Another busy weekend of schools rugby saw some fantastic games across the country with some crucial results.
As the season moves towards the business end, results become ever more crucial, particularly in regard to finishing positions in the Daily Mail Trophy. A loss now can alter a team’s position massively.
Focus On
Our Focus On fixtures were once again hugely exciting. Brighton College were again in fantastic form, seeing off a good Eastbourne College side by a hugely commanding 36-0 margin.
Bromsgrove’s good recent form continued as they beat RGS High Wycombe 21-15. It was even closer over in Gloucestershire, where Cheltenham College won by the narrowest of margin’s against Monmouth, 6-5.
Whitgift held off a Dulwich side that was high on confidence after a big win over John Fisher last week. Whitgift are among the best around, and secured a superb 31-12 victory.
Climbing high in the Daily Mail Trophy are Woodhouse Grove, they carried on that fantastic form with another excellent win, 19-5 over Durham.
There was a massive game between Hampton and Bishop Wordsworth’s. Bishop Wordsworth’s have been in outstanding form and have reached the NatWest Cup quarter finals, but Hampton would be one of their biggest challenges for a while, and so it proved as the South West London side secured a superb24-22 victory.
One of the biggest games of the weekend was the Abingdon derby. Abingdon have been one of the form sides this year, while Radley College have struggled, however a derby always offers a big opportunity for an upset. Abingdon however held onto their form, winning a good game 35-10.
Arguably the biggest game of the season though was Sedbergh v Warwick. Sedbergh are riding high in the Daily Mail Trophy, as ever, and are one of the best around. Warwick are a top side too though, among the favourites for the NatWest Cup. The winner here would therefore be crucial in the grand scheme of the 2016/17 schools rugby landscape. It was Sedbergh who took the victory in what was a close and thrilling victory, 27-20, a welcome result for the men in brown as they begin a crucial phase in their season.
St John’s Leatherhead picked up another good win, but they had to work through a very tough Haileybury side who gave them a stern test. St John’s came through it though, winning 36-21.
St Peter’s York carried on their outstanding season with a strong 22-0 win over Barnard Castle, a side who have been in excellent form themselves, proving just what a strong victory that was for St Peter’s.
Around the Grounds
QEGS Wakefield secured a good away victory at Bradford Grammar, 27-12, while Bristol Grammar were on fine form at home to Colston’s as they secured a superb 57-14 victory.
There was good news for Bryanston, who have endured a torrid couple of weeks, they got back to winning ways with a 17-15 win over Portsmouth Grammar.
John Fisher recovered from last week’s loss to back up their midweek Cup win with a 13-7 win over Campion. Denstone College impressed greatly as they secured a big 38-7 win over Stamford.
KCS Wimbledon edged a thriller with Hurstpierpoint College, 24-21, while Seaford College secured a big 41-14 victory over Lord Wandsworth College. Victory was narrower but just as sweet for Eltham College, who beat New Hall 24-20.
There was another huge derby this weekend, the Reading derby as Reading Blue Coat and Reading School met. Reading Blue Coat were the side to perform best, taking victory with a 46-7 scoreline.
Epsom College bounced back from defeat in the Champions Trophy semi final in midweek to beat RGS Guildford 20-15. Sir Thomas Rich’s meanwhile were in fine try-scoring form as they beat Pate’s Grammar 47-8.
There was a fantastic game in London as St Paul’s beat Berkhamsted 19-17, the has become something of a classic recently, always going down to the wire. Another to have gone down to the wire this weekend was Uppingham v Stowe. Uppingham have been having a tough season and would not expect to have beaten Stowe, but they found a way to raise their game, winning 18-15, a superb victory.
Friday
Merchant Taylors’ ‘Rugby Week’ ended in absolutely stunning fashion on Friday evening as they heaped points on Shiplake College for a brilliant 47-0 win.
There was a great win for St Benedict’s, too. They beat Trinity 29-15, while The Oratory were on tour in Ireland, beating St Gerard’s 18-15.
If you have any photos, videos, or reports from the weekend’s school rugby, please do send them in via email (writers@fifteenrugby.com ), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby ), or via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV).
Schools Rugby Weekend Results:
Focus On
Brighton College 36-0 Eastbourne College
Bromsgrove 21-15 RGS High Wycombe
Cheltenham College 6-5 Monmouth
Dulwich College 12-31 Whitgift
Durham 5-19 Woodhouse Grove
Hampton 24-22 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Radley College 10-35 Abingdon
Sedbergh 27-20 Warwick
St John’s Leatherhead 36-21 Haileybury
St Peter’s York 22-0 Barnard Castle
Around the Grounds
Bedford Modern 34-19 St Albans
Birkenhead v Rydal Penrhos – Cancelled
Bloxham 57-10 Bishop Vesey’s GS
Bradford GS 12-27 QEGS Wakefield
Brentwood 33-24 Bishop’s Stortford HS
Bristol GS 57-14 Colston’s
Bryanston 17-15 Portsmouth GS
Campion 7-13 John Fisher
Caterham 3-17 St George’s College, Weybridge
Churcher’s College 12-26 KES Southampton
City of London Freemen’s 0-29 Reigate GS
Cranbrook 26-17 Dartford GS
Dauntsey’s 15-26 Kingswood
Denstone College 38-7 Stamford
Felsted 19-17 Royal Hospital School
Giggleswick 15-13 Ampleforth College
Grammar School at Leeds v Hymers College – Cancelled
Hereford Cathedral School 0-34 RGS Worcester
Hurstpierpoint College 21-24 KCS Wimbledon
KES Birmingham 5-37 Loughborough
King Henry VIII, Coventry 23-20 Ratcliffe College
King’s Macclesfield 47-5 Wilmslow HS
King’s Worcester 18-10 Malvern College
Langley Park 35-13 Tiffin
Latymer Upper 10-15 Colfe’s
London Oratory 19-35 Wimbledon College
Lord Wandsworth College 14-41 Seaford College
Magdalen College 33-8 KES Stratford
Manchester GS v Altrincham GS – Cancelled
Mill Hill 24-19 Emanuel
New Hall 20-24 Eltham College
North Berwick 12-26 Loretto
Norwich 14-19 The Perse
Prior Park College 17-5 King’s Bruton
Queen’s College Taunton 31-0 QEH
Ravens Wood 19-19 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Reading Blue Coat 46-7 Reading
RGS Colchester 10-20 St Joseph’s College
RGS Guildford 15-20 Epsom College
RGS Newcastle 42-7 Dame Allan’s
Sir Thomas Rich’s 47-8 Pate’s GS
Skinners’ 17-23 Reed’s
Solihull 20-22 Nottingham HS
Stafford v Bablake – Cancelled
St Ambrose College v Sandbach – Cancelled
St Paul’s 19-17 Berkhamsted
St Olave’s 19-40 Judd
Stockport GS v Bolton – Cancelled
Uppingham 18-15 Stowe
Wellingborough 40-10 Princethorpe College
Wisbech GS 36-26 Worksop College
Friday
KES Bath v Beechen Cliff – Postponed
Merchant Taylors’ 47-0 Shiplake College
St Benedict’s 29-15 Trinity
St Gerard’s 15-18 The Oratory
Still to Come:
Bishop’s Stortford College v Framlingham College
Halliford v Wallington CGS
Hutton GS v Cheadle Hulme
Isleworth & Syon v Cardinal Vaughan
King’s College Taunton v Exeter School
Leicester GS v Langley
Northampton SfB v King’s Grantham
Pocklington v Yarm
Watford GS v UCS
West Buckland v Plymouth College
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