This term has seen some sensational schools rugby and the final weekend of the term followed that trend in style as schools up and down the length of the country put on a memorable show for what was the last game of rugby that many will ever play at school.
Some sides will have a few games next term, while most will have 7s too, however for some players this is where the schools rugby journey ends.
Focus On
Bedford made up for the disappointment of last week’s Champions Trophy final defeat to Tonbridge with an excellent 21-15 victory over an Abingdon side who have really impressed this season.
Bromsgrove were in truly fantastic form, beating Warwick 24-3 in a game that could well be repeated in the latter stages of the NatWest Cup after both sides secured their semi final places in midweek.
There was good news for Canford too, who beat a strong Bishop Wordsworth’s side 36-12, a team who could also reach the Cup semis. For Canford it was a second win in a week and it secured them a final finishing place in the Daily Mail Trophy of 6th, their highest ever finish.
There was a huge derby game in Epsom has St John’s Leatherhead travelled to Epsom College for their big end of season derby. Epsom had already beaten St John’s back in October in the Champions Trophy but St John’s got their revenge with a brilliant 15-10 victory, to end a highly impressive season in style.
Hampton v Dulwich College has often been a hugely important fixture in the last few school seasons. This year did not have quite so much riding on it, but a brilliant game of rugby still ensued, with Hampton winning 34-14 to secure 12th in the Daily Mail Trophy.
Sedbergh capped a fine week with a strong 48-3 win over Llandovery College. In midweek they had beaten Millfield to seal third in the Daily Mail Trophy, but in hammering the Welsh giants they really did secure the perfect end to the season.
Wellington College had already sealed a third Daily Mail Trophy title in a row when they beat St Paul’s last weekend, but this weekend’s game against Marlborough College was important for other reasons, not least because it was their legendary head coach’s, Kevin Brennan, final game in charge, and a chance to secure their best even win/draw/loss record in the Daily Mail Trophy. They delivered in style, beating their hosts by a superb 34-0 margin.
There was a huge north-eastern derby as Barnard Castle travelled to RGS Newcastle. Both sides have been playing well this season, but it was the hosts who delivered in spades on Saturday, with RGS taking a strong 39-14 victory.
Stowe v Oakham was unfortunately abandoned, however there was one more huge game on our Focus On list this weekend, Whitgift v Cranleigh. Whitgift started off the season in flying form but have struggled a little of late. Cranleigh, themselves having a fantastic season, took full advantage of that, beating their Croydon opponents 18-3 to cap a fine term that has included a maiden St Joseph’s Festival title.
Around the Grounds
Cheltenham College charged into the top 20 of the Daily Mail Trophy in the final round with a brilliant 29-12 win over a very good Blundell’s side. Bristol Grammar also secured their Top 20 finish after they beat RGS Worcester 41-14.
There was an impressive result for Bradford Grammar too, they ended a tough season with an excellent 40-5 victory over Ampleforth College. Caterham also secured an important win, beating Eastbourne College 24-12.
Chislehurst and Sidcup were in fine form for a 49-5 win over Gravesend Grammar, while Shiplake picked up a good 38-10 win over Churcher’s and City of London Freemen’s were 33-0 away winners at Colfe’s.
Denstone College capped a fine recent run of form with a brilliant 45-3 win at home to Loughborough, with Judd also ended the year in good form ahead of next term’s Natwest Cup quarter final as they beat Maidstone Grammar 36-14.
Felsted have already booked their semi final spot, and showed exactly why with another brilliant victory, this time beating St Paul’s 27-19. Haileybury capped a fine week that also saw them win the County Cup with a 17-13 win over the excellent Berkhamsted 1st XV.
KES Bath secured a stunning unbeaten season with a 25-5 win over local rivals Prior Park College, while along the road Kingswood beat Dean Close 14-5.
There was another good result for Bloxham as they beat King Henry VIII Coventry 48-0. Things were much closer in Nottingham as QEGS Wakefield drew 7-7 with their hosts, Nottingham High School.
Wallington County Grammar stormed to a 48-7 victory over Ravens Wood, while RGS Colchester won a tight one against New Hall, 23-19. RGS Guildford, meanwhile, were in stunning form against Skinners’ for a 53-24 victory.
King’s Macclesfield put on a show at Solihull as they secured a fantastic 23-3 victory, while Stamford were on good form for a 22-7 effort at home to Welbeck.
