As the end of season draws ever closer the big games seem to come thicker and faster, and this week looks as though it will be no different.
There are some key match ups, not least at Broadstreet RFC on Wednesday evening when two of the best in the country go head to head, while we also face almost all of the remaining Regional Finals in the Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl following last week’s quarter final draw.
Tuesday
Just the one game on Tuesday but it is a key one in the Schools Bowl as Mount Kelly host Sheldon in the South West A regional final. The winner will travel to Ravens Wood, the London & South East B champions, for the quarter final.
Wednesday
The key game on Wednesday is surely the 6pm kick off at Broadstreet RFC as Sedbergh take on Wellington College. Undoubtedly they are two of the very best around, Sedbergh are unbeaten, while Wellington College last week secured their place in the Champions Trophy final. It is probably the biggest game of the season, to date, for both. It is almost always a cracker, including last year where Sedbergh’s victory was key to them winning the Daily Mail Trophy, we can expect another pulsating encounter on Wednesday.
There are a few other big games on Wednesday evening too, including the excellent Eltham College against New Hall at Eton Manor RFC at 6.30pm, while at 7pm King’s Rochester host Duke of York’s Royal Military School and Plymouth College host King’s College Taunton. The CCB Centre of Sporting Excellence hosts Cathedral School Llandaff v Christ College at 7pm.
Wednesday also sees some key Schools Cup last 16 ties. Dark horses Ivybridge Community College welcome Portsmouth Grammar in the South West A regional final, the winner travels to either Campion or Whitgift in the quarter finals, they meet on Thursday.
Also in the Cup, Sir Thomas Rich’s host Dean Close in a late third round fixture in South West B. The winner then faces Marlborough College in the regional final ahead of a tie against Seaford College in the quarter finals.
Meanwhile in the Schools Plate Langley host Bloxham, two sides who could genuinely go all the way, in the Midlands A regional final, with the winner heading to Cheadle Hulme for their quarter final.
The Vase also sees action with KES Stratford v Bishop Vesey’s Grammar in the Midlands B final, Worksop College await the winners in the quarter final.
Meanwhile in the Bowl it is Hitchin v Robert Smyth in the Midlands A regional final, with the chance to meet either Ampleforth College or Prince Henry’s, who play on Thursday, in the quarter finals, while in the South West B regional final it is Wycliffe College v St Bartholomew’s, with the winner host Glyn in their quarter final.
There is plenty of other rugby elsewhere too, Beth’s Grammar hosting Oakwood Park and a big game in the South East as Chislehurst & Sidcup host St Olave’s, Cranbrook meanwhile welcome Peter Symonds’ College.
Dam Allan’s host Tyne Metropolitan, with Dr Challoner’s hosting Dam Alice Owens and Durham at home to Ripon Grammar, St Thomas More meanwhile head to Emmanuel College, with Wallington County Grammar also on the road at Gordon’s, while Bethany travel to Kent College.
Hampton and London Oratory meet in the Middlesex County Cup final, while elsewhere Hayes are at home to Maidstone Grammar and KES Aston host Shrewsbury.
Elsewhere Royal Alexandra & Albert play host to Darrick Wood, with Rossall hosting Ripley St Thomas and Rishworth hosting Liverpool College. Robert Clack travel to St Edmund’s College, with KES Camp Hill at KES Five Ways, while in Wales Coleg Llandrillo head to Llandovery College.
There is a massive game in the North West as Denstone College, who were in fine form against St Joseph’s last week, head to King’s Macclesfield for what should be a cracker. There is also a Cheshire Cup semi final as Merchant Taylors’ host Manchester Grammar.
Thursday
There is a key Schools Cup game on Thursday, as previously mentioned, with Campion hosting Whitgift in the London & South East A regional final. The winner will face the winner of Wednesday’s Ivybridge v Portsmouth Grammar game in the quarter final. Meanwhile in the Bowl Ampleforth College host Prince Henry’s Grammar in the North A regional final, either Hitchin or Robert Smyth will host them in the quarters, they also play on Wednesday.
Elsewhere the excellent Colston’s 1st XV take on Beechen Cliff’s non-AASE side, while Dover Grammar welcome St Lawrence College and King’s Bruton travel to Milton Abbey. Meanwhile in Scotland Loretto welcome Preston Lodge High School.
Friday
There are a couple of cracking games under the lights on Friday evening not least RGS High Wycombe’s trip to Abingdon, a game that both will surely be targeting and that should provide an excellent evening’s entertainment. As should Wisbech Grammar hosting Robert Clack an hour later, Robert Clack face a tough task though, Wisbech are on a 7 game winning streak. The game is being played in aid of Movember, with each of the Wisbech Grammar 1st XV growing, or attempting (!), moustaches. They are aiming to raise £5000 and you can see and donate to their efforts here: https://uk.movember.com/team/2327996
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Schools Rugby Midweek Preview (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Mount Kelly v Sheldon (Schools Bowl)
Wednesday
Beth’s GS v Oakwood Park GS
Cathedral School, Llandaff v Christ College, Brecon (CCB Centre 7pm)
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v St Olave’s GS
Cranbrook v Peter Symonds’ College
Dame Allan’s v Tyne Metropolitan College
Dr Challoner’s GS v Dame Alice Owens
Durham v Ripon GS
Eltham College v New Hall (Eton Manor RFC, 6.30pm)
Emmanuel College v St Thomas More
Gordon’s v Wallington CGS
Hampton v London Oratory (County Cup Final)
Hayes v Maidstone GS
Hitchin v Robert Smyth (Schools Bowl)
Ivybridge CC v Portsmouth GS (Schools Cup)
Kent College v Bethany
KES Aston v Shrewsbury
KES Five Ways v KES Camp Hill
KES Stratford v Bishop Vesey’s GS (Schools Vase)
Kings Macclesfield v Denstone College
King’s Rochester v Duke of York’s RMS (7pm)
Langley v Bloxham (Schools Plate)
Llandovery College v Coleg Llandrillo
Merchant Taylors’ v Manchester GS (County Cup)
Old Swinford Hospital v Trent College (Schools Plate)
Plymouth College v King’s College, Taunton (7pm)
St Edmund’s College v Robert Clack
Rishworth v Liverpool College
Rossall v Ripley St Thomas
Royal Alexandra & Albert v Darrick Wood
Sedbergh v Wellington College (Broadstreet RFC, 6pm)
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Dean Close (Schools Cup)
Wycliffe College v St Bartholomew’s (Schools Bowl)
Thursday
Ampleforth College v Prince Henry’s GS (Schools Bowl)
Campion v Whitgift (Schools Cup)
Colston’s v Beechen Cliff
Dover GS v St Lawrence College
Loretto v Preston Lodge HS
Milton Abbey v King’s Bruton
Friday
Abingdon v RGS High Wycombe (6.30pm)
Wisbech GS v Robert Clack (7.30pm)
