After a brilliant final weekend of pre-season, the first few competitive games of the season kick off this midweek.
There are just a handful of fixtures to begin with, as sides aim for a big opening game of the season on Saturday, but there is plenty to get the appetite going ahead of Saturday’s big kick off.
Wednesday
Some big names take to the field on Wednesday, perhaps none bigger than in the meeting between Hampton and John Fisher. These two met on Friday in the President’s Cup, with Hampton winning and going on to reach they final.
Wednesday will be competitive though, Fisher will be smarting after that loss and will want to get their own back, while Hampton will want to show that the promise displayed at Esher was no one-off.
King’s Worcester open their account on Wednesday with their traditional fixture against King Edward VI 5 Ways, with players in action tonight for Worcester in the A League, keep an eye on King’s Worcester early on this year.
Lymm High School also get underway on Wednesday, they travel to Cheadle Hulme, while nearby Myerscough College travel to QES Kirkby.
Staying in the North East, Wilmslow High School, always a good side, are hosting The Grange and will be hoping to get off to a good start.
Dartford Grammar host the ever improving Hayes on Wednesday, while Tring travel to QES Barnet. New Hall’s campaign kicks off at home to Seevic College.
Thursday
Thursday sees Bishop’s Stortford College host Mill Hill, a game that if prior season’s form is taken into account should be close. Clayesmore meanwhile host Prior Park College.
Friday
There are three huge games on Wednesday. At Darlington Mowden Park Barnard Castle take on local rivals Yarm in what should be a fantastic encounter on the artificial surface.
Kirkham Grammar School, meanwhile, take on Llandovery College. Kirkham have been one of the two or three best sides in England for a couple of years now, and Llandovery are always one of the best in Wales, so for a ‘top of the table’ Anglo-Welsh clash to come this early in the season is a real treat and could set up the winner for another fine season.
St Peter’s Gloucester, the former Schools Cup winners, are also in action on Friday as they take on AASE side, Henley College. It will be a tough game for St Peter’s but ought to be a memorable one, capping a trio of exciting Friday night fixtures to open the first weekend of the season.
Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Wednesday
Cheadle Hulme v Lymm HS
Dartford GS v Hayes
Hampton v John Fisher
King’s Worcester v King Edward VI 5 Ways
New Hall v Seevic
QES Barnet v Tring
QES Kirkby v Myerscough College
Trinity v Wallington CGS
Wilmslow HS v The Grange
Thursday
Bishop’s Stortford College v Mill Hill
Clayesmore v Prior Park College
Friday
Barnard Castle v Yarm (at Darlington Mowden Park)
Kirkham GS v Llandovery College
St Peter’s, Gloucester v Henley College
