After some brilliant rugby this week the U18 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl quarter finals were drawn on Friday lunchtime.
A number of last 16 games are still due to be played, but already there is a huge amount of excitement building for these quarter finals, with some huge match ups confirmed. In a break from previous years, this year the quarter final draw was split North/Midlands and London & South East/South West, presumably to aid travel pains, though it does take away from the ‘national’ element of the competition.
Schools Cup
Warwick/Uppingham (Midlands B) v Rugby (Midlands A)
Back to back champions Warwick are hosting Uppingham in the Midlands B regional final on Saturday afternoon, and after today’s draw the winner will have a tough home tie against Rugby School. Rugby progressed to the quarters after a thrilling Regional Final against Norwich on Thursday afternoon, down 29-28 in the final seconds of the game, Jack Hughes stepped up to slot a nerve-wracking penalty for a 31-29 victory and a place in these quarter finals.
Wirral Grammar (North A) v Woodhouse Grove (North B)
Both sides are unbeaten this year and should set us up for a great quarter final, Wirral beat Cup stalwarts Wilmslow High School 12-9 this week to reach the quarter finals, while Woodhouse Grove beat the St Joseph’s Festival champions 21-13 to reach their first ever quarter final. Both have every chance of making it all the way to Twickenham, indeed Woodhouse Grove, the Plate holders, are seen as one of the main title contenders at this stage.
Campion/Whitgift (London & South East A) v Ivybridge/Portsmouth Grammar (South West A)
Campion and Whitgift meet on Thursday in a battle of the former champions, with Whitgift considered among the favourites in the competition overall at the moment. The winner will host either Ivybridge Community College or Portsmouth Grammar in the quarter finals, both could be considered dark horses, not least Ivybridge who have had some strong runs at U15 level in recent times – always a sign of a strong U18 run, they meet on Wednesday in what promises to be a cracker.
Seaford College/Wimbledon College (London & South East B) v Sir Thomas Rich’s/Dean Close/Marlborough College (South West B)
The last of the quarter finals is a little complex. The winner of Saturday’s London & South East B Regional Final between Seaford and Wimbledon, which should be an absolutely brilliant game as both are in red hot form, will be the home side but the away side is a long way form being decided. Sir Thomas Rich’s and Dean Close meet in the round 3 fixture in South West B on Wednesday, the winner of that game will then face Marlborough College in the regional final, with the winner of that game emerging as the South West B quarter finalist.
Schools Plate
Hymers College (North B) v Old Swinford Hospital/Trent College (Midlands B)
It’s a North v Midlands clash in the Plate, with Hymers College, who beat Yarm 27-8 in the North B regional final hosting either Old Swinford Hospital or Trent College from Midlands B, they meet on Wednesday.
Cheadle Hulme (North A) v Langley/Bloxham (Midlands A)
Cheadle Hulme represent the North A group after their 32-8 Regional Final victory over Merchant Taylors’ in midweek, they face a tough quarter final tie against either the Vase holders, Langley, or a seriously strong Bloxham side. Those two meet in the Midlands A final on Wednesday.
Sherborne (South West A) v Skinners’ (London & South East A)
The only fully known Plate quarter final sees South West A winners Sherborne host London & South East A victors, Skinners’. Sherborne won their section with a 29-14 victory at Exeter, while Skinners’ were in flying form at Seevic for a 42-12 regional final victory.
Abingdon/Cokethorpe (South West B) v Christ’s Hospital (London & South East B)
Abingdon won 38-18 at St Peter’s Gloucester in midweek to set up a South West B regional final against Cokethorpe. The winner of that will be hosting London & South East B champs Christ’s Hospital in the quarter final after they defeated London Oratory in style in their regional final, 56-10.
Schools Vase
Samuel Whitbread (Midlands A) v Newcastle School for Boys (North A)
After a strong 20-7 victory in the Midlands A Regional Final against Aylesbury Grammar, Samuel Whitbread will host North A regional champions Newcastle School for Boys. They beat Ashville College 34-24 in that regional final.
Worksop College (North B) v KES Stratford/Bishop Vesey’s Grammar (Midlands B)
North B regional champions Worksop College are the hosts in this one, they beat Austin Friars 44-14 in the Regional Final earlier in the week. They host either KES Stratford or Bishop Vesey’s Grammar, who play the Midlands B regional final on Wednesday.
Hayes (London & South East B) v St George’s College (London & South East A)
Hayes won the London & South East B Regional Final 24-13 at Dartford Grammar earlier in the week, their reward is a home tie against the current Bowl holders, St George’s College, Weybridge. St George’s came through a thrilling London & South East A regional final, beating St Benedict’s 28-20 in midweek.
Dauntsey’s (South West A) v The Oratory (South West B)
South West A champions, Dauntsey’s, get a first home tie of the competition. They beat Plymouth College 17-8 in the regional final. The Oratory are the visitors, they won the South West B regional final in style, beating The Crypt 34-5 away from home.
