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 9th 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 9th 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 9th 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)
