With so much knockout rugby going on this week it would be easy to forget that there has been plenty of other schools rugby going on too.
What a tragedy it would be to forget it, too, there has been some absolutely thrilling rugby all over the country with some massive games taking place over Wednesday and Thursday.
Wednesday
One of the biggest games of the week came on the neutral territory of Bedford Blues on Wednesday evening as Denstone College and St Joseph’s College met for a fantastic game of rugby. Both sides contributed brilliantly, with Denstone coming away with the spoils in a 28-17 victory.
Wednesday evening also saw action at Reading Abott RFC as Shiplake College put in a stellar performance to beat Pangbourne College 33-8.
Elsewhere there was a tight 20-17 victory for Old Swinford Hospital at home to KES Five Ways and a strong 36-5 victory for Ellesmere College against Rydal Penrhos, meanwhile Cokethorpe picked up a 7-0 win at Burford.
In the North Emmanuel College won an exciting game against King’s Priory 38-25, with Pocklington winning 26-5 against Prince Henry’s, while in Scotland St Aloysius’ College reached the Scottish Schools Cup final thanks to an exciting 22-19 victory at the previously unbeaten Dollar Academy. Over in Wales, meanwhile, Llandovery College won a high scoring affair at Pembrokeshire College, 41-24.
Hampton enjoyed a 26-21 victory over UCS in the County Cup, while there were also wins for Saint Cecilia’s, Dame Alice Owens, and a strong 46-7 victory for Shrewsbury at Oswestry.
Dr Challoner’s put in one of their best displays of the season for a 38-7 victory at Sir William Borlase’s, while Pate’s Grammar were in fine form in a 32-19 victory over Hereford Cathedral, and Princethorpe College defeated KES Aston 26-0.
Thursday
Thursday saw some truly fantastic fixtures, not least a huge clash between Harrow and Wellington College. It was a tricky one for Wellington, who just two days before had reached the Champions Trophy final with a 19-16 victory over Bristol Grammar. In order to navigate two games in three days, they had to jiggle their resources, combining 1st XV and 2nd XV squads, it worked on Tuesday, but Harrow were just too clinical on Thursday, securing a strong 32-19 victory.
There was an incredibly tight game at Bedford as Radley College just edged to victory by a single point, 8-7, a tough blow for Bedford but an impressive show of nerve from Radley.
Cheltenham College also won a tight one, beating Sir Thomas Rich’s 17-12 under the lights at Cheltenham RFC on Thursday evening.
Elsewhere there was a stunning 59-0 victory for Dean Close over Monmouth, while King’s Bruton secured a 24-13 victory over Prior Park. Framlingham College were in good form against Bishop’s Stortford High School, winning 12-5, while Robert Smyth enjoyed County Cup success with a 29-17 victory over Ratcliffe College.
Meanwhile in the Scottish Cup Merchiston Castle and George Watson’s met for the chance to face St Aloysius’ in the final after their defeat of Dollar Academy on Wednesday. Just a fortnight ago the two had met, with George Watson’s winning, however Merchiston Castle got their own back on Thursday, winning 22-17 to reach the final.
Eton College, meanwhile, secured an excellent 38-17 victory over a Merchant Taylors’ side that has been playing some terrific rugby so far this season.
Image via Shiplake College
A reminder that we welcome any photos, videos, and reports from your school’s games – the more the merrier! You can send them in to us via any of the methods below:
Twitter: @FifteenRugbyXV
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FifteenRugby
Instagram: @fifteenrugbyxv
Email: writers@fifteenrugby.com
Schools Rugby Midweek Results:
Wednesday
Burford 0-7 Cokethorpe
Denstone College 38-17 St Joseph’s College (Bedford)
Dollar Academy 19-22 St Aloysius’ College (Scottish Schools Cup semi)
Ellesmere College 36-5 Rydal Penrhos
Emmanuel College 38-25 King’s Priory
Hampton 26-21 UCS (County Cup)
Old Swinford Hospital 20-17 KES Five Ways
Oswestry 7-46 Shrewsbury
Pangbourne College 8-33 Shiplake College (Reading Abott RFC)
Pate’s GS 32-19 Hereford Cathedral School
Pembrokeshire College 24-41 Llandovery College
Prince Henry’s GS 5-26 Pocklington
Princethorpe College 26-0 KES Aston
Saint Cecilia’s 38-29 Cardinal Vaughan
Sandringham 6-24 Dame Alice Owens
Sir William Borlase’s GS 7-38 Dr Challoner’s GS
Thursday
Bedford 7-8 Radley College
Cheltenham College 17-12 Sir Thomas Rich’s (Cheltenham RFC)
Dean Close 59-0 Monmouth
Framlingham College 12-5 Bishop’s Stortford HS
Harrow 32-19 Wellington College
Eton College 38-17 Merchant Taylors’
King’s Bruton 24-13 Prior Park College
Merchiston Castle 22-17 George Watson’s College (Scottish Schools Cup semi)
Robert Smyth Academy 29-17 Ratcliffe College
