It is the Last 16 round of the U18 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl this week and it looks as though it will be a fantastic week of action.
Each of the four national competitions is split into eight regions. From the first round to the last 16, games are played on a knockout basis within those eight regions – North A, North B, Midlands A, Midlands B, London & South East A, London & South East B, South West A, and South West B.
This effectively makes the last 16 the regional finals, as after the last 16 we have one winning side from each of the eight regions. These eight sides are then put into the hat and drawn nationally for the quarter finals meaning that, for instance, the winner of North A could meet the winner of South West B in the quarter finals.
U18 Schools Cup Last 16 Fixtures:
North A
Wilmslow HS v Wirral Grammar – Wednesday
North B
RGS Newcastle v Woodhouse Grove – Wednesday
Midlands A
Norwich v Rugby – Thursday
Midlands B
Warwick v Uppingham – Saturday
London & South East A
Campion v Whitgift – Date TBA
London & South East B
Seaford College v Wimbledon College – Saturday
South West A
Ivybridge v Portsmouth Grammar – Wednesday 28th
South West B
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Dean Close (Round 3, winner plays Marlborough) – Wednesday 28th
The Schools Cup Regional finals are looking very exciting. Wirral Grammar School are enjoying an unbeaten season, but a trip to Wimslow High School is never easy up in North A, they have a great track record in this competition. RGS Newcastle v Woodhouse Grove is arguably the tie of the round, unbeaten Woodhouse Grove traveling to St Joseph’s Festival winners RGS. It is a battle between two of the top teams in the country and the winner will fancy they could have a real shot at going all the way.
The two Midlands sections start a little later, Midlands A takes place on Thursday with the excellent unbeaten Norwich host a Rugby School side who were unbeaten until Saturday, when an inspired Stamford managed to beat them. Regardless, this looks like a top class fixture. The back to back champions, Warwick, are in action on Saturday at home to Uppingham, who are looking handy themselves. Warwick are a class act though and will take some serious stopping.
In London & South East A two former champions go head to head, Campion and Whitgift, though the date is yet to be confirmed. Whitgift look exceptional this year and will be among the tournament favourites, but Campion always compete unbelievably hard and love nothing more than a win against the odds. London & South East B’s regional final is another Saturday game as Seaford College, who are in stunning form, host a Wimbledon College side in pretty handy nick themselves and full of confidence after beating neighbours KCS last round.
In the South West A section a couple of dark horses meet on Wednesday 28th as Ivybridge Community College host Portsmouth Grammar School. Both have somewhat crept under the radar, but expect a blockbuster next week. South West B meanwhile is on a bit of catch up, Sir Thomas Rich’s host Dean Close in round 3 on Wednesday 28th, with the winner hosting Marlborough College in the last 16.
U18 Schools Plate Last 16 Fixtures:
North A
Cheadle Hulme v Merchant Taylors’ – Wednesday
North B
Yarm v Hymers College – Wednesday
Midlands A
Langley v Bloxham – Wednesday 28th
Midlands B
Old Swinford Hospital v Trent College – Wednesday 28th
London & South East A
Seevic v Skinners’ – Wednesday
London & South East B
Christ’s Hospital v London Oratory – Tuesday
South West A
Exeter v Sherborne – Wednesday
South West B
St Peter’s Gloucester v Abingdon (Round2, winner plays Cokethorpe) – Wednesday
North A and North B’s regional finals both take place on Wednesday, Cheadle Hulme hosting Merchant Taylors’ in North A, and Hymers College travelling to Yarm in North B.
Midlands A’s regional final pits arguably the two favourites head to head as Langley host Bloxham, we have to wait a week for that though, it is on Wednesday 28th. As is the Midlands B game, Old Swinford Hospital hosting Trent College.
London & South East A sees the ever tricky Skinners’ travel to Seevic on Wednesday, while London & South East B looks good, Christ’s Hospital hosting London Oratory on Tuesday.
Two strong sides meet in the South West A regional final as Exeter host Sherborne on Wednesday, meanwhile in South West B things are a little behind. Wednesday sees St Peter’s Gloucester and Abingdon meet in the second round, with the winner playing Cokethorpe in the last 16.
U18 Schools Vase Last 16 Fixtures:
North A
Newcastle SfB v Ashville College – Wednesday
North B
Worksop College v Austin Friars – Wednesday
Midlands A
Samuel Whitbread v Aylesbury Grammar – Thursday
Midlands B
KES Stratford v Bishop Vesey’s Grammar – Date TBA
London & South East A
St Benedict’s v St George’s College – Wednesday
London & South East B
Dartford Grammar v Hayes – Wednesday
South West A
Plymouth College v Dauntsey’s – Date TBA
South West B
The Crypt v The Oratory – Wednesday
Newcastle School for Boys v Ashville College in North A takes place on Wednesday with Worksop College v Austin Friars in North B also taking place on Wednesday. Meanwhile on Thursday in Midlands A Samuel Whitbread host Aylesbury Grammar, while KES Stratford v Bishop Vesey’s in Midlands B is still to be confirmed.
St Benedict’s v St George’s College Weybridge, who won last year’s Bowl, looks a massive clash in London & South East A. It takes place on Wednesday, as does Dartford Grammar v unbeaten Hayes in London & South East B. South West A meanwhile sees Plymouth College host Dauntsey’s but the date is as yet unconfirmed, while on Wednesday in South West B The Crypt host The Oratory.
U18 Schools Bowl Last 16 Fixtures:
North A
Ampleforth College v Prince Henry’s Grammar – Wednesday 28th
North B
Lady Manners v King William’s College – Date TBA
Midlands A
Hitchin v Robert Smyth – Wednesday 28th
Midlands B
King’s Worcester v St Joseph’s College, Stoke – Date TBA
London & South East A
Watford Grammar v Glyn – Wednesday
London & South East B
Chatham & Clarendon 7-29 Ravens Wood – Tuesday
South West A
Frome v Sheldon (Round 3, winner plays Mount Kelly) Date TBA
South West B
Wycliffe College v St Bartholomew’s – Date TBA
Wednesday 28th is the date for the North A clash between Ampleforth College and Prince Henry’s. Lady Manners and King William’s College are yet to set a date in North B. Wednesday 28th is also the date for Hitchin v Robert Smyth in Midlands A, but Midlands B is as yet unconfirmed, with King’s Worcester hosting St Joseph’s College, Stoke.
This Wednesday will see Watford Grammar host Glyn in London & South East A, while in London & South East B Chatham & Clarendon hosted Ravens Wood on Tuesday, Ravens Wood winning 29-7 to secure their quarter final spot. Frome and Sheldon are still yet to play their third round game in South West A but the winner will travel to Mount Kelly for the regional final, while in South West B the final is Wycliffe College v St Bartholomew’s, but a date is yet to be set.
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