With half term starting this weekend, there has been a busy midweek schedule as sides try to pack their fixtures in before heading away for a well earned rest.
The week saw Champions Trophy and School Cup action among the many exciting games, and even saw some silverware handed out in the form of Thursday’s Modus Cup at Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium.
There was plenty more alongside that, including a thriller at Allianz Park, and one of the biggest school games of the season, Kirkham Grammar School v Sedbergh.
Tuesday
The big news on Tuesday was Dulwich College’s 33-17 win at Berkhamsted in the Champions Trophy. The result sends them into the quarter finals, where they face another away trip. This time they are off to Bromsgrove, who are in their first year in the competition after moving from the Schools Cup. You can see the full quarter final lineup and Round 2 roundup, as well as vote for who you think will win, here: Champions Trophy Quarter Finals.
There was also some Schools Vase action as Sir William Borlase’s won 10-7 away at Reading Blue Coat. That result sends them into the fourth round of South West B, where they will travel to Bournemouth, the winner will head to the regional final ahead of the national quarter-final re-draw.
There was also action in Ireland, where Haberdasher’s are touring. The tourists kicked off their trip in the perfect manner, beating Dublin High School 28-12.
Wednesday
The big game on Wednesday was undoubtedly Kirkham Grammar School v Sedbergh. Two of the very best school teams in the country. Kirkham have a great recent record against the famous men from Cumbria, beating them in their last two fixtures, and were unbeaten at home since the 30th November 2013.
Both arrived at this fixture in flying form, but it was Sedbergh that laid down the big marker, securing a famous and highly impressive 34-9 that should leave nobody in any doubt that they are right there in contention for the number 1 spot in the Daily Mail Trophy this year. The big games do not stop there for either side though, Kirkham have a mini tour to Ireland coming up, they play St Michael’s College on Monday, while on Saturday Sedbergh face Welsh giants Llandovery College.
There was a huge game at Allianz Park on Wednesday evening, where Haileybury put in a magnificent performance to beat a good Eton College side 36-5. You can see our report from the game here: Eton College v Haileybury.
The Schools Cup also saw action as Judd beat Maidstone Grammar 34-18 in London & South East B, setting up a home regional semi final against Eltham College. There is now just one second round fixture remaining to be played in the Cup, RGS High Wycombe v Sir Thomas Rich’s, which takes place on Wednesday 1st November.
Cheadle Hulme progressed to Round 2 in the Schools Plate with a 29-19 win over Bishop Heber, while in the Vase Giggleswick were 33-5 winners over Bolton and will play Bradford Grammar next in North A. Over in South West A Taunton School beat Bridgwater 51-0 to head into the third round against Thomas Hardye.
Over in the Schools Bowl King Henry VIII Coventry beat Kenilworth 54-5 in Midlands A, sending them to Round 3 where they host Hereford Cathedral School.
There were some big results elsewhere including a 29-15 win for Truro away at the in form Colston’s, while King’s Canterbury impressed with a 54-10 victory over Sir Roger Manwood’s. King’s College Taunton meanwhile beat Richard Huish 19-7, with Queen Ethelburga’s digging out a 22-15 win at King’s Grantham.
Norwich School impressed onlookers with a 48-10 win over Wisbech Grammar, and Hayes were no less impressive at St Dunstan’s, where they led 47-3 at half time. KES Southampton had a big confidence boosting win at St John’s College, 59-12.
In the Cheshire County Cup Wilmslow High School beat Sandback 39-12, and sticking in the North East, St Mary’s College secured an excellent win in a tight game at Manchester Grammar, 24-22.
The Weald meanwhile beat Steyning 35-7, with Birchwood 29-19 winners over Sandringham, Dr Challoner’s were 31-15 victors at Watford Grammar.
Thursday
Thursday felt almost like a mini Saturday, such was the quality of the fixtures on offer. The big one of the day took place at Sixways Stadium as RGS Worcester and King’s Worcester played their huge derby match for the Modus Cup. King’s have held the edge in recent years, but this year the spoils go to RGS, who won a close one 13-10.
Things were close over in Buckinghamshire too, where Rugby backed up their brilliant win on Saturday with a tight and well fought 18-17 win at Stowe.
There was a derby down in Dorset too, where Canford just edged out Bryanston in a scrappy game, 15-12.
