Alongside the U18 semi finals this week are the U15 semi finals in the Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl.
The Cup and Vase semi finals will take place at Saracens’ Allianz Park on Sunday, while the Plate and Bowl semi finals are taking place, weather permitting, throughout the week at the various host schools and local grounds.
Winners of the Cup and Vase semi finals will travel to Twickenham Stadium on Wednesday 14th March for the Finals, while those winning the Plate and Bowl semi finals will travel to Sixways Stadium, the home of Worcester Warriors, for their semi finals on Tuesday 13th March.
One game has already taken place as Brighton College secured their place at Sixways in the U15 Plate Final after beating Chosen Hill at Chosen Hill Old Boys RFC on Tuesday afternoon
U15 Schools Cup Semi Finals:
Manchester Grammar School v Warwick (Sunday 4th March, 2pm, Allianz Park)
At U18 level Warwick and Whitgift meet at the semi final stage, at U15 level they are kept apart. Warwick, U15 champions in 2013 and 2014, have squeaked through by the skin of their teeth, progressing as the away side after a 15-15 draw at Northampton School for Boys in their quarter final. Time and time again though, Warwick have shown their class in this competition, as well as their ability to be inspired by those close results. Manchester Grammar have some superb results under their belts too though, not least in beating the 2016 champions, Sedbergh, 17-13 in the last 16. A top game of Cup rugby awaits us.
Whitgift v Hampton (Sunday 4th March, 3.45pm, Allianz Park)
If anything, this could be an even better game. Whitgift have been in stunning form, not least in their brilliant 62-12 win over St Joseph’s College in the quarters, they have also shown their ability to dig deep in a close 27-24 win over Hurstpierpoint College. Hampton have some huge scalps to their name. They knocked out reigning champions Wellington College in a thriller, 30-29, back in Round 2, and they knocked out another giant in Millfield at the quarter final stage. A classic potentially awaits.
Routes to the Semi Finals
Manchester GS (North B)
19-12 v Woodhouse Grove – Quarter Final
17-13 v Sedbergh – Last 16
17-12 v King’s Macclesfield – Round 4
12-3 v Stockport GS – Round 3
10-3 v St Ambrose College – Round 2
60-19 v Cheadle Hulme – Round 1
Warwick (Midlands B)
15-15 v Northampton School for Boys – Quarter Final
26-19 v Loughborough GS – Last 16
15-12 v Bromsgrove – Round 4
17-7 v Malvern College – Round 3
21-5 v KES Stratford – Round 2
50-0 v Lawrence Sherriff
Whitgift (London & South East B)
62-12 v St Joseph’s College – Quarter Final
27-24 v Hurstpierpoint College – Last 16
19-10 v Trinity – Round 4
45-8 v Howard of Effingham – Round 3
w/o v Epsom College – Round 2
60-7 v Caterham – Round 1
Hampton (South West B)
22-5 v Millfield – Quarter Final
36-5 v Marlborough College – Last 16
51-7 v KES Southampton – Round 4
26-0 v Sherborne – Round 3
30-29 v Wellington College – Round 2
48-7 v Forrest – Round 1
U15 Schools Plate Semi Finals:
St Anselm’s College v Dr Challoner’s (Friday 2nd March, 12pm, Aylesbury RFC)
These two now know that it will be Brighton College that they would face in the final at Sixways Stadium in the final should they get there. St Anselm’s have impressed, not least in a 38-7 win over Ampleforth College in the quarter final, however Dr Challoner’s have been flying. They are yet to score less than 44 points, and have done so against some top sides, including Oundle and King’s Worcester. They will take some stopping.
Chosen Hill 3-22 Brighton College (Tuesday 27th February)
Brighton College became the first U15 side to reach the final after their 22-3 win at Chosen Hill on Tuesday, despite the wintry conditions. With winners over the likes of Watford Grammar, Eltham College, Maidstone Grammar, Christ’s Hospital, and Trinity under their belts now, they will be really looking forward to Sixways as they look to add to some of the spectacular achievements of their senior sides.
