It has been a tremendous few days of schools rugby with action all around the country in all sort of different competitions.
Most eyes were focused on the Champions Trophy and the U18 Schools Cup, and you can see our roundups and a look ahead to the next round of each of those competitions here:
However there was plenty of other action too, including the second round of the U18 Schools Vase, a few U18 Schools Bowl fixtures (the ‘Plate’ competition for 1st round losers in the Vase), and a number of regular non-competition midweek fixtures.
Non-Cup Fixtures
First to those non-cup games, where the main event on Tuesday was the annual Ryan Bresnahan memorial at Clifton RFC. Llandovery College were Clifton College’s opponents this year, but the famous Welsh School could not get past an inspired Clifton College side, who secured an excellent 38-15 victory. The game predceded by an U16 game, a Prep School fixture, and an U16 girls tournament, with the whole day proving a real success.
On Wednesday the Vase was the dominant competition, but there was action elsewhere too. Cooper’s Coborn beat Saffron Walden 31-5, while Cranbrook were 29-18 victors over the Skinners’ 2nd XV. KES Stratford carried on their good start to the year with a 32-19 win again KES Birmingham.
On Thursday the big game of the day was undoubtedly Eton College v Stowe, two sides that today found out their Champions Trophy 2nd Round opponents, Bryanston and Millfield respectively. Eton College were the victors, 29-6, adding to what has been an impressive start to the year.
Elsewhere Prior Park College saw off King’s Bruton 19-7, while Clayesmore were in stunning form, beating Sexey’s by a remarkable 64-12 scoreline.
U18 Schools Vase
There was plenty going on in the Vase, beginning on Tuesday as Langley blasted into the third round with a stunning 89-26 win over Wymondham College, RGS Colchester will be their third round opponents after they beat Woodbridge 45-14, also on Tuesday.
On Wednesday Ampleforth College secured their third round spot against Ripon Grammar, beating Pocklington 23-12, while in the same group Nottingham High School also progress with a 22-12 win over St Joseph’s College, Stoke. Yarm also make it through in North B with a 60-14 win over KES Morpeth.
A 34-0 away win for the Crypt in South West B sends them through to face Lord William’s in Round 3, with Lord Wandsworth College also progressing in the same group thanks to a 43-17 win over Alton College. Sir William Borlase’s also make it through in South West A thanks to their 31-7 victory at Claire’s Court.
A 28-5 victory at Beaumont for St Columba’s College was their ticket to the third round of London & South East B, where Glyn join them following their 22-10 win over a good Worth side. Reed’s also progress, they were in superb form for a perfect 31-0 win at City of London Freemen’s.
One of the highlights of the day was the Bishop’s Stortford derby in Midlands B. Bishop’s Stortford College took home the spoils, laying down a huge marker against the High School with a 46-9 win. With Langley and RGS Colchester already through from Tuesday, they were then joined by The Leys, who Bishop’s Stortford College will play in the third round, after they beat Hills Road 43-12. Wellingborough swiftly followed after their 27-18 defeat of Royal Latin.
Over in Midlands A Bishop Vesey’s Grammar grabbed the bull by the horns with a 55-29 win against King Henry VIII Coventry. King’s Worcester will join them, they beat Hereford 6t form College 17-14.
Bolton made simple enough passage to round 3 in North A with their 29-5 win over QEGS Penrith. A 28-14 win at Crossley Heath sees Ermysted’s Grammar join them.
Hayes’ fantastic run in London & South East A continues, they took an excellent 22-0 win over the ever competitive Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar to reach the third round. Wallington County Grammar were nearly as impressive as they scored 30 to Harris Academy’s 5, while Dartford Grammar won 36-19 away at St Olave’s. Sutton Valence secured the best result of all though, beating Simon Langton 50-0.
U18 Schools Bowl
Eight results have come through in the bowl. St George’s Weybridge, one of the sides that really could go far, beat ACS Cobham by a seriously impressive 61-7 margin.
Loughborough were even more impressive though, beating Spalding Grammar 71-0 away from home. There were big wins for Shrewsbury, 57-0 v Abraham Darby, and Ravens Wood, 50-0 at home to Riddlesdown, too.
Hereford Cathedral impressed for their 36-0 win at Tewkesbury, with Emanuel College winning 29-0 at King’s Priory. Cokethorpe secured a 33-7 win at Farmor’s, while on Thursday came the closest game of all as Richard Challoner edged out Rutlish in a thriller, 39-34.
As always, if you have any videos, photos, or reports from the week’s rugby, please feel free to send them in via Twitter (@FifteenRugbyXV), Facebook (www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby), Instagram (@fifteenrugbyxv), or through email (writers@fifteenrugby.com).
Schools Rugby Midweek Results:
(Click here for Champions Trophy)
(Click here for U18 Schools Cup)
Tuesday
Clifton College 38-15 Llandovery College
Langley 89-26 Wymondham College (Schools Vase)
Woodbridge 14-45 RGS Colchester (Schools Vase)
Wednesday
Ampleforth College 23-12 Pocklington (Schools Vase)
Beaufort 0-34 The Crypt (Schools Vase)
Beaumont 5-28 St Columba’s College (Schools Vase)
Bishop’s Stortford HS 9-46 Bishop Stortford’s College (Schools Vase)
Bishop Vesey’s GS 55-29 King Henry VIII, Coventry (Schools Vase)
Bolton 29-5 QEGS Penrith (Schools Vase)
City of London Freemen’s 0-31 Reed’s (Schools Vase)
Claire’s Court 7-31 Sir William Borlase’s (Schools Vase)
Cooper’s Coborn 31-5 Saffron Walden
Cranbrook 29-18 Skinners’ 2nd XV
Crossley Heath 14-28 Ermysted’s GS (Schools Vase)
Farmor’s 7-33 Cokethorpe (Schools Bowl)
Glyn 22-10 Worth (Schools Vase)
Hayes 22-0 Chislehurst & Sidcup (Schools Vase)
Hereford 6th form College 14-17 King’s Worcester (Schools Vase)
Hills Road 12-43 The Leys (Schools Vase)
KES Morpeth 14-60 Yarm (Schools Vase)
KES Stratford 32-19 KES Birmingham
King’s Priory 0-29 Emanuel College (Schools Bowl)
Lord Wandsworth College 43-17 Alton College (Schools Vase)
Ravens Wood 50-0 Riddlesdown (Schools Bowl)
Shrewsbury 57-0 Abraham Darby (Schools Bowl)
Spalding GS 0-71 Loughborough (Schools Bowl)
St George’s College, Weybridge 61-7 ACS Cobham (Schools Bowl)
St Joseph College (Stoke) 12-22 Nottingham HS (Schools Vase)
St Olave’s 19-36 Dartford GS (Schools Vase)
Sutton Valence 55-0 Simon Langton GS (Schools Vase)
Tewkesbury 0-36 Hereford Cathedral (Schools Bowl)
Wallington CGS 30-5 Harris Academy (Schools Vase)
Wellingborough 27-18 Royal Latin (Schools Vase)
Thursday
Eton College 29-6 Stowe
Prior Park College 19-7 King’s Bruton
Rutlish 34-39 Richard Challoner (Schools Bowl)
Sexey’s 12-64 Clayesmore
