworth’s 41-22 Christ’s Hospital – NatWest Cup
Brine Leas 19-80 Rydal Penrhos
Bromsgrove 25-6 Sandbach – NatWest Cup
Cheadle Hulme 12-31 Lymm HS – NatWest Plate
Dollar Academy 35-0 Fettes
Drayton Manor 19-44 Latymer Upper
John Fisher 33-6 KCS Wimbledon – NatWest Cup
King Henry VIII, Coventry 7-39 Trent College – NatWest Vase
Manchester GS 27-9 Stockport GS – NatWest Cup
Millfield 14-10 Sherborne – 19.30
Pangbourne College 7-19 The Oratory
Princethorpe College 15-17 Southam College
QES Barnet 0-51 UCS
Solihull 43-20 Newcastle-Under-Lyme – NatWest Plate
Sir Thomas Rich’s 29-15 Exeter School – NatWest Cup
St Dunstan’s College 17-26 Hayes
St Peter’s Gloucester 38-12 Cokethorpe
Watford GS 8-31 Seevic – NatWest Vase
Woodbridge 33-0 King’s Peterborough
Thursday
Epsom College 5-10 Bedford – Champions Trophy Semi Final
Marlborough College 11-32 Eton College
Sexey’s 31-0 Clayesmore
St Brendan’s v Wycliffe College – NatWest Bowl – Postponed
Wellington College 31-8 Cranleigh
Friday
KES Bath v Beechen Cliff – Postponed
Merchant Taylors’ v Shiplake College
St Benedict’s v Trinity
