It has been a packed week of schools rugby action, with Cup and Vase games aplenty and some exciting tour matches alongside the usual midweek fixtures.
There were a few more that usual, too, with some independent schools having exeat weekend’s this weekend and therefore opting to fill the gap with a midweek fixture.
Here’s what’s been going on each day this week (the Schools Vase section by section Round 1 & 2 layout is at the foot of this article).
Monday
There was just one fixture on Monday as Eltham College welcomed South African tourists Maritzburg College. It was a fantastic occasion but the big visitors just had too much for the hosts, who had been in action just 48 hours before, winning 39-14.
Tuesday
On Tuesday it was the turn of the Argentine tourists to take over. St Andrews headed to RGS Newcastle where the hosts’ Development XV performed fantastically well for a 19-5 victory. KES Southampton meanwhile hosted St Albans College, but the hosts could not stop a strong Argentine outfit from taking victory.
In the Schools Vase Gresham’s won 45-8 at Spalding Grammar in Midlands B, and as a result they head straight into the third round thanks to a second round bye. Meanwhile, also in Midlands B, 2018 champions Langley were in brilliant form at Wymondham College, winning 60-10 to progress to the second round, where they will host either Culford or Thomas Mills.
Elsewhere Cheadle Hulme were in excellent for for a 33-17 victory over King’s Macclesfield, while Mount Kelly won 17-7 at home to Plymouth College. Glenalmond College meanwhile are into the next round of the Scottish Schools Cup thanks to a 28-15 victory over Earlston High.
Wednesday
Wednesday saw a couple of Schools Cup games, perhaps most impressively a 50-0 victory for 2019 Vase champions Samuel Whitbread, who were in action at Bedford Modern. Seevic College also progressed to Round 2, they were sensational at home to Colfe’s, winning 61-0.
There was a massive touring game as Maritzburg College turned out for their second game of the week. The South Africans were at Millfield, where the atmosphere was white hot on a packed Gareth Edwards pitch, the pavilion three or four rows deep. The game was a brutish physical encounter, filled with tension, but it was the hosts who came out on top by a couple of points at 15-13.
The Schools Vase saw plenty of action, Dartford Grammar looked in great form for a 21-5 victory at Beth’s Grammar, a result that sends them straight to the third round in London & South East B thanks to a second round bye. Over in London & South East A Duke of York’s RMS are into round 3 thanks to a 45-5 home victory over Sir Roger Manwood’s, while Esher College will take on Glyn thanks to a 24-19 victory at Rutlish.
In Midlands A KES Camp Hill booked a trip to KES Stratford thanks to a good 28-14 victory at Princethorpe College, with Birkdale and Lady Manners drawing 24-24 in North B.
Outside of the knockout competitions Trinity continued their fine start to the year with a 25-10 victory over Gordon’s, while Merchant Taylors’ won an absolute thriller at Watford Gramamr, 36-31. Simon Langton were in good nick against Maidstone Grammar, winning a good contest 26-19, while Royal Alexandra & Albert and Richard Hale earned strong victories over Ewell Castle and Enfield Grammar respectively.
Lymm High School and Wirral Grammar played out an absolute thriller in the Cheshire Cup, Lymm just getting the edge with a 20-18 victory. St Ambrose College were meanwhile in sensational form against Altrincham, winning 50-0.
Elsewhere Wrekin College won a cracking game against Shrewsbury 19-15, while Saint Cecilia’s and KES Five Ways both enjoyed dominant days. King Henry VIII Coventry were 15-0 victors over KES Aston, while Hayes, looking so impressive this year once again, were 46-22 victors at home to Glyn.
There was a really tight game in the south east as Skinners’ edged a low scoring one at Cranbrook, 8-3. It was close at The Crypt too, where RGS Worcester ran out 24-19 victors, meanwhile Exeter were 39-12 victors over Shebbear College. The depth of quality at Denstone College this year was on real display as the second XV looked mightily impressive for a 31-10 victory against Worksop College.
