With the school term winding down and most of the rugby already played, there were just a handful of fixtures in midweek.
Nevertheless, though there was not a huge amount of rugby, there was still some very important rugby and some highly exciting games.
The two key fixtures came on Wednesday, the final two U18 Schools Vase quarter finals, the last quarter finals across all of the national U18 knockouts.
Ripon Grammar School, the North B champions after their tight win over Worksop College were on good form once again on Wednesday, beating Sir William Borlase’s, winner in South West B, 25-17. That sends them through to the semi finals, where they will face Wirral Grammar School, who knocked out one of the favourites in their quarter final, Reed’s.
In the other remaining quarter final things were unbelievably tight. Midlands A champions King’s Worcester travelled to Dauntsey’s, who had come through South West A. An incredibly tense and close game unfolded, with just a penalty separated the sides as Dauntsey’s just clinched it, 8-5. They now move on to the semi finals on the 3rd March, where they will face Langley, who have perhaps been the form team in this competition to date.
Australian tourists King’s Parramatta were in action twice this week, enjoying a stunning 52-0 win over Sir Thomas Rich’s on Monday before a very impressive 31-10 win over Schools Cup quarter finalists Bishop Wordsworth’s.
On Tuesday St Lawrence College were 36-12 winners over Dover Grammar, while on Wednesday there were good wins for Gordon’s, Magdalen College, and Ripley St Thomas.
Hayes’ remarkable season closed with another excellent win, 47-14 away at Simon Langton. Sutton Valence have also been on fire this year, and they picked up an excellent 29-5 win at home to Emanuel. Judd meanwhile signed off with a solid 14-7 win away at Trinity.
There were a couple of massive games on Thursday afternoon. In some wet a wild conditions, Eton College adapted best to pick up a solid 22-7 win over Berkhamsted that will see them finish in a Top 25 position in the Daily Mail Trophy, while Rugby signed off in style with a fantastic 31-17 win over Bristol Grammar School.
The season closes this weekend with a handful of fixtures, assuming the weather allows, you can see our preview of those games here: Schools Rugby Weekend Preview, Saturday 16th December.
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:
Monday
Sir Thomas Rich’s 0-52 King’s Parramatta (AUS)
Tuesday
St Lawrence College 36-12 Dover GS
Wednesday
Bishop Wordsworth’s 10-31 King’s Parramatta (AUS)
Dauntsey’s 8-5 King’s Worcester (Schools Vase QF)
Gordon’s 17-12 Royal Alexandra & Albert
Reading Blue Coat 7-27 Magdalen College
Ripon GS 25-17 Sir William Borlase’s (Schools Vase QF)
Rossall 5-27 Ripley St Thomas
Simon Langton GS 14-47 Hayes
Sutton Valence 29-5 Emanuel
Trinity 7-14 Judd
Thursday
Eton College 22-7 Berkhamsted
Rugby 31-17 Bristol GS
Still to Come:
Bishop Vesey’s GS v KES Five Ways
Gravesend GS v King’s Rochester
John Fisher v Carshalton
Steyning GS v Worthing College