Routes to the Semi Finals
St Anselm’s College (North B)
38-7 v Ampleforth College – Quarter Finals
31-0 v Merchant Taylors’ – Last 16
17-7 v Bridgwater – Round 3
34-24 v Liverpool College – Round 2
Bye – Round 1
Dr Challoner’s (Midlands A)
44-17 v King’s Worcester – Quarter Finals
52-7 v Oundle – Last 16
59-7 v Norwick – Round 3
46-10 v St Columba’s College – Round 2
Bye – Round 1
Chosen Hill (South West A)
25-20 v Churcher’s College – Quarter Final
52-17 v Mount Kelly – Last 16
31-15 v QEH – Round 3
50-0 v Farmor’s – Round 2
Bye – Round 1
Brighton College (London & South East B)
24-19 v Watford GS – Quarter Final
14-5 v Eltham College – Last 16
45-7 v Maidstone GS – Round 3
37-10 v Christ’s Hospital – Round 2
62-12 v Trinity – Round 1
U15 Schools Vase Semi Finals:
QEGS Penrith v Kenilworth (Sunday 4th March, 10.30am, Allianz Park)
The first of Sunday’s semi finals looks to be a cracker of a game. A single conversion saw QEGS Penrith into these semi finals at the expense of Pocklington, but in getting here they have been blowing sides away. Kenilworth have looked very consistent, starting with a coupe of highly impressive big wins before a run of consistent and deserved wins, setting us up for a good start on Sunday.
London Oratory v Beechen Cliff (Sunday 4th March, 12.15pm, Allianz Park)
Beechen Cliff have perhaps been the pick of the bunch in the Vase, having only conceded more than one try in a game once, and that only happened in their quarter final when they conceded two to Uffculme in a 34-12 win. They look utterly formidable. London Oratory will not be afraid of that though, they might not have progressed in such swashbuckling style, but they have come through with real determination, coming through incredibly tight games in the last two fixtures to demonstrate their mental strength.
Routes to the Semi Finals
QEGS Penrith (North A)
7-5 v Pocklington – Quarter Final
w/o v Knutsford – Last 16
35-12 v Priesthall – Round 4
45-0 v Giggleswick – Round 3
50-0 v Netherhall – Round 2
50-10 v QES – Round 1
Kenilworth (Midlands A)
26-12 v Richard Hale – Quarter Final
w/o v Fairfax – Last 16
35-24 v Dene Magna – Round 4
29-15 v Pate’s GS – Round 3
57-7 v Tewkesbury – Round 2
61-5 v Prince Henry’s HS – Round 1
London Oratory (London & South East A)
29-26 v Woodlands – Quarter Final
17-15 v King’s Worcester – Last 16
55-5 v Isleworth & Syon – Round 4
19-7 v The Weald – Round 3
24-7 v Glyn – Round 2
64-0 v Richard Challoner – Round 1
Beechen Cliff (South West B)
34-12 v Uffculme – Quarter Final
20-5 v Backwell – Last 16
52-0 v Sir William Borlase’s – Round 4
57-7 v John Hanson – Round 3
52-7 v Norton Hill – Round 2
Bye – Round 1
U15 Schools Bowl Semi Finals:
Emmanuel College v Saffron Walden (Friday 2nd March, 2.15pm)
Friday’s semi final at Emmanuel College sees the hosts surely hoping to continue the flying form that they have shown throughout this competition. In three out of four games they have scored over fifty points, while in the one game where they have had to really dig in, the quarter final against Wilmslow High School, they really did so, squeaking it 22-20. Saffron Walden have been impressive too though, going through the rounds in impressive fashion, not least in a 50-0 last 16 win over Henry Floyd.
Worth v Penryn College (Friday 2nd March, 1.30pm, Penryn RFC)
This semi final also takes place on Friday, so by the close of play on Friday we will know the U15 Bowl finalists. Worth will host, they have come though a challenge in their 15-14 win over Hall Mead, but have also shown their points scoring ability elsewhere, suggesting they can do well in all situations. Penryn, meanwhile, have absolutely flown through, though with two byes they have only actually had to play three times. Again though, this looks like an excellent semi final.
Routes to the Semi Finals
Emmanuel College (North B)
22-20 v Wilmslow HS – Quarter Final
60-5 v Priory Academy – Last 16
w/o v De Lisle – Round 3
57-10 v St George’s Academy – Round 2
59-24 v Wath – Round 1
Saffron Walden (Midlands B)
44-22 v Severn Vale – Quarter Final
50-0 v Henry Floyd – Last 16
24-0 v KEGS Chelmsford – Round 3
27-0 v Knights Templar – Round 2
17-5 v St Edmund’s College – Round 1
Worth (London & South East B)
29-10 v Rodborough – Quarter Final
15-14 v Hall Mead – Last 16
48-33 v Tunbridge Wells – Round 3
29-19 v Shoreham Academy – Round 2
35-12 v St Bede’s – Round 1
Penryn College (South West A)
31-7 v Malmesbury – Quarter Final
41-0 Brymore – Last 16
w/o v Exmouth – Round 3
62-14 v Penrice – Round 2
Bye – Round 1