There was also Scottish Cup action on Wednesday, with Glasgow Academy beating Gordonstoun 53-7 and Strathallan winning 82-5 at Linlithgow Academy, Hutchesons’ and Boroughmuir meanwhile drew in an absolute thriller, 39-39.
Thursday
Thursday had some great action, not least a continuation of the flying start to the season from Uppingham, who had probably their most impressive victory in a few seasons, winning 46-0 at Bedford.
Perhaps even more impressive though was a 35-5 victory for Cheltenham College at home to Marlborough College. The two had very similar records heading into Thursday’s game and a tight one was expected, but Cheltenham played exceptionally well for a strong victory.
Elsewhere there was a brilliant 48-0 victory for Monkton Combe against Sexey’s, while Stewart’s Melville warmed up for Saturday’s clash with RGS Newcastle with a good 32-10 victory over Loretto.
The action continues on Friday ahead of a massive round of game on Saturday, and you can see all of our previews and predictions here, School Rugby Weekend Preview: Saturday 21st September.
As we say every season and every week, please do get in touch with your stories, photos, videos, reports, and opinions from the week’s rugby. It all makes a massive difference and allows us to feature your school and your team! You can get in touch via any of the below methods:
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Email: writers@fifteenrugby.com
Images via Louise Laferla
Schools Rugby Midweek Results:
Monday
Eltham College 14-39 Maritzburg College (South Africa)
Tuesday
Glenalmond College 28-15 Earlston HS (Scottish Schools Cup)
King’s Macclesfield 17-33 Cheadle Hulme
Mount Kelly 17-7 Plymouth College
RGS Newcastle 19-5 St Andrews (Argentina)
Spalding GS 8-45 Gresham’s (Schools Vase)
Wymondham College 10-60 Langley (Schools Vase)
Wednesday
Bedford Modern 0-50 Samuel Whitbread (Schools Cup)
Beth’s GS 5-21 Dartford GS (Schools Vase)
Birkdale 24-24 Lady Manners’ (Schools Vase)
Cranbrook 3-8 Skinners’
Crypt 19-24 RGS Worcester
Denstone College 2nd XV 31-10 Worksop College
Duke of York’s RMS 45-5 Sir Roger Manwood’s (Schools Vase)
Exeter 39-12 Shebbear College
Glasgow Academy 53-7 Gordonstoun (Scottish Schools Cup)
Hayes 46-22 Glyn
Hutchesons’ GS 39-39 Boroughmuir HS (Scottish Schools Cup)
KES Five Ways 67-25 St Joseph’s
King Henry VIII, Coventry 15-0 KES Aston
Latymer Upper 0-35 Saint Cecilia’s
Linlithgow Academy 5-82 Strathallan (Scottish Schools Cup)
Millfield 15-13 Maritzburg College (South Africa)
Princethorpe College 14-28 KES Camp Hill (Schools Vase)
Richard Hale 33-7 Enfield GS
Royal Alexandra & Albert 43-15 Ewell Castle
Rutlish 19-24 Esher College (Schools Vase)
Seevic College 61-0 Colfe’s (Schools Cup)
Simon Langton GS 26-19 Maidstone GS
St Ambrose College 50-0 Altrincham GS
Trinity 25-10 Gordon’s
Watford GS 31-36 Merchant Taylors’
Wirral GS 18-20 Lymm HS
Wrekin College 19-15 Shrewsbury
Thursday
Bedford 0-46 Uppingham
Cheltenham College 35-5 Marlborough College
Monkton Combe 48-0 Sexey’s
