The eyes of the schools rugby world may have been focused on the flagship Champions Trophy and Schools Cup tournaments, but there has been plenty more besides to keep schools across the country excited.
The U18 Vase is haring through, this week the bulk of the regional quarter finals took place, while there was action in the Bowl and Plate too. There was also plenty of Daily Mail Trophy action, Scottish Cup, and lots more alongside.
Our coverage of the week’s Champions Trophy and U18 Schools Cup is separate this week, this covers just the remaining knockout tournaments as well as the Daily Mail Trophy and other midweek fixtures. To see our updates form the Champions Trophy and Schools Cup, please follow these links:
Tuesday
The Scottish Cup saw plenty of exciting action on Tuesday, with wins for Merchiston Castle, Stewart’s Melville, and a particularly impressive 45-3 away win for Dollar Academy at Loretto.
Seaford College this week had the turn of hosting New Zealand tourists Palmerston North Boys High School. After defeat to Campion at the weekend though, the tourists were in determined form and secured a superb 36-0 win surrounded by a fantastic atmosphere.
It was a busy day in the U18 Vase, too. In North B Ripon Grammar School secured a well fought 10-5 win at Ampleforth College to head into the regional semis.
A 17-11 win for Bishop’s Stortford College over The Leys sets up a regional semi against Langley in Midlands B, while in South West A Backwell beat Sheldon 27-22.
The performance of the day though was surely a stunning 83-0 win away from home for London Oratory away at Isleworth & Syon in London & South East B, where they will now face Mill Hill.
Wednesday
Wednesday’s action saw the Schools Plate, for those knocked out of the Cup at the first stage, kick off. Bedford Modern beat Lawrence Sherriff 33-11, while Langley Park were 10-3 winners over UCS.
Colfe’s meanwhile won a thriller against St Benedict’s, 20-19, while Woodhouse Grove justified their tag as one of the favourites with a 50-0 win over Dame Allan’s.
The Vase was on overdrive on Wednesday with a heap of fixtures taking place. Bradford Grammar School sealed their North A regional semi final spot with a 17-7 win at Ermysted’s Grammar. Over in North B Worksop were in flying form with a 50-0 victory over Birkdale.
Midlands A saw Old Swinford Hospital charge past Bablake, 48-0, setting up a regional semi against Adams Grammar, who received a walkover. KES Stratford, meanwhile, beat Bishop Vesey’s 15-11, setting up a game against King’s Worcester next round, who were sensational on Wednesday in their 74-5 win over Chosen Hill. Over in Midlands B Welbeck saw off Wellinborough in a tight game, 15-10.
Hayes’ sensational first season in the Vase carried on this Wednesday as they came from behind for an excellent 27-22 win at Wallington County Grammar in London & South East A. Glyn’s Vase run came to an end on Wednesday against The Weald in London & South East B, trailing 20-19 with time up, Glyn pushed hard for the winning score but The Weald landed a brilliant interception to take the game and their place in the next round.
Bournemouth and Lord Wandsworth College played out a 20-20 draw in South West B, while Dr Challoner’s were 15-8 winners at home to Aylesbury Grammar, setting up another home tie next round, this time against The Crypt, who beat Lord Williams’ 21-13.
Over in the Bowl competition there were wins for Beth’s, Cokethorpe, and Hereford Cathedral School, while St George’s Weybridge, QES Barnet, and Ravens Wood were in truly sensational form, scoring 75, 64, and 65 points respectively.
Trinity were bang in form in the Daily Mail Trophy, putting in a storming performance for a 53-0 win over Christ’s Hospital. KES Birmingham beat RGS Worcester 26-7, while Cranleigh showed their class to beat Denstone College 25-10. The game was close all the way through, but in the last ten minutes Cranleigh showed just why they are so highly rated as they pulled away to make the game safe.
Outside of the leagues and cups, Merchant Taylors’ were in flying form as they beat Mill Hill 48-3, while there were also wins for KEGS Chelsmford, St Edward’s College, Watford Grammar, and Newcastle Under Lyme, among others.
