After a brilliant week of Champions Trophy quarter final action, the semi final draw was made last Friday.
It was confirmed that after their 15-7 defeat of St Paul’s last Wednesday, Bristol Grammar School would host Wellington College, who beat Berkhamsted 50-24 last Tuesday.
Hurstpierpoint College, who beat Hampton 34-22, will host the other semi final. They welcome Epsom College, who won their local derby quarter final against St John’s Leatherhead 27-14 last Tuesday.
The final takes place on Wednesday 5th December at Saracens’ Allianz Park, while these semi finals are due to take place on the week of Monday 19th November.
In the lead up to those semi finals we will preview both games, for now here’s a look back on how their respective quarter finals went.
Semi Final 1 – Bristol Grammar School v Wellington College – Tuesday 20th November, 2.30pm
Bristol Grammar School 15-7 St Paul’s
These two had been ticking along nicely all season and had performed well in previous rounds, Bristol Grammar beating Eton and Bryanston, while St Paul’s won a tight one at Oakham after a first round bye. In dire weather conditions St Paul’s took a 7-0 lead into half time, but Bristol kept plugging away and earned their just rewards early in the second half when a thumping 40m drop goal (a dying art it seems) and a converted try sent them to a 10-7 lead. The game remained incredibly tight, but with ten minutes left to play Bristol Grammar scored their second try, giving them the 15-7 lead that they would hold to the end of game, sending them into the semi finals.
Berkhamsted 24-50 Wellington College
Wellington have been looking formidable all year and their last 16 victory over RGS Guildford should’ve acted as a warning shot to all in this tournament at 47-0. This was no easy victory though, Berkhamsted gave as good as they got and were within 7 points at half time. However a three try blitz at the start of the second half gave Wellington a near-unassailable lead, before an interception score with Berkhamsted on the attack killed the game. It was a lesson in clinical play at the start of the second half from Wellington, the sort of blitz that few can match and that if they continue to repeat will make them very difficult to stop in the closing stages of this competition.
Semi Final 2 – Hurstpierpoint College v Epsom College – Thursday 22nd November, 2.15pm
Hurstpierpoint College 34-22 Hampton
Hurstpierpoint College have made a bit of a habit of taking some major scalps this season, including in this competition, where they knocked out former champions Bedford. Hampton have their own champion scalp though, last round they knocked out the reigning champions Dulwich College with a match winning try in the last play of the game. This one turned out to be another tension ridden fixture, Hurstpierpoint College raced out to a 17-0 lead and though Hampton scored, the hosts took a 20-5 lead into the half time break thanks to a penalty. Hampton scored first in the second half, but two quick scores from Hurstpierpoint took them to a 34-10 lead. It seemed like game over, but this Hampton side does not lie down. Two tries closed things to 34-22, but those early scores from Hurstpierpoint were just too much to overcome for the visitors. It was a magnificent victory for Hurstpierpoint, and with the confidence they now have they will see absolutely no reason why they could not go on and win this tournament.
St John’s, Leatherhead 14-27 Epsom College
With these two being local rivals, just a handful of miles apart, and St John’s semi finalists last year with Epsom perennial strong finishers in this tournament, this was probably the most hotly anticipated of the 4 quarter finals. It more than lived up to it, Epsom College took a 13-0 lead into half time and extended that out to 20-0. Knowing their strength, that seemed like the death knell on the game as a competition, but that ignores the resolve that this St John’s side has, and two quick scores suddenly opening the game up again as the host closed to 14-20. Epsom showed their class though, scoring again to close the game out at 27-14, and they will be a tough side to stop in these final stages of the competition.
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Champions Trophy Semi Final Fixtures:
Bristol Grammar School v Wellington College (Tuesday 20th November, 2.30pm)
Hurstpierpoint College v Epsom College (Thursday 22nd November, 2.15pm)
Champions Trophy Final – Wednesday 5th December, Allianz Park
Champions Trophy Quarter Final Results:
Berkhamsted 24-50 Wellington College
Bristol GS 15-7 St Paul’s
Hurstpierpoint College 34-22 Hampton
St John’s, Leatherhead 14-27 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
