Sedbergh wrapped up the Daily Mail Trophy on Wednesday with a stunning defeat of Millfield, on a day of superb school rugby action.
While the main focus for many was on the Champions Trophy and AASE Finals, as well as the U18 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl quarter finals, there was some hugely significant rugby played in midweek, not least that deciding game in the Daily Mail Trophy.
You can catch up on our comments and reports from the other action via the links below, but through this piece we will concentrate on the action around the rest of the country in midweek.
Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, & Bowl quarter finals
The key game was of course that Sedbergh win at Millfield. Having beaten Wellington College last week, Sedbergh had put themselves in position to win the title with a bonus point win in one of their final two games of the season, and they did so in sensational fashion at Millfield.
The Cumbrians put together yet another spectacular performance to beat their great rivals 53-12. It sets up the chance for them to secure an unbeaten season, just to add to an already outstanding one, if they beat QEGS on Saturday. The only downside was that due to an injury on Millfield’s Jubillee pitch earlier in the day, the game had to move pitch and therefore could not be live streamed – fortunately the injured players are now ok.
That was not the only big win in an important game though, up at BT Murrayfield the Scottish Schools Cup final took place between Glenalmond and Strathallan. Strathallan were quite simply spectacular, beating their opponents 52-8 to win the Cup in style, a day and a performance that will live long in the memories of players, spectators, and coaches alike.
In England there was plenty of County Cup action, not least at Hertford RFC where the Hertfordshire County Cup final between Haileybury and Watford Grammar was played.
Haileybury have been one of the top sides in the country this year, losing just twice, and it showed as they put their opponents to the sword, winning 59-10.
Superb handling from the entire team saw tries come from flying wing Shimizu and powerful centre Jamie Hoyes, giving Haileybury a 14-0 lead after just ten minutes. Sam Cappaert had edded the extras and was pulling the strings from fly half, and the champions were in danger of running away with it, however Watford played some great stuff and used the wind cleverly to put the pressure on from a possession and territorial point of view.
Centre James Clark’s man of the match winning defensive effort disrupted the Watford rhythm though and it wasn’t long before Matt Cook, Cappert and Pearce scored to give Haileybury a 35-0 lead, but the spirited Watford Grammar pulled one back before half time to make it 35-5.
Second half tries came from George Hall, Luke Burger, Kapelili Pifiletti and Miles Findlay with Andrew Neal showing some great touches alongside two fine conversions before Watford added a second score to leave things at 59-10. A word too on Haileybury fly half Sam Cappaert, who set a new school record in scoring 133 points for the season.
Stonyhurst College were equally impressive in their County Cup, beating Liverpool College 41-5. Outside of the county cups, RGS Newcastle saw off Ripon Grammar 34-22, while RGS Lancaster enjoyed a fantastic 48-3 win over Bolton. Ampleforth College meanwhile were on great from for a 30-5 win over Hill House.
Further South KES Five Ways beat Bablake 31-5 and The Crypt were 48-7 victors over Chosen Hill, Plymouth College meanwhile won a tight one at King’s College Taunton, 21-19, while Haberdashers’ were 18-10 winners against QES Barnet.
Wisbech Grammar School ended their season in style with a 28-7 win over Spalding Grammar. It leaves them unbeaten since half term and with ten wins from their twelve games.
A huge word must go to their outside centre in particular, Ollie Mann, who scored his twentieth try of the season, taking him past 200 points for the season, and making it the second year in a row in which he has crossed the whitewash 20 times at 1st XV level, a spectacular record.
Completing the action on Wednesday was a cracking game at Oakham’s Doncaster Close as they welcomed Australian tourists King’s Parramatta. A spectacular game of rugby unfolded, and it look a last minute try for Oakham to score the decisive try for a 27-24 victory, with Sam Costello at the heart of things.
There was also some great action on Tuesday, including a cracker of a game between Bishop’s Stortford College and Norwich School. It was nip and tuck the whole way, with Norwich leaving it late, very late, to secure a narrow 25-22 victory.
Things were more clear cut at Seaford College where the magnificent Kirkham Grammar School secured a 33-0 victory. The North Western side have quietly been one of the best teams in the country this season, and but for a mid-season injury crisis they might have been even better.
You can see photos from the week’s rugby here: Gallery – Midweek Schools Rugby Photos
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:
Tuesday
Bishop’s Stortford College 22-25 Norwich
Seaford College 0-33 Kirkham GS
Wednesday
Ampleforth College 30-5 Hill House
Bablake 5-31 KES Five Ways
Christ College 20-31 The Oratory
Crypt 48-7 Chosen Hill
Glenalmond 8-52 Strathallan (Scottish Cup Final)
Haileybury 59-10 Watford GS (County Cup Final)
King’s College, Taunton 19-21 Plymouth College
Liverpool College 5-41 Stonyhurst College (County Cup)
Millfield 12-53 Sedbergh (Daily Mail Trophy)
Oakham 27-24 King’s Parramatta (AUS)
QES Barnet 10-18 Haberdashers’
RGS Lancaster 48-3 Bolton
RGS Newcastle 34-22 Ripon GS
Wisbech GS 28-7 Spalding GS
Still to Come:
Dr Challoner’s GS v Sir William Borlase’s
Magdalen College v Cokethorpe
St Olave’s GS v Eltham College