Schools Bowl
King’s Worcester (Midlands B) v Lady Manners (North B)
King’s Worcester won the Midlands B Regional Final in style this week, beating St Joseph’s College Stoke 58-15. They will host this quarter final, taking on the North B champions, Lady Manners, who defeated King William’s College 24-12 in the Regional Final.
Hitchin/Robert Smyth (Midlands A) v Ampleforth College/Prince Henry’s Grammar (North A)
Hitchin and Robert Smyth meet in the Midlands A Regional Final on Wednesday, and they will face the winner of the North A regional final between Ampleforth College and Prince Henry’s Grammar School, which also takes place on Wednesday.
Wycliffe College v St Bartholomew’s (South West B) v Glyn (London & South East A)
The South West B regional final sees Wycliffe College host St Bartholomew’s on Wednesday, and the winner will welcome the London & South East A champions, Glyn, for this quarter final. Glyn defeated Watford Grammar 34-15 in their Regional Final.
Ravens Wood (London & South East B) v Mount Kelly/Sheldon (South West A)
Ravens Wood secured the London & South East B quarter final berth with a 29-7 victory at Chatham & Clarendon. Their reward is a home quart final against either Mount Kelly or Sheldon, who play their South West A regional final on Tuesday.
Image via Simon Tasker
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U18 Schools Cup Quarter Final Draw:
Warwick/Uppingham (Midlands B) v Rugby (Midlands A)
Wirral Grammar (North A) v Woodhouse Grove (North B)
Campion/Whitgift (London & South East A) v Ivybridge/Portsmouth Grammar (South West A)
Seaford College/Wimbledon College (London & South East B) v Sir Thomas Rich’s/Dean Close/Marlborough College (South West B)
U18 Schools Cup Last 16 Results:
North A
Wilmslow HS 9-12 Wirral Grammar
North B
RGS Newcastle 13-21 Woodhouse Grove
Midlands A
Norwich 29-31 Rugby
Midlands B
Warwick v Uppingham – Saturday
London & South East A
Campion v Whitgift – Thursday 29th
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
U18 Schools Plate Quarter Final Draw:
Hymers College (North B) v Old Swinford Hospital/Trent College (Midlands B)
Cheadle Hulme (North A) v Langley/Bloxham (Midlands A)
Sherborne (South West A) v Skinners’ (London & South East A)
Abingdon/Cokethorpe (South West B) v Christ’s Hospital (London & South East B)
U18 Schools Plate Last 16 Results:
North A
Cheadle Hulme 32-8 Merchant Taylors’
North B
Yarm 8-27 Hymers College
Midlands A
Langley v Bloxham – Wednesday 28th
Midlands B
Old Swinford Hospital v Trent College – Wednesday 28th
London & South East A
Seevic 12-42 Skinners’
London & South East B
Christ’s Hospital 56-10 London Oratory
South West A
Exeter 14-29 Sherborne
South West B
St Peter’s Gloucester 18-38 Abingdon (Abingdon play Cokethorpe in Regional Final)
U18 Schools Vase Quarter Final Draw:
Samuel Whitbread (Midlands A) v Newcastle School for Boys (North A)
Worksop College (North B) v KES Stratford/Bishop Vesey’s Grammar (Midlands B)
Hayes (London & South East B) v St George’s College (London & South East A)
Dauntsey’s (South West A) v The Oratory (South West B)
U18 Schools Vase Last 16 Results:
North A
Newcastle SfB 34-24 Ashville College
North B
Worksop College 44-14 Austin Friars
Midlands A
Samuel Whitbread 20-7 Aylesbury Grammar
Midlands B
KES Stratford v Bishop Vesey’s Grammar – Wednesday 28th November
London & South East A
St Benedict’s 20-28 St George’s College
London & South East B
Dartford Grammar 13-24 Hayes
South West A
Plymouth College 8-17 Dauntsey’s
South West B
The Crypt 5-34 The Oratory
U18 Schools Bowl Quarter Final Draw:
King’s Worcester (Midlands B) v Lady Manners (North B)
Hitchin/Robert Smyth (Midlands A) v Ampleforth College/Prince Henry’s Grammar (North A)
Wycliffe College v St Bartholomew’s (South West B) v Glyn (London & South East A)
Ravens Wood (London & South East B) v Mount Kelly/Sheldon (South West A)
U18 Schools Bowl Last 16 Results:
North A
Ampleforth College v Prince Henry’s Grammar – Wednesday 28th
North B
Lady Manners 24-12 King William’s College
Midlands A
Hitchin v Robert Smyth – Wednesday 28th
Midlands B
King’s Worcester 58-15 St Joseph’s College, Stoke
London & South East A
Watford Grammar 15-34 Glyn
London & South East B
Chatham & Clarendon 7-29 Ravens Wood
South West A
Mount Kelly v Sheldon – Tuesday 27th
South West B
Wycliffe College v St Bartholomew’s – Wednesday 28th
