The schools season may have ended on Saturday in the main, but there remain a few fixtures to be played over this week and into the weekend.
Given the quality of rugby to date this season, that is certainly a treat for those of us with a watching brief – such has been the exciting style of play and the close nature of so many games this season that it has been one of the best that we can remember from the sidelines and has surely been a fun one to play in as well.
Monday
By the time many have read this Queen’s College Taunton and Wellington School will have finished off their seasons, they meet on Monday afternoon for what should be a fun afternoon of rugby.
Wednesday
They key fixtures this week are the remaining Schools Plate and Bowl quarter finals, and two of those take place on Wednesday.
In the Schools Plate Bloxham, who are right up there as one of the favourites for the competition, travel to Cheadle Hulme. The winner will face Old Swinford Hospital in the semi finals on the 9th March after they beat Hymers College last week.
Meanwhile in the Schools Bowl Ampleforth College make the trip to Hitchin. These two also know their potential semi final opponent should they win, King’s Worcester, who beat Lady Manners last week to set up their semi final date on the 9th March.
Outside of the Cups there is a fantastic cross-border fixture as Durham host Edinburgh Academy. Elsewhere in England Wilmslow High School entertain Sir John Deans, Shiplake College welcome Sir William Borlase’s, and Steyning Grammar are at Varndean.
Over in Wales two of the best known sides to us in England go head to head as Llandovery College welcome Coleg Sir Gar. Meanwhile back in England Brentwood host Davenant, Emmanuel College welcome Durham Johnston, and Gravesend Grammar are hosting King’s Rochester.
There is a massive game in the South West on Wednesday evening as Colston’s, who have been excellent all season, take on Exeter School. Harris Academy are also in action, hosting Rutlish, while Judd host Cranbrook and Old Swinford Hospital travel to KES Aston.
Ravens Wood travel to Maidstone Grammar while Chosen Hill are on the road at Pate’s, Princethorpe College meanwhile are at home to Kenilworth, with Ripley St Thomas’ hosting QES Kirkby Lonsdale, and Tiffin welcoming Saint Cecilia’s.
Arguably the biggest game of the day though is the clash between two of the best performing sides in the country this season, Kirkham Grammar School and Denstone College. Only some of the very best in the business have beaten these two and they are both capable of producing outstanding rugby, so this should be an outstanding game of rugby. For the winner it will be a fantastic end to the season, but either way both should be exceptionally proud of their efforts this year.
Thursday
Thursday sees the last of the Schools Plate quarter finals take place as Sherborne host Skinners’. Both have looked good this year so expect a cracking game of rugby, with a semi final against Christ’s Hospital on the 9th March the reward for the winner.
Elsewhere Simon Langton host Ashford for their final game of an exciting season.
Friday
Three big games seal off the Friday evening fixtures for the term, chief among them a brilliant looking clash between Bishop Wordsworth’s and the AASE champions, Beechen Cliff. Both have enjoyed excellent season, so we should have a superb game in the offing.
The now annual Bradford Grammar v Colfe’s game also take place on Friday evening, while in the Midlands KES Birmingham and KES Five Ways take each other on for the final games of the term.
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:
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Email: writers@fifteenrugby.com
Schools Rugby Midweek Preview (predictions in bold):
Monday
Queen’s College, Taunton v Wellington
Wednesday
Brentwood v Davenant
Cheadle Hulme v Bloxham (Schools Plate QF)
Colston’s v Exeter
Durham v Edinburgh Academy
Emmanuel College v Durham Johnston
Gravesend GS v King’s Rochester
Harris Academy v Rutlish
Hitchin v Ampleforth College (Schools Bowl QF)
Judd v Cranbrook
KES Aston v Old Swinford Hospital
Kirkham GS v Denstone College
Llandovery College v Coleg Sir Gar
Maidstone GS v Ravens Wood
Pate’s GS v Chosen Hill
Princethorpe College v Kenilworth
QES Barnet v Haberdashers’
Ripley St Thomas v QES Kirkby Lonsdale
Shiplake College v Sir William Borlase’s
Tiffin v Saint Cecilia’s
Varndean College v Steyning GS
Wilmslow HS v Sir John Deans
Thursday
Sherborne v Skinners’ (Schools Plate QF)
Simon Langton GS v Ashford
Friday
Bishop Wordsworth’s v Beechen Cliff
Bradford GS v Colfe’s
KES Five Ways v KES Birmingham