Dean Close have had a flying start to the season, and go into half term on a real high after a tremendous 36-0 win over St Edward’s Oxford. As do Kingswood, who were 31-7 winners at Prior Park College.
Trent College bounced back from a tough weekend with a 27-15 win over The Perse in the Schools Vase, sending them through to the 4th Round in Midlands B, where they will host Welbeck College.
There was also Plate action as Gresham’s put in a top display at home to Framlingham College, beating them 38-0 to fly through to the 2nd Round in Midlands A, where they host Bedford Modern. The winners will then host Uppingham.
Elsewhere Sutton Valence continued their superb season with a great 69-0 win over Cooper’s Coborn, while over in Wales there was a fantastic game between Monmouth and the invitational side Crawshay’s Welsh XV, with Crawshay’s winning 24-7.
Coming Up
There is still plenty of rugby to come. The main focus of the weekend will be the St Joseph’s Festival, and you can see our preview and our team by team breakdown ahead of that here:
St Joseph’s Festival Team by Team
There is not a huge amount of other rugby, but what little there is should be exciting.
On Saturday Sedbergh, fresh from that important win at Kirkham, host Welsh giants Llandovery College as the big games keep on coming for the men in Brown.
St Edward’s Oxford are on tour in Ireland and face Campbell College in Northern Ireland, while back in England Hymers College host Wolfreton.
On Monday Kirkham Grammar School look to bounce back, they are on a mini tour in Ireland and face one of the giants of Irish Schools rugby, St Michael’s College in Dublin.
Gresham’s are also on tour, they take on Cajasol Seville Rugby in Portugal on Tuesday.
Wednesday sees an all Welsh clash between Christ College Brecon and Gowerton Comprehensive, while Leicester Grammar host Loughborough Grammar, while on Thursday Gresham’s tour continues against GD Direito.
As always, if you have any videos, photos, or reports from the weekend’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:
Tuesday
Berkhamsted 17-33 Dulwich College (Champions Trophy)
Dublin HS 12-28 Haberdashers’
Reading Blue Coat 7-10 Sir William Borlase’s (Schools Vase)
Wednesday
Bishop Heber 19-29 Cheadle Hulme (Schools Plate)
Bolton 5-33 Giggleswick (Schools Vase)
Colston’s 15-29 Truro
Eton College 5-36 Haileybury (Daily Mail Trophy) – Allianz Park
King’s Canterbury 54-10 Sir Roger Manwood’s
King’s College, Taunton 19-7 Richard Huish
King’s Gratham 15-22 Queen Ethelburga’s
King Henry VIII, Coventry 54-5 Kenilworth (Schools Bowl)
Kirkham GS 9-34 Sedbergh
Maidstone GS 18-34 Judd (Schools Cup)
Manchester GS 22-24 St Mary’s College
Norwich 48-10 Wisbech GS
Sandbach 12-39 Wilmslow HS (County Cup)
Sandringham 19-29 Birchwood
St Dunstan’s 3-47 Hayes
St John’s College 12-59 KES Southampton
Steyning 7-35 The Weald
Taunton 51-0 Bridgwater (Schools Vase)
Watford GS 15-31 Dr Challoner’s
Thursday
Bryanston 12-15 Canford (Daily Mail Trophy)
Dean Close 36-0 St Edward’s Oxford (Daily Mail Trophy)
Gresham’s 38-0 Framlingham College (Schools Plate)
Monmouth 7-24 Crawshay’s Welsh
Perse 15-27 Trent College (Schools Vase)
Prior Park College 7-31 Kingswood
RGS Worcester 13-10 King’s Worcester (Daily Mail Trophy) – Sixways
Stowe 17-18 Rugby (Daily Mail Trophy)
Sutton Valence 69-0 Cooper’s Coborn
Still to Come:
Downside v Beechen Cliff 2nd XV
KES Birmingham v KES Five Ways
QES Kirkby v Keswick
RGS Guildford v Robert Gordon’s College
Upcoming School Fixtures:
Saturday
Campbell College (N.I.) v St Edward’s, Oxford
Hymers College v Wolfreton
Sedbergh v Llandovery College
Monday
St Michael’s College, Dublin v Kirkham Grammar School
Tuesday
Cajasol Seville Rugby, Portugal v Gresham’s
Wednesday
Gowerton v Christ College
Leicester GS v Loughborough
Thursday
GD Direito, Portugal v Gresham’s
