Following this week’s U18 NatWest Bowl semi finals, the finalists for all four U18 NatWest competitions are now known.
The NatWest Cup and Vase semi finals took place at Allianz Park last weekend, and will play their final at Twickenham Stadium on Wednesday 29th March, while the day before, Tuesday 28th, the NatWest Plate and bowl finals will take place at Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium.
NatWest Cup Semi Finals
Bishop Wordsworth’s 41-19 Bromsgrove
Warwick 30-17 Felsted
Last weekend saw two fantastic semi finals in the NatWest Cup, with Bishop Wordsworth’s putting in a truly outstanding performance to beat back to back champions Bromsgrove by a 41-19 margin.
Warwick meanwhile had to work hard for a 30-17 victory over Felsted and now have a chance to fulfill the promise that they have consistently been showing for a number of years at U15 level, with two titles and a final, by claiming the U18 NatWest Cup. They have come close a few times, notably reaching the final in 2013 (they won it back in 2008) but will want this special group to claim that ultimate prize
[poll id=”192″]
NatWest Plate Semi Finals:
Reigate Grammar School 31-14 Crossley Heath
Solihull 10-8 Lymm High School
The Plate semi finals took place in midweek last week. Solihull had to sacrifice their position in their own 7s tournament, but that sacrifice paid off with a narrow 10-8 victory at Lymm High School for their place at Sixways in a fortnight’s time.
Reigate Grammar School will be the side to join them. They had to work hard for their 31-14 victory over Crossley Heath before eventually pulling away. Reigate would have hoped to have had a good run in the Cup, but having got knocked into the Plate early, they will no doubt be delighted to have the opportunity to bring home some silverware.
[poll id=”188″]
NatWest Vase Semi Finals:
Royal Latin 31-12 Silcoates
Trent College 29-15 The Perse
Royal Latin put in a cracking performance at Allianz Park last weekend to defeat a Silcoates side who were undefeated, and who started the semi final in ominous form. Royal Latin recovered from the setback, though, to secure a famous victory and a trip to HQ.
Trent College will also be at HQ, where they will be hoping to repeat their U18 Vase triumph of 2013. They were on fine form at Allianz Park, beating The Perse 29-15. It was actually a reasonably close game, but Trent always looked like they had it under control.
[poll id=”190″]
NatWest Bowl Semi Finals:
St Olave’s Grammar School 48-17 Bolton School
Woodbridge 5-24 Old Swinford Hospital
This week’s Bowl semi finals rounded off the semi final stage of the NatWest competitions. St Olave’s Grammar School became the first ever confirmed U18 Bowl finalists as they beat Bolton School with a stunning performance as they secured a simply brilliant 48-17 victory, sending them to Sixways.
On Wednesday Old Swinford Hospital then booked their place to join them as they travelled to Woodbridge, where they sealed an excellent 24-5 victory. Back in 2012 Old Swinford Hospital reached Cup final, where they were beaten by Dulwich College, the first of their three in a row. Five years later they have another chance for National silverware, it may be the Bowl this time, not the Cup, but you can be sure that they will be giving everything to secure that silverware.
[poll id=”191″]
NatWest Finals:
Twickenham Stadium – Wednesday 29th March
U18 Cup – Bishop Wordsworth’s v Warwick
U18 Vase – Royal Latin v Trent College
Sixways Stadium – Tuesday 28th March
U18 Plate – Reigate Grammar v Solihull
U18 Bowl – St Olave’s Grammar v Old Swinford Hospital
