This was the final weekend of the season for some schools, and for some others their final game at home, and the rugby certainly lived up to the hope and expectations.
A number of sides completed their seasons in style, with either big wins, important results, or in some cases by completing the dream – an unbeaten season.
Focus On
Harrow were one such school to complete an unbeaten season, and they did so in style on Saturday. Having beaten high-flying Wellington College last week, they travelled to Bedford this week seeking to complete the perfect season. It could not have gone better for them as they surged to a 43-0 victory and an assured place as one of the top school rugby teams of the 2017/18 season.
There was a major clash in East London as Campion showed all of the class that they have been demonstrating all season for a brilliant 32-10 over the prestigious RGS High Wycombe.
A huge game in the South West took place between two sides that have reached the U18 Schools Cup quarter finals, Canford and Bishop Wordsworth’s. The suspicion was that having had a tough Cup game in midweek, Bishop Wordsworth’s might be a bit tired, but they showed just what red hot form they are in to secure a 26-19 win at Canford, one of the strongest sides around.
Cranleigh also proved, if people did not already know, just what a top class side they are with a stunning 42-12 victory over Whitgift, who are considered one of the favourites to win the Cup. A win over Marlborough College next week would secure an unbeaten Cranleigh season, a stunning achievement.
After back to back defeats Wellington College found a way back to victory, despite their crippling injury list, by beating Epsom College 36-22. The result sends them back to the top of the Daily Mail Trophy, which forces Sedbergh to secure at least 5 match points (the equivalent of one bonus point) from their next two games in order to take the title.
Brighton College’s from over the last few months has been sensational, and it did not let up at all this weekend as they secured another superb victory, this time beating Hampton 35-17 away from home.
There was a really tight game in Oxfordshire, where St Paul’s came away with the spoils thanks to a 12-5 win at Radley College, a fine result that reflects their recent form.
The dream of an unbeaten season remains on for Cheltenham College after they once again performed superbly well to defeat a top team, this time Sherborne, with an impressive 37-17 victory away from home.
Kirkham Grammar School v King’s Macclesfield was unfortunately cancelled, one of a number of games to fall foul of the weather, while the Eton College v Tonbridge result is yet to be confirmed.
Around the Grounds
There was plenty of excitement elsewhere, not least an impressive 61-0 win for Christ’s Hospital over Churcher’s College and Felsted’s 63-7 effort against Norwich, while Denstone College were only flying form too for a 64-5 victory over Trent College.
Bloxham, Bristol Grammar, and Clifton College all picked up good wins over The Oratory, Pate’s Grammar, and Sir Thomas Rich’s respectively, while Dauntsey’s claimed a highly impressive 20-10 win over Bryanston.
Caterham, meanwhile, were in top form as they beat Reigate Grammar 50-11. As were Grammar School at Leeds, who put 58 points past Nottingham High School.
In the North East Durham won a good battle against Barnard Castle, 36-10, while in Scotland Merchiston Castle gained revenge over George Watson’s with a 19-7 win and Heriot’s secured a tight win over Stewart’s Melville, 26-20.
There was a hugely anticipated game in the South East between Eastbourne College and Hurstpierpoint College, with Hurstpierpoint emerging victorious, 24-8. Moving in towards London, Eltham College won another tight one, 26-24 against Skinners’.
There was a tight one in Croydon too, with John Fisher emerging as the victors, 17-15 against St Benedict’s, RGS Guildford meanwhile beat KCS Wimbledon 21-17. Marlborough College also enjoyed a good and hard fought win, beating Abingdon 17-10.
Haileybury won their County Cup semi final in style, a stunning 50-17 dismantling over Bishop’s Stortford High School. St Edward’s Oxford were almost as impressive, completing an outstanding season with an excellent 43-10 win at Malvern College.
Woodhouse Grove enjoyed a storming 52-0 win at Hymers College, another sign of their quality, much like Loretto, who were 59-7 winners over Newcastle School for Boys.
Millfield got back to winning ways on Saturday but had to dig oh so deep for a close one over Monmouth, edging it by a point, 26-25. Things were close between Oakham and Solihull too, with the Rutland side emerging as 26-24 victors.
City of London Freemen’s once again showed that they are in good nick with a 44-17 win over Worth, while Wisbech Grammar School were in truly sensational form as they beat Woodbridge 61-0.
There was an impressive 45-7 win for Reading Blue Coat over Tiffin, much like Sutton Valence’s 54-19 effort over Duke of York’s Royal Militart School, and a superb 47-0 win for Berkhamsted at St Albans.
Rugby School secured a really important 28-14 win at Oundle, a result that keeps a positive spin on their season, while Dean Close recovered form that devastating Cup defeat for them in midweek to bounce back and secure a 29-10 win at Prior Park College on Saturday.
RGS Colchester were on fire, they beat Brentwood 64-0, and RGS Worcester were not far off the same sort of form as they saw off St Peter’s Gloucester by a hugely impressive 47-7 margin.
St Peter’s namesakes in York, St Peter’s York no less, showed their absolute class once again with a 22-7 victory over Bradford Grammar, while in the South East there was a thriller at St John’s Leatherhead where they hosted Seaford College and the two sides played out a tremendous 32-32 draw.
