The U18 Schools Cup first round got underway this week, with some big names going out early and moving across to the Plate.
The likes of St Ambrose College, Woodhouse Grove, Uppingham, KES Birmingham, RGS Worcester, New Hall, Pangbourne College, Downside, and former champions like St Peter’s Gloucester and St Benedict’s all move to the Plate after losing out in round 1, meaning that across both the Tier 1 Cup and Tier 2 Plate, there are some top quality schools.
To the Cup though, where with almost all of the first round matches complete, the second round draw is all but confirmed.
U18 Schools Cup Round 1 Roundup (including results & round 2 fixtures)
North A
The second round in the North A section looks as though it is going to be a huge round. Wilmslow High School, who often do so well, had a first round bye and now travel to Manchester Grammar after they racked up a huge 52-0 win over RGS Lancaster. Stonyhurst College were almost as impressive, beating Ripley St Thomas 40-0. They are drawn away to Stockport Grammar, another side with a stunning first round result, 59-19 against Cheadle Hulme.
Things were closer in the top half of North A, with King’s Macclesfield beating St Ambrose College 24-7 to set up a home tie against Calday Grange GS after they beat Bishop Heber 34-10. Above them Merchant Taylors’ were already through with a bye, they face either Altrincham Grammar or Sir John Deane’s, who drew 37-37, confirmation of which side goes through to travel to Merchant Taylors’ is still coming through.
Altrincham GS 37-37 Sir John Deane’s
Bishop Heber 10-34 Calday Grange GS
King’s Macclesfield 24-7 St Ambrose College
Manchester GS 52-0 RGS Lancaster
Ripley St Thomas 0-40 Stonyhurst College
Stockport GS 59-19 Cheadle Hulme
North B
The first huge name to fall was in North B as Woodhouse Grove, potential contenders to reach the quarters, were beaten by another big contender, St Peter’s York. It was a close game, 27-20, and St Peter’s now travel to Hymers College, who had a bye, with Woodhosue Grove now in the Palte. QEGS Wakfield are another huge side in this section, they received a walkover against St John’s Fisher and now host Hartlepool 6th form College, who had a bye.
The bottom half of the section is equally star studded. Old rivals RGS Newcastle and Durham will meet in the second round, RGS progressed with a bye, while Durham beat Dame Allan’s 67-12. Below them lurk cup legends Barnard Castle, who have known for some time that they will host Carmel College as both received byes.
Dame Allan’s 12-67 Durham
QEGS Wakefield w/o St John Fisher
Woodhouse Grove 20-27 St Peter’s York
Midlands A
Midlands A had an exciting first round and by the looks of things the second will be just as good. Norwich beat Gresham’s in a thriller, 33-20, while St Joseph’s College had to dig deep for a 14-11 win at Framlingham, those two now meet n the second round. It was simpler for Bloxham and Northampton School for boys though, their second round tie was set up after Bloxham beat Bedford Modern 60-5 and Northampton saw off Lawrence Sherriff 69-0.
The bottom half of the draw was largely dealt with without much rugby being played. Oundle will host Royal Hospital School in round 2 after Oundle received a walkover and Royal Hospital School began with a bye. The winner of that will face Stamford after they beat local rivals Uppingham, who will fancy a shot at the Plate now, 29-12. With now opponent below them in the draw, that gives Stamford a bye straight to Round 3.
Bedford Modern 5-60 Bloxham
Framlingham College 11-14 St Joseph’s College
Northampton School for Boys 69-0 Lawrence Sherriff
Norwich 33-20 Gresham’s
Oundle v Bourne GS – Oundle Walkover
Uppingham 12-29 Stamford
Midlands B
The reigning Champions, Warwick, seem to be the busiest side in Midlands B. They were impressive for a 50-0 win over King Edward VI Camp Hill in Round 1, and were the only side in the draw to have a second round tie, they travel to Sandbach, who beat Wrekin College 39-5.
Everyone else had second round byes. The winner of the Sandbach v Warwick tie will play Newcastle-Under-Lyme after their 31-15 win over QEGS Ashbourne, while KES Five Ways beat RGS Worcester 24-12. Solihull were 42-12 victors over KES Birmingham and may have thought they had straight passage to the third round, however the welcome addition of Rugby School means that Solihull will now face Rugby, with the winner meeting KES Five Ways next round.