Stewart’s Melville 32-10 Loretto
U18 Schools Vase Draw:
North A
Round 1
QEGS Penrith 7-40 Austin Friars
Bye v Bye
QEHS Hexham v Gateshead College
Yarm v Bye
Newcastle School for Boys v Tyne Metropolitan College
Emmanuel College v Bye
KES Morpeth v Bede Academy
Bye v Bye
Bye v Bye
Ampleforth College 12-20 Ripon GS
Bye v Bye
Ilkley GS v Harrogate GS
Bye v Bye
Rodillian v Crossley Heath
Runshaw College v AKS Lytham
Sandbach v Bye
Round 2
Austin Friars v Bye
QEHS Hexham/Gateshead College v Yarm
Newcastle SfB/Tyne Metropolitan v Emmanuel College
KES Morpeth/Bede Academy v Bye
Ripon GS v Bye
Ilkley GS/Harrogate GS v Bye
Rodillian/Crossley Heath v Bye
Runshaw College/AKS Lytham v Sandbach
North B
Round 1
Rydal Penrhos v Bishop Heber
Oswestry 0-45 Shrewsbury
Liverpool College v Birkenhead
St Anselm’s College v St Edward’s College
King William’s College v Castle Rushen
Altrincham GS v Sale GS
Bolton v The Grange
Bye v Bye
Bye v Bye
Newcastle Under Lyme v Adams GS
St Joseph’s College v Thomas Alleynes
Birkdale 24-24 Lady Manners
Nottingham HS v Priory Ruskin
King’s Grantham v Carre’s GS
Thomas Rotherham College v Hill House
South Hunsley v Bye
Round 2
Rydal Penrhos/Bishop Heber v Shrewsbury
Liverpool College/Birkenhead v St Anselm’s College/St Edward’s College
King William’s/Castle Rushen v Altrincham GS/Sale GS
Bolton/The Grange v Bye
Newcastle Under Lyme/Adams GS v Bye
St Joseph’s College/Thomas Alleynes v Lady Manners
Nottingham HS/Priory Ruskin v King’s Grantham/Carre’s GS
Thomas Rotherham/Hill House v South Hunsley
Midlands A
Round 1
Hereford Cathedral School v Hereford 6th form College
RGS Worcester 28-0 Prince Henry’s
KES Stratford 39-7 Kenilworth
Princethorpe 14-28 KES Camp Hill
Bablake 22-7 King Henry VIII, Coventry
KES Five Ways 28-14 KES Birmingham
Bye v Bye
Queen Mary’s GS v KES Lichield
Bye v Bye
KES Aston v Birmingham Metropolitan
Bye v Bye
Loughborough College v Ratcliffe College
Bishop Stopford v Bye
Leicester GS v Robert Smyth
Bye v Bye
Wellingborough 12-10 Royal Latin
Round 2
Hereford Cathedral/Hereford 6th form v RGS Worcester
KES Stratford v KES Camp Hill
Bablake v KES Five Ways
Queen Mary’s GS/KES Lichfield v Bye
KES Aston/Birmingham Met v Bye
Loughborough College/Ratcliffe College v Bye
Bishop Stopford v Leicester GS/Robert Smyth
Wellingborough v Bye
Midlands B
Round 1
Aylesbury GS 56-5 Sir William Borlase’s GS
Roundwood Park 21-31 St Columba’s College
Sir John Lawes 31-15 Sandringham
Beaumont v Samuel Ryder
Richard Hale v St Edmunds College
The Perse v Bye
Hitchin Boys v Knights Templar
Bye v Bye
Saffron Walden v Hills Road
Mark Rutherford v Hitchingbrooke
Spalding GS 8-45 Gresham’s
Bye v Bye
Wymondham College 10-60 Langley
Culford v Thomas Mills
Ipswich v Woodbridge
RGS Colchester v Bye
Round 2
Aylesbury GS v St Columba’s College
Sir John Lawes v Beaumont/Samuel Ryder
Richard Hale/St Edmund’s College v The Perse
Hitchin Boys/Knight Templar v Bye
Saffron Walden/Hills Road v Mark Rutherford/Hitchingbrooke
Gresham’s v Bye
Langley v Culford/Thomas Mills