Stamford were back to their best again on Saturday, scoring plenty of tries for an impressive 42-26 victory at home to Loughborough Grammar School.
Friday
There was just the one game on Friday, played at the home of Rosslyn Park FC at their ground, The Rock. Shiplake College took home the spoils, beating Emanuel 19-10.
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).
You can see photos from the weekend’s rugby here: Gallery – Saturday 2nd December.
Schools Rugby Weekend Results:
Focus On
Bedford 0-43 Harrow (Daily Mail Trophy)
Campion 32-10 RGS High Wycombe (Daily Mail Trophy)
Canford 19-26 Bishop Wordsworth’s (Daily Mail Trophy)
Cranleigh 42-12 Whitgift (Daily Mail Trophy)
Epsom College 22-36 Wellington College (Daily Mail Trophy)
Eton College v Tonbridge (Daily Mail Trophy) – Still to Come
Hampton 17-35 Brighton College (Daily Mail Trophy)
Kirkham GS v King’s Macclesfield – Cancelled
Radley College 5-12 St Paul’s (Daily Mail Trophy)
Sherborne 17-37 Cheltenham College (Daily Mail Trophy)
Around the Grounds
Bloxham 38-10 The Oratory (Daily Mail Trophy)
Bristol GS 36-17 Pate’s GS (Daily Mail Trophy)
Bromsgrove 45-12 KES Birmingham (Daily Mail Trophy)
Caterham 50-11 Reigate GS (Daily Mail Trophy)
Cheadle Hulme 7-39 Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Christ’s Hospital 61-0 Churcher’s College (Daily Mail Trophy)
Clifton College 34-15 Sir Thomas Rich’s (Daily Mail Trophy)
Dauntsey’s 20-10 Bryanston
Denstone College 64-5 Trent College (Daily Mail Trophy)
Durham 36-10 Barnard Castle (Daily Mail Trophy)
Eastbourne College 8-24 Hurstpierpoint College (Daily Mail Trophy)
Eltham College 26-24 Skinners’
Felsted 63-7 Norwich
George Heriot’s 26-20 Stewart’s Melville
George Watson’s College 7-19 Merchiston Castle
Glyn 20-7 Ravens Wood
Grammar School at Leeds 58-20 Nottinhgam HS (Daily Mail Trophy)
Gresham’s 35-24 Royal Hospital School
Haberdashers’ 7-33 UCS
Haileybury 50-17 Bishop’s Stortford HS
Hymers College 0-52 Woodhouse Grove (Daily Mail Trophy)
John Fisher 17-15 St Benedict’s (Daily Mail Trophy)
KCS Wimbledon 17-21 RGS Guildford (Daily Mail Trophy)
KES Camp Hill 8-20 Princethorpe College
King’s Bruton 13-18 Christ College
King’s Canterbury 36-3 Sevenoaks
Langley Park 42-15 Mill Hill
Lord Wandsworth College 8-29 St George’s College, Weybridge
Loretto 59-7 Newcastle School for Boys
Malvern College 10-43 St Edward’s, Oxford (Daily Mail Trophy)
Manchester GS 7-27 Wilmslow HS (Daily Mail Trophy)
Marlborough College 17-10 Abingdon (Daily Mail Trophy)
Merchant Taylors’ 17-21 St Ambrose College
Millfield 26-25 Monmouth (Daily Mail Trophy)
Mount St Mary’s College 28-16 Worksop College
Oundle 14-28 Rugby (Daily Mail Trophy)
Prior Park College 10-29 Dean Close
QES Barnet 14-49 Watford GS
Queen’s College, Taunton 7-5 Exeter
Ratcliffe College 23-22 Leicester GS
Reed’s 29-13 Merchant Taylors’ (Daily Mail Trophy)
RGS Colchester 64-0 Brentwood
RGS Worcester 47-7 St Peter’s, Gloucester (Daily Mail Trophy)
Shrewsbury 17-14 Hereford Cathedral
Solihull 24-26 Oakham (Daily Mail Trophy)
St Albans 0-47 Berkhamsted (Daily Mail Trophy)
St John’s, Leaterhead 32-32 Seaford College (Daily Mail Trophy)
St Mary’s College 19-12 Rossall
St Peter’s, York 22-7 Bradford GS (Daily Mail Trophy)
Stamford 42-26 Loughborough GS (Daily Mail Trophy)
Stowe 29-19 Uppingham (Daily Mail Trophy)
Sutton Valence 54-19 Duke of York’s RMS
Tiffin 7-45 Reading Blue Coat (Daily Mail Trophy)
Wellingborough 19-29 KES, Stratford
Wimbledon College 13-10 Wallington CGS
Wisbech GS 61-0 Woodbridge
Worth 17-44 City of London Freemen’s
Wycliffe College 29-0 Warminster
Friday
Emanuel 10-19 Shiplake College
Still to Come
Ashville College v Yarm (Daily Mail Trophy)
Altrincham GS v Stockport GS
Cooper’s Coborn v Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Dartford GS v St Olaves’s GS
Ipswich v St Joseph’s College
Kent College v St Dunstan’s
King’s College, Taunton v Truro
Kingswood v QEH
St Anselm’s v Rydal Penrhos
Taunton v Blundell’s