KES Five Ways 24-12 RGS Worcester
Newcastle Under Lyme 31-15 QEGS Ashbourne
Sandbach 39-5 Wrekin College
Warwick 50-0 KES Camp Hill
London & South East A
London & South East A was one of the busiest sections of the opening round, six games were played, with just two walkovers. One was for Tiffin against Richmond Upon Thames College, which sets Tiffin up for a trip to Hampton, who were 62-7 winners over Salesian. Emanuel, meanwhile, beat St Benedict’s in a tight encounter, 18-16 and now host Wimbledon College, who were 47-5 winners against Colfe’s.
Campion were given a walkover against Westcliffe but now have a very tricky task ahead as they host Felsted who won a high scoring game 40-20 at New Hall. KCS Wimbledon were the first side in the country to reach the second round after beating UCS 12-5 a week early, they host former champions Whitgift after their 47-10 win against Langley Park.
Emanuel 18-16 St Benedict’s
Hampton 62-7 Salesian
New Hall 22-40 Felsted
Richmond Upon Thames College v Tiffin – Tiffin Walkover
Westcliff HS v Campion – Campion Walkover
Whitgift 47-10 Langley Park
Wimbledon College 47-5 Colfe’s
London & South East B
Worthing College were impressive 50-12 winners away at Sussex Downs, that win will see them host Churcher’s College after they beat Peter Symonds’ College 27-10. They identity of Maidstone Grammar’s opponents is not yet known as Judd and Sir Joseph Williamson’s do not meet until next week. What those to do know though is that a trip to Maidstone will be tough, they beat Duke of York’s RMS by a stunning 59-0 margin.
John Fisher received a walkover and travel to George Abbot in the second round, they won a tight battle 16-10 against Farnborough 6th form College. At the foot of the draw is arguably the biggest tie of round 2 in this section, Skinners’ v Eltham College. Skinners’ won a thriller 32-29 at Christ’s Hospital, while Eltham College impressed in a low scoring but equally tight game at Trinity, 14-10.
Christ’s Hospital 29-32 Skinners’
Farnborough College 10-16 George Abbot
Howard of Effingham v John Fisher – John Fisher Walkover
Judd v Sir Joseph Williamson’s (Wednesday 4th October)
Maidstone GS 59-0 Duke of York’s RMS
Peter Symonds’ 10-27 Churcher’s College
Sussex Downs 12-50 Worthing College
Trinity 10-14 Eltham College
South West A
A couple of sides are already guaranteed passage to the third round with second round byes in this section. Portsmouth Grammar at the top, after a 44-0 win against KES Southampton, and Dean Close at the bottom with an equally impressive 41-0 win against former champions St Peter’s Gloucester.
Portsmouth will face either Abingdon or last year’s finalists Bishop Wordsworth’s. Abingdon had a first round bye, but Bishop Wordsworth’s showed their class for a 50-0 win at home to St Bartholomew’s. Dean Close, meanwhile, have an equally tricky task against either another former champion, RGS High Wycombe, or Sir Thomas Rich’s. RGS beat Pangbourne 38-14, while Tommies had a bye.
Bishop Wordsworth’s 50-0 St Bartholomew’s
Dean Close 41-0 St Peter’s Gloucester
Portsmouth GS 44-0 KES Southampton
RGS High Wycombe 38-14 Pangbourne College
South West B
Truro’s 50-0 win over Richard Huish was a late but impressive result to come through, but it is a tough gig for the winner, they will host Ivybridge Community College, who had a first round bye. Exeter School effectively had the same after a walkover against Plymouth College, they now host King’s College Taunton, who were 26-14 winners against Weston Colllege.
Colston’s are guaranteed a third round spot after they won a thriller against Downside, 25-24. Their third round is guaranteed as the second round is a bye, but they will face Canford in the third round after they receive a walkover against Clayesmore, they too have a second round bye. Keep an eye out for the exciting Downside 1st XV in the Plate.
Canford v Clayesmore – Walkover Canford
Colston’s 25-24 Downside
King’s College Taunton 26-14 Weston College
Plymouth College v Exeter School – Exeter Walkover
Richard Huish 0-50 Truro
Overall it has been a thrilling round of action, and with us down to the round of the last 64 already, this tournament will feel like it is moving at a real pace from this point onwards. The quality of schools despite big name losses to the Champions Trophy is high, there will be some big names to fall in the second round to add to those giants that have already fallen, although those fallen giants bode well for an exciting Plate competition to run alongside the Cup.
Bring on the week of the 9th October, when the second round of the U18 Schools Cup is scheduled to start!