St Peter’s York secured fourth place in the Daily Mail Trophy table thanks to a 15-11 win at home to Pocklington, it leaves them with their highest ever Daily Mail finish.
King’s Worcester picked up a good 17-13 win at Trent College, while Portsouth Grammar were on form at Wimbledon College, 37-17. Seaford College meanwhile bounced back from their defeat to Canford in midweek to beat Worth 21-0.
Friday
Friday saw some huge games of rugby, not least Kirkham Grammar School’s fantastic 27-7 victory over AASE side Beechen Cliff, the only side to beat the mighty Hartpury College this season.
Emanuel were 19-12 winners over Windsor Boys, while Worksop beat King William’s College 29-10, and KCS Wimbledon edged a tight one against Reed’s, 15-12.
UCS meanwhile finished a brilliant season with yet another fantastic Friday night, this time beating Mill Hill 22-8 at Allianz Park.
You can see photos from the weekend’s school rugby here: Gallery – Saturday 10th December.
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 Results – Saturday 10th December:
Focus On
Bedford 21-15 Abingdon
Bromsgrove 24-3 Warwick
Canford 36-12 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Epsom College 10-15 St John’s Leatherhead
Hampton 34-14 Dulwich College
Llandovery College 3-48 Sedbergh
Marlborough College 0-34 Wellington College
RGS Newcastle 39-14 Barnard Castle
Stowe v Oakham – Abandoned
Whitgift 3-18 Cranleigh
Around the Grounds
Blundell’s 12-29 Cheltenham College
Bradford GS 40-5 Ampleforth College
Bristol GS 41-14 RGS Worcester
Caterham 24-12 Eastbourne College
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 49-5 Gravesend GS
Churcher’s College 10-38 Shiplake College
Colfe’s 0-33 City of London Freemen’s
Crossley Heath 21-5 St Ambrose College
Dartford GS 22-17 Brentwood
Denstone College 45-3 Loughborough
Felsted 27-19 St Paul’s
Glenalmond 7-38 Merchiston Castle
Grammar School at Leeds 17-10 Wilmslow HS
Haileybury 17-13 Berkhamsted
Hymers College 36-17 Yarm
Judd 36-14 Maidstone GS
KES Bath 25-5 Prior Park College
KES Camp Hill 19-20 Bishop Vesey’s GS
King’s Bruton 17-20 Taunton
King’s Canterbury 25-14 Sutton Valence
King Henry VIII, Coventry 0-48 Bloxham
Kingswood 14-5 Dean Close
Lord Wandsworth College 19-25 Dauntsey’s
Magdalen College 0-15 Reading Blue Coat
Manchester GS 31-19 Lymm HS
Monkton Combe 6-3 Wycliffe College
Monmouth 8-3 St Peter’s Gloucester
Northampton School for Boys 36-5 London Oratory
Nottingham HS 7-7 QEGS Wakefield
Pate’s GS 27-13 Colston’s
Princethorpe College 5-29 KES Stratford
Ratcliffe College 5-40 Lawrence Sherriff
Ravens Wood 7-48 Wallington CGS
RGS Colchester 23-19 New Hall
Rydal Penrhos 7-29 Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Silcoates v Cheadle Hulme – Cancelled
Skinners’ 24-53 RGS Guildford
Solihull 3-23 King’s Macclesfield
Stamford 22-7 Welbeck
St Albans 27-21 St George’s, Harpenden
St Benedict’s 21-14 Tiffin
St Ignatius 0-51 St Columba’s College
St Peter’s York 15-11 Pocklington
Trent College 13-17 King’s Worcester
Watford GS 30-8 Bishop’s Stortford HS
Whitchurch HS 26-0 KES Southampton
Wimbledon College 17-37 Portsmouth GS
Worth 0-21 Seaford College
Friday
Beechen Cliff 7-27 Kirkham GS
Emanuel 19-12 Windsor Boys
KCS Wimbledon 15-12 Reed’s
Mill Hill 8-22 UCS
Worksop College 29-10 King William’s College
Still to Come:
Culford v St Joseph’s College
Eton College v Merchant Taylors’
King’s Ely v Woodbridge
Oundle v Radley College
Queen’s College Taunton v Wells Cathedral
Simon Langton v Kent College
St Dunstan’s College v Cooper’s Coborn
St George’s College, Weybridge v Hurstpierpoint College
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