After a brilliant week of Champions Trophy action, the quarter final draw last made at lunchtime on Friday.
Some huge names were knocked out in the week’s last 16 games, including the reigning champions, Dulwich College, and 2015 champions, Bedford. Meaning that we are guaranteed a brand new winner of the competition this year, which means that this ultra-competitive competition will continue to have a new winner every single year.
Quarter Final Draw:
Berkhamsted v Wellington College
A massive game, Berkhamsted are having a cracking season and have probably been the most dominant side so far in these first two rounds. Wellington College will be a different kettle of fish though, the strongest side they have faced in or our of this competition this year. The atmosphere will be electric!
Last 16 Summaries:
Berkhamsted 63-14 Kingswood
Smooth progress into the quarter finals for Berkhamsted, who enjoyed one of the performances of the round against Haileybury in Round 1 and look to have repeated the trick in some style on Tuesday against Kingswood. They are fast becoming a top top schools rugby side.
Wellington College 47-0 RGS Guildford
Wellington College got a hard time last year for fielding a second XV, but they treated the tournament with plenty of respect this year, fielding a strong side mixed with some emerging players. A brilliant first half saw them take a 26-0 lead into the break, with some excellent tries thrown into the mix. RGS rallied in the second half, after what looked like an impressive player-led team talk. Those the points did not come, they frustrated Wellington College into giving away a few penalties, and only conceded once in the opening twenty minutes. The final fifteen minutes though saw tiredness and frustration creep in, and this outstanding Wellington College side pounced to score three quick tries to take the score out to 47-0, a platform from which they will surely look to build into a real tilt at this title.
Bristol Grammar School v St Paul’s
Bristol Grammar School are flying the flag for everyone outside of the South East now, so it feels rather fitting that they are hosting this one and ensuring that the competition remains ‘national’. They have enjoyed two strong wins so far but this quarter final will be a step up again against a St Paul’s side that showed unbelievable resilience to come form behind against Oakham on Thursday.
Last 16 Summaries:
Bryanston 17-46 Bristol Grammar
Bryanston could not repeat their thrilling first round over Monmouth, instead it was Bristol Grammar School thoroughly impressing for the second round running, having beaten Eton College in the opening round and now putting in a sterling display against Bryanston to reach the quarter finals.
Oakham 20-22 St Paul’s
St Paul’s have been building and building this season, an on Thursday afternoon they did so again to knock out one of this competition’s most consistent teams, Oakham. The hosts led going into the half time break, but St Paul’s dug deep to turn the score around, earning a highly impressive 22-20 victory at a ground that few sides come away from with a victory.
Hurstpierpoint College v Hampton
Two sides that both took down champions in the last round and will have genuine designs on going all the way here. Hurstpierpoint beat Bedford on Wednesday and are building and building this season to the point where they have to be considered among the contenders. Hampton are a tough side to draw though, they beat Dulwich in the last play on Wednesday to make the quarters and are surely one of the favourites for the tournament now.
Last 16 Summaries:
Bedford 11-26 Hurstpierpoint College
Bedford might be former Champions, in 2015, and runners up a year later, but Hurstpierpoint went into this one as a real form horse in the schools rugby world having already claimed a major scalp in the form of Tonbridge and run the likes of Cranleigh and Brighton College very close indeed. Their quality was on evidence in the late afternoon sunshine in Bedford on Wednesday too as they sealed an impressive 26-11 win and a first ever quarter-final spot.
Hampton 25-22 Dulwich College
Schools rugby really does not get much better than this. The Champions Trophy has become known for serious quality and high-drama, but this might just take all of that to a new level. Reigning champions Dulwich College led 21-18 with about ten minutes remaining. It looked as though Hampton might score to go ahead or level but Dulwich continually repelled and repelled them. Finally though, with the clock deep in the red, Hampton worked their way upfield and secured a lineout around 15 metres out. They set it up and then bursting through the middle came their Head Boy, JT, who crashed over the line, sparking huge celebration and sending his side into the quarter finals in sensational style. A finish to match the game, a wonderful spectacle for all.
St John’s Leatherhead v Epsom College
A massive local derby here, the two meet again in December and Epsom won last year’s game by just 6 points – expect another close game in this huge quarter final. St John’s came through a really tough test against Blundell’s in the last 16 and showed a togetherness and defensive spirit that was breathtaking at times. They will need that again against Epsom, who are once again a really top side this year, but so will Epsom. They know they can score points and they were wonderful in defeat of Grammar School at Leeds, but they know they will need to be sharp to keep out St John’s.
Last 16 Summaries:
Epsom College 38-5 Grammar School at Leeds
Two former finalists but Epsom were the form pick heading into this one and that told through in the end as the 2015 runners up picked up a strong 38-5 win. Can they go one better than 2015 this year? Great spirit and sportsmanship from both sides on social media after this one.
St John’s Leatherhead 20-5 Blundell’s
We had a feeling this might be the tie of the round, and so it proved. A hugely intense game unfolded, with Blundell’s taking a 5-0 lead and looking strong. St John’s were truly outstanding in defence though, and then as they settled down they began to put the squeeze on in attack, creating long periods of pressure. They scored twice before half time to lead 10-5, before a brilliant second half yielded two further scores for a 20-5 win in a brutal yet superb game of rugby. An awesome match.
Champions Trophy Quarter Final Draw:
Berkhamsted v Wellington College
Bristol Grammar School v St Paul’s
Hurstpierpoint College v Hampton
St John’s Leatherhead v Epsom College
Champions Trophy Last 16 Results:
Bedford 11-26 Hurstpierpoint College
Berkhamsted 63-14 Kingswood
Bryanston 17-46 Bristol Grammar School
Epsom College 38-5 Grammar School at Leeds
Hampton 25-22 Dulwich College
Oakham 20-22 St Paul’s
St John’s Leatherhead 20-5 Blundell’s
Wellington College 47-0 RGS Guildford
Champions Trophy Round 1 Results:
Berkhamsted 39-12 Haileybury
Bristol Grammar 33-10 Eton College
Eastbourne College 7-24 Hurstpierpoint College
Hampton 57-10 St Albans
Monmouth 23-24 Bryanston
Oakham 36-19 Stowe
Tonbridge 22-33 RGS Guildford
Byes
Bedford, Blundell’s, Dulwich College, Epsom College, Grammar School at Leeds, Kingswood, St John’s Leatherhead, St Paul’s, Wellington College
Extra images via Sue Livingstone-Learmonth & St Paul’s School.
