There are just a handful of school fixtures this weekend after last week’s grand finale, with the bulk of the attention turning towards the U18 Premiership over the Christmas period.
That said, though there are not too many school games this weekend, those that are being played should provide plenty of entertainment, not least one remaining important Daily Mail Trophy fixture.
Saturday
That key Daily Mail Trophy fixture is Campion’s trip to Wimbledon College. Whatever the result, Campion have had an incredible season, rising for 92nd in the table last year to a finish well in the top half this year. It would be so fitting though for them to secure a Top 25 finish tough, which would see opposition sides earning 0.3 bonus point for playing them next year, as opposed to the 0.2 they would get if the lose and finish outside of the Top 25, or the 0.0 that opposition sides have received for playing them this year. It would be a deserved badge of honour, but Wimbledon College are not going to make it easy for them at all, they have plenty of talent in their squad.
Manchester Grammar and St Ambrose College were set to meet in the other Daily Mail Trophy game, but that has been called off. Also in the North West area, Calday Grange host Kirkham Grammar School’s 2nd XV has been cancelled, so too Kelvinside Academy v Wellington School in Ayr.
Wilmslow High School travel to Audenshaw looking to end the year on a real high. While in Yorkshire Hymers College are looking for a strong finish to the season when they host Hull Collegiate.
Moving south there is a great looking clash between Bishop Stortford’s High School and St George’s Harpenden, while Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School make the trip to Lawrence Sheriff. Meanwhile in London Gravesend Grammar School host Maidstone Grammar School.
Friday
There is just the one game on Friday but it should be a fantastic game under the lights at Blackheath RFC as Colfe’s take on Bradford Grammar School, who are playing under Friday night light for the second week running. They might have lost in freezing conditions to Woodhouse Grove last weekend, but they will be determined to make up for that on Friday and end the term on a huge high.
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 Weekend Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Saturday
Audenshaw v Wilmslow HS
Bishop Stortford’s HS v St George’s, Harpenden
Calday Grange GS v Kirkham GS 2nd XV – Cancelled
Gravesend GS v Maidstone GS
Hymers College v Hull Collegiate
Kelvinside Academy v Wellington, Ayr – Cancelled
Lawrence Sheriff v Bishop Vesey’s GS
Manchester GS v St Ambrose College – Cancelled
Wimbledon College v Campion
Friday
Bradford GS v Colfe’s
