This term’s school rugby really kicked off this weekend with a full set of fixtures across the country.
Some big teams went head to head, and though there were players missing due to U18 Academy League and ISRFC Lambs fixtures, the quality was high.
Five to Watch
We picked out five fixtures to watch over the weekend, and they certainly did not disappoint. Merchiston Castle put in a fantastic display to secure a win over another over the top rugby schools in Scotland, Dollar Academy, 57-5.
There was another important win for a Scottish side on Saturday as Stewart’s Melville travelled down to RGS Newcastle and secured their second win over them of the season, winning 26-3.
Sir Thomas Rich’s enjoyed a fantastic win over Millfield in midweek, but their efforts there perhaps took too much out of them as they fell to a strong Solihull side on Saturday, 27-17.
Schools Cup champions Warwick, who are in the semi finals again this year, showed kept their form up despite missing a number of players to Worcester Warriors U18 action, with a 15-7 win at home to John Fisher.
Warwick’s opponents in that Schools Cup semi final will be Whitgift, and the Croydon men showed just why with a sensational 78-7 win over St Benedict’s, a result that will fill them with huge confidence as they build up to that semi final.
Around the Grounds
There was plenty of exciting rugby elsewhere, not least a triangular between Brighton College, Millfield, and Portsmouth Grammar School. The three played 10-a-side in preparation for the 7s season ahead, scores were not kept, with the focus on development, but the quality and excitement of the rugby on show was outstanding.
Elsewhere there were big wins for Hampton and St Joseph’s College, with Hampton beating Glyn 50-0 and St Joseph’s beating Coopers Coborn 50-0 as well.
Manchester Grammar were similarly impressive, with a 45-0 win over Audenshaw, and Hymers College were 43-7 winners over Rodillian Academy. Bishop Vesey’s, meanwhile, were the dominant side in a triangular with Abraham Darby and King Henry VIII Coventry, winning 36-0 and 50-0 respectively.
Elsewhere though there were plenty of close games, including a narrow 10-7 win for Woodhouse Grove over Mount St Mary’s and an impressive 14-12 effort from Skinners’ over Campion. RGS Lancaster meanwhile were 17-14 winners over Queen Ethelburga’s.
King’s Macclesfield were in fine form for there 12-0 win at St Ambrose College, while KES Stratford were 28-18 victors at Bablake, and Brentwood secured a 24-12 win over the Campion 3rd XV.
Judd, so impressive over the last couple of years, continued that fine streak with a superb 41-12 win at Chislehurst & Sidcup. Meanwhile back in Scotland St Aloysius’ College were 36-15 winners at Glasgow Academy.
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 Results – Saturday 13th January:
Five to Watch
Dollar Academy 5-57 Merchiston Castle
RGS Newcastle 3-26 Stewart’s Melville
Sir Thomas Rich’s 17-27 Solihull
Warwick 15-7 John Fisher
Whitgift 78-7 St Benedict’s
Saturday
Bablake 18-28 KES Stratford
Bishop Vesey’s GS 36-0 Abraham Darby, 50-0 King Henry VIII, Coventry
Brentwood 24-12 Campion 3rd XV
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 12-41 Judd
Glasgow Academy 15-36 St Aloysius’ College
Glyn 0-50 Hampton
Hymers College 43-7 Rodillian Academy
Manchester GS 45-0 Audenshaw
Portsmouth Grammar v Brighton College v Millfield (triangular, scores not recorded)
Queen Ethelburga’s 14-17 RGS Lancaster
Skinners’ 14-12 Campion
St Ambrose College 0-12 King’s Macclesfield
St Joseph’s College 50-0 Coopers’ Coborn
Woodhouse Grove 10-7 Mount St Mary’s
