Schools Rugby returned in earnest this weekend with a number of huge fixtures across the country kicked off the final few week’s of fifteen-a-side action before 7s begins to dominate.
Of course the action had begun a few days earlier with some key midweek games, not least the late South West B Final in the Schools Cup that saw Marlborough College win 19-10 away at Dean Close.
That result sets up a trip to Seaford College for Marlborough in the last of the four U18 Schools Cup quarter finals and the winners will take on Whitgift, who were also in midweek action as they beat Ivybridge Community College 40-12 in their quarter final. Warwick v Woodhouse Grove is the other semi final, both will be hosted at Allianz Park on the 9th March.
Schools Rugby Weekend Results
There was a bit of rust about after the Christmas break, but by and large the weekend followed the pattern set towards the end of the previous term, with some seriously competitive games of rugby.
Warwick proved themselves still in good form ahead of their Cup semi final with a 31-17 win away at John Fisher, however their opponents in that semi final, Woodhouse Grove, suffered a rare slip up as they were beaten 24-19 by a very strong Mount St Mary’s side who enjoyed a strong term prior to Christmas without there really being too much noise made about it.
Sir Thomas Rich’s bounced back from their midweek 38-15 defeat to Millfield with a very strong 46-14 victory over Solihull. Millfield meanwhile were in 10s action alongside Portsmouth Grammar and Brighton College for their annual triangular with some adapted laws to really encourage attacking play.
Campion enjoyed a tight win over Skinners’, 22-20 while Brentwood were 46-12 victors over Robert Clack and Shrewsbury won 24-10 at Birkenhead.
St Joseph’s College were in flying form at Coopers’ Coborn for a 63-5 victory, so too Hampton, whose U17s were in sensational form for a 46-0 win over Tiffin. Judd also picked up a victory, albeit more narrowly, beating Chislehurst and Sidcup 32-26.
In the Midlands there was a 24-0 win for KES Stratford over Bablake, while Welbeck won 26-0 at Bablake’s great rivals, King Henry VIII Coventry. Loughborough Grammar, meanwhile, beat Repton 33-19.
In Scotland Merchiston Castle won a thriller against Dollar Academy, 33-20, while there were also wins for Glasgow High School, George Watson’s College, and St Aloysius’ College.
The north of England saw King’s Macclesfield enjoy a 31-12 victory at home to St Ambrose College, while Lancaster RGS travelled to Manchester Grammar and came away with a 31-10 victory. Hymers College, meanwhile, secured a superb 28-0 win away at Rodillian, while back in the South East St Benedict’s were in sensational form, winning 48-0 at New Hall.
There was also a game on Friday as Saint Cecilia’s took on the side that plays in the shadows of Twickenham, Cardinal Vaughan, beating them 21-17.
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Schools Rugby Weekend Results – Saturday 12th January:
Saturday
Birkenhead 10-24 Shrewsbury
Brentwood 46-12 Robert Clack
Campion 22-20 Skinners’
Coopers’ Coborn 5-63 St Joseph’s College
Dollar Academy 20-33 Merchiston Castle
Dundee High School 19-29 Glasgow High School
George Watson’s College 29-7 Edinburgh Academy
Hampton 46-0 Tiffin
John Fisher 17-31 Warwick
Judd 32-26 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
KES Stratford 24-0 Bablake
King Henry VIII, Coventry 0-26 Welbeck
King’s Macclesfield 31-12 St Ambrose College
Loughborough GS 33-19 Repton
Manchester GS 10-31 Lancaster RGS
Mount St Mary’s College 24-19 Woodhouse Grove
New Hall 0-48 St Benedict’s
Rodillian 0-28 Hymers College
Sir Thomas Rich’s 46-14 Solihull
St Aloysius’ College 29-19 Glasgow Academy
Friday
Cardinal Vaughan 17-21 Saint Cecilia’s