Ipswich/Woodbridge v RGS Colchester
London & South East A
Round 1
Tring v Hemel Hempstead
John Hampden GS v Chesham GS
Longdean v Parmiter’s
Rickmansworth 7-14 QES Barnet
Isleworth & Syon v Orleans Park
Grey Court v Saint Cecilia’s
Rutlish 19-24 Esher College
Glyn 22-21 Wallington CGS
George Abbot 24-36 Harris City Academy
Bye v Bye
London Oratory 36-0 Royal Alexandra & Albert
Reigate GS v Bye
Bye v Bye
Worth 5-12 Richard Collyer
Bye v Bye
Worthing 17-24 Eastbourne College
Round 2
Tring/Hemel Hempstead v John Hampden/Chesham
Longden/Parmiter’s v QES Barnet
Isleworth & Syon/Orleans Park v Grey Court/Saint Cecilia’s
Esher College v Glyn
Harris City Academy v Bye
London Oratory v Reigate GS
Richard Collyer v Bye
Eastbourne College v Bye
London & South East B
Round 1
Davenant v Robert Clack
Bye v Bye
Coopers Coborn v Bye
Southend HS v King John
Beths GS 5-21 Dartford GS
Bye v Bye
Wilmington GS v Gravesend GS
Bye v Bye
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 43-0 St Dunstan’s College
Darrick Wood 0-46 Hayes
Skinners’ 58-10 Oakwood Park GS
Maidstone GS 17-28 Sutton Valence
Chatham & Clarendon v St Lawrence College
Bye v Bye
Duke of York’s RMS v Bye
Sir Roger Manwood’s w/o Kent College
Round 2
Davenant/Robert Clack v Bye
Coopers Coborn v Southend/King John
Dartford GS v Bye
Wilmington/Gravesend GS v Bye
Chislehurst & Sidcup v Hayes
Skinners’ v Sutton Valence
Chatham & Clarendon/St Lawrence College v Bye
Duke of York’s RMS 45-5 Sir Roger Manwood’s
South West A
Round 1
Mount Kelly v Plymouth College
Torquay Boys’ GS 14-42 Wellington
Woodroffe v Thomas Hardye
Yeovil College v The Gryphone
Wells Cathedral v Backwell
Bristol Cathedral Choir v Frome College
St Laurence v Hardenhuish
Sheldon v Malmesbury
St Peter’s, Gloucester v Bye
Royal Wootton Bassett v Cirencester College
Bye v Bye
Marling 5-15 Wycliffe College
Bye v Bye
Holmleigh Park HS v Tewkesbury
Bye v Bye
St Edward’s, Cheltenham v The Cotswold
Round 2
Mount Kelly/Plymouth College v Wellington
Woodroffe/Thomas Hardye v Yeovil College/The Gryphone
Wells Cathedral/Backwell v Bristol Cathedral/Frome College
St Laurence/Hardenhuish v Sheldon/Malmesbury
St Peter’s Gloucester v Royal Wootton Basset/Cirencester College
Wycliffe College v Bye
Holmleigh Park/Tewkesbury v Bye
St Edward’s Cheltenham/The Cotswold v Bye
South West B
Round 1
St Edward’s, Oxford 64-21 Lord Williams’
The Oratory v Maiden Erlegh
Forest v Windsor Boys’
Gordon’s v Howard of Effingham
Farnborough 6th form College v Godalming College
Bye v Bye
Kennet v St Bartholomew’s
Park House v Bye
Bye v Bye
Peter Symonds’ College v KES Southampton
Bye v Bye
Exeter v Bye
Bye v Bye
Brockenhurst College v Bournemouth
Bye v Bye
Clayesmore v Poole GS
Round 2
St Edward’s Oxford v The Oratory/Maiden Erlegh
Forest/Windsor Boys v Gordon’s/Howard of Effingham
Farnborough/Godalming College v Bye
Kennet/St Bartholomew’s v Park House
Peter Symonds’ College/KES Southampton v Bye
Exeter v Bye
Brockenhurst/Bournemouth v Bye
Clayesmore/Poole GS v Bye
