There have been some fantastic games of school rugby this week as sides cram in the last couple of fixtures before the Christmas break.

Chief among those fixtures where the two remaining Schools Plate quarter finals and the last remaining Schools Bowl quarter final, meaning that across all four U18 Cup competitions the quarter finals are now complete, bar the last of the U18 Schools Cup quarter finals, with Seaford College still waiting to see if it will be Dean Close or Marlborough College that they face in that quarter final, they meet in early January.

Tuesday

There was a fantastic game on Tuesday between Rugby and Mount St Mary’s College. Both have had fantastic seasons and put on a real show on Tuesday, with Rugby School live streaming the game much to the delight of schools rugby fans around the country. Rugby won the game, 29-19, but there was so much more to this game with both sides joining together in the changing rooms for a good old fashioned sing song.

Wednesday

The two knock out games were the big ones on Wednesday in the Schools Plate Cheadle Hulme hosted Bloxham for their quarter final, with Old Swinford Hospital on the 9^th March the semi final reward for the winner.

Bloxham took it comfortably in the end, 39-3, but it was a tougher game than the score suggested, with Bloxham just 13-3 ahead at the break through tries from Alfie Barbeary and Dan Eckersley..However second half tries from Toby Staveley Parker, Henry Hopkins, pulled Bloxham away and almost inevitably Alfie Barbeary completed a hat-trick. He is proving to be one of the most dominant players in the school game.

In the Schools Bowl Hitchin hosted Ampleforth College and put in an enormous shift, however Ampleforth had too much and put in a really strong performance for a 26-12 victory to send them into the semi finals on the 9^th March where they will face King’s Worcester in what looks a brilliant game.

There was plenty of excitement elsewhere, not least in Denstone College signing off a really strong season with an excellent 36-24 victory over Kirkham Grammar School.

Durham won the Anglo-Scots clash against Edinburgh 31-19, while in Wales Llandovery College had a hard time against Coelg Sir Gar, who won 66-10.

Old Swinford Hospital look well set for next term’s Plate semi final against Bloxham after a 46-5 victory at KES Aston to sign their term’s work off with, while Brentwood were on form too, 51-27 victors against Davenant.

In the South West there was a massive clash between Colston’s and Exeter, Colston’s coming out on top 19-0 to cap an excellent term. Elsewhere Emmanuel College beat Durham Johnston in a thriller, 52-32, while King’s Rochester beat Gravesend Grammar 40-19.

Judd finished up for the term in style, beating Cranbrook 40-14, and it was exactly the same scoreline for Shiplake College, who have had a brilliant term, they beat Sir William Borlase’s.

Pate’s Grammar enjoyed a 39-14 win over Chosen Hill, with QES Kirkby Lonsdale winning 45-22 at Ripley St Thomas and Tiffin beating Saint Cecilia’s 32-17.

Thursday

Sherborne became the final side to reach the U18 Schools Plate semi finals when they beat Skinners’ 25-15 on Thursday. The Dorset side have looked good all tournament and now face Christ’s Hospital on 9^th March in the semi finals, who have also been flying. The winner will face either Bloxham or Old Swinford Hospital in the final at Sixways Stadium.

Dame Allan’s claimed their County Cup in a brilliantly competitive final against Newcastle School for Boys on Thursday, just edging their rivals out with a 12-10 victory, meanwhile in Wales Cwm Rhymni and Cathedral School Llandaff drew 19-19.

Images via: Sophie Jones, Hitchin, Denstone College.

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Schools Rugby Midweek Roundup:

Tuesday

Rugby 29-19 Mount St Mary’s College

Wednesday

Brentwood 51-27 Davenant

Cheadle Hulme 3-39 Bloxham (Schools Plate QF)

Colston’s 19-0 Exeter

Durham 31-19 Edinburgh Academy

Emmanuel College 52-32 Durham Johnston

Gravesend GS 19-40 King’s Rochester

Hitchin 12-26 Ampleforth College (Schools Bowl QF)

Judd 40-14 Cranbrook

KES Aston 5-46 Old Swinford Hospital

Kirkham GS 24-36 Denstone College

Llandovery College 10-66 Coleg Sir Gar

Pate’s GS 39-14 Chosen Hill

Ripley St Thomas 22-45 QES Kirkby Lonsdale

Shiplake College 40-14 Sir William Borlase’s

Tiffin 32-17 Saint Cecilia’s

Thursday

Cwm Rhymni 19-19 Cathedral School, Llandaff

Dame Allan’s 12-10 Newcastle School for Boys (County Cup Final)

Sherborne 25-15 Skinners’ (Schools Plate QF)