Thursday
Thursday’s big game was the Rutland derby, Uppingham v Oakham. Oakham arrived at their great rivals having won the past eight encounters, and that became nine on Thursday afternoon in a thrilling game, the visitors beating Uppingham 27-20 to claim the Rutland bragging rights.
Over in the Schools Vase Dartford Grammar rubbished our prediction to secure a truly excellent 50-17 win over Sevenoaks, they will face the bang in form Sutton Valence next round.
Elsewhere there was an exciting 17-17 draw between Dame Alice Owens and Tring, while Wisbech Grammar put in a top display to dispatch of Woodbridge, 43-21.
Wells Cathedral meanwhile recorded a huge 51-19 win over Sexey’s, but that was almost nothing compared to Ratcliffe College, who were 72-0 winners over Highfields.
The rugby continues into the weekend now, with plenty of action on Friday night and a full fixture list on Saturday. You can see our full preview for the weekend’s action here: Schools Rugby Weekend Preview.
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 Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Ampleforth College 5-10 Ripon GS (Schools Vase)
Backwell 27-22 Sheldon (Schools Vase)
Bishop’s Stortford College 17-11 The Leys (Schools Vase)
Isleworth & Syon 0-83 London Oratory (Schools Vase)
Langley 54-17 RGS Colchester (Schools Vase)
Loretto 3-45 Dollar Academy (Scottish Cup)
Merchiston Castle 31-13 George Heriot’s (Scottish Cup)
Preston Lodge 19-46 Stewart’s Melville (Scottish Cup)
Seaford College 0-36 Palmerston North Boys High School, New Zealand
Wednesday
Bedford Modern 33-11 Lawrence Sherriff (Schools Plate)
Beth’s 22-5 Kent College (Schools Bowl)
Birkdale 0-50 Worksop College (Schools Vase)
Bishop Vesey’s GS 11-15 KES Stratford (Schools Vase)
Bournemouth 20-20 Lord Wandsworth College (Schools Vase)
Christ’s Hospital 0-53 Trinity (Daily Mail Trophy)
Cokethorpe 29-21 Marling (Schools Bowl)
Cranleigh 25-10 Denstone College (Daily Mail Trophy)
Dr Challoner’s 15-8 Aylesbury GS (Schools Vase)
Ermysted’s GS 7-17 Bradford GS (Schools Vase)
Glyn 19-27 The Weald (Schools Vase)
Graveney 10-65 Ravens Wood (Schools Bowl)
Hereford Cathedral 28-10 Prince Henry’s HS (Schools Bowl)
KEGS Chelmsford 49-15 Brentwood
KES Birmingham 26-7 RGS Worcester (Daily Mail Trophy)
King’s Worcester 74-5 Chosen Hill (Schools Vase)
Langley Park 10-3 UCS (Schools Plate)
Lord Williams 13-21 The Crypt (Schools Vase)
Merchant Taylors’ 48-3 Mill Hill
Old Swinford Hospital 48-0 Bablake (Schools Vase)
Parmiter’s 7-64 QES Barnet (Schools Bowl)
St Benedict’s 19-20 Colfe’s (Schools Plate)
St George’s College, Weybridge 75-7 Richard Challoners (Schools Bowl)
St Edward’s College 42-25 Rydal Penrhos
Wallington CGS 22-27 Hayes (Schools Vase)
Watford GS 32-17 St Albans
Wellingborough 10-15 Welbeck (Schools Vase)
Wrekin College 5-26 Newcastle Under Lyme
Woodhouse Grove 50-0 Dame Allan’s (Schools Plate)
Thursday
Dame Alice Owens 17-17 Tring
Dartford GS 50-17 Sevenoaks (Schools Vase)
Ratcliffe College 72-0 Highfields
Sexey’s 19-51 Wells Cathedral
Uppingham 20-27 Oakham (Daily Mail Trophy)
Wisbech GS 43-21 Woodbridge
