This week has been packed full of schools rugby as the season really kicks into gear with the big kick offs in a couple of competitions.
The Schools Cup began in earnest, while the Champions Trophy also saw action as well as having the second round drawn earlier on today (Friday). Those two tournaments though are covered elsewhere, and you can read about them via the links below, here we will focus on the other rugby that took place this week, including the Schools Vase and so much more.
Champions Trophy Roundup & 2nd Round Draw
Tuesday
The action began on Tuesday, with the evening kick off in Clifton the major talking point of the day. Clifton College hosted Millfield in the Ryan Bresnahan Memorial game, raising funds for Meningitis B through A Life for a Cure. Clifton were irrepressible despite the horrendous conditions, storming through to an impressive 29-0 victory.
Elsewhere Oakham were the latest to take on South Africa tourists Martizburg College, going down 22-0, while in the Scottish Schools Cup Loretto were 14-5 victors over Lasswade High School.
There were three games in the Schools Vase, Leicester Grammar performing superbly in Midlands A, beating Bishop Stopford 41-0 to set up a third round tie with Wellingborough, who had a bye.
In London & South East A St Lawrence College beat Chatham & Clarendon 24-5 in a late first round game and breeze through to the third round thanks to a bye. Meanwhile in South West A there was a tense 10-10 draw between Wells Cathedral and Backwell, Backwell going through after scoring first, they must wait to find out their second round opponents though.
Wednesday
Wednesday was a hugely busy day, again with a real showcase game in the evening as Haileybury entertained Llandovery College at Allianz Park. In a carnival atmosphere there was also some great rugby played in the curtain raiser U11 festival played beforehand. Llandovery College started like a train and shot into a lead with wing Louis Rees crossing following a really intelligent kick from the Llandovery half back. Haileybury slowly hit back with some good play and managed to get two penalties from the excellent wing Jack Barnes. However, Llandovery got another penalty to take an 8-6 lead. Haileybury skipper Callum McGurk’s impressive influence was curtailed by a yellow, but his side showed great resilience to score through Ehimen Osebor, who was prominent throughout, giving his side a 13-8 lead at the break.
Llandovery were on top in the second half and battered away but couldn’t get the breakthrough they needed through some resolute Haileybury defence, from Harry West and Ollie Firth in particular. The Welshmen missed a relatively straightforward penalty but from the 22m drop out scored a great try out wide, which was converted to put them in the box seat. Both sides missed a couple of shots at goal but Haileybury’s Jack Barnes stepped up from fully 45m to slot an excellent penalty to send Haileybury into a 16-15 lead in the dying minutes for a dramatic and enthralling victory.
That was far from the only excitement on the day either, as Cokethorpe, Dame Alice Owens, and Claires Court all secured victories by two points or less, as did Lord Wandsworth College in an absolutely stunning game of rugby at Shiplake College that ended an incredible 45-43.
Elsewhere St Ambrose College were on form for a 27-7 victory at Bolton, with Finchley CHS winning 45-14 at Enfield and Gravesend Grammar beating Beth’s Grammar 17-7.
In Scotland Dollar Academy won a good game against Dundee High School, 22-14, while Hutchesons’ Grammar were 28-14 victors over St Columba’s.
Saffron Wladen earned a 14-7 home win over Coopers’ Coborn, with Shebbear beating Plymouth College 19-10 and Truro performing exceptionally well against Ivybridge for a 26-5 victory. Gresham’s meanwhile were in good nick, beating West Norfolk RFC 40-0.
There was also some touring action on Wednesday as Lymm High School looked good once again for a 19-7 victory over South African side Benoni High School.
In the Schools Vase Bishop Heber are through to the third round in North B with a 52-17 defeat of Shrewsbury. Meanwhile in Midlands A there were three games, all in the third round, Bablake beat KES Five Ways 49-19 to progress, while RGS Worcester and KES Stratford will meet in round four after 22-13 and 35-7 victories over Hereford Cathedral and KES Camp Hill respectively.
Midlands B saw action in two games, Aylesbury Grammar continuing their outstanding form for a 50-0 defeat of St Columba’s College, to send them through to the third round, meanwhile The Perse are also through after their 26-3 victory at Richard Hale.
London & South East A saw Glyn head to round 3 thanks to an 18-7 victory at Esher College, they will face Isleworth & Syon, who were very impressive in a 53-21 victory over Saint Cecilia’s. Over in the B section there was plenty of action, perhaps most impressive of all a very tight 20-19 victory for Chislehurst & Sidcup over last year’s semi finalists, Hayes. Sutton Valence will be up next for them after an impressive 34-25 victory, a bit of a thriller, at Skinners’. Meanwhile Duke of York’s RMS also booked passage thanks to a 42-21 victory at Sir Roger Manwood’s.
Over in the South West former Cup champions St Peter’s Gloucester were sensational in South West A, a 71-0 victory over Royal Wootton Bassest. Meanwhile in the B section St Edward’s Oxford booked passage with a 21-15 victory over The Oratory, and Gordon’s will join them thanks to a 47-28 victory at Forest School.
The Schools Bowl, for those knocked out in the opening round of the Vase, also kicked off on Wednesday. St Dunstan’s College started brightly, earning a 47-0 victory over Darrick Wood, while Roundwood Park were 29-15 victors at Sir William Borlase’s. Sandringham were on form, a 45-0 victory over Samuel Ryder helping them though, similarly Maidstone Grammar, who won 40-0 at Oakwood Park.
Thursday
Thursday was another busy day but without a doubt the headline was Rugby School’s trip to Harrow. Rugby have been in stunning form this season but there was some expectation that a good Harrow side would cause them more problems than anyone else had managed to so far. Harrow did cause some problems, but Rugby had the answers a pulled out yet another top class performance for a brilliant 52-14 away victory.
Elsewhere King’s Canterbury were on form at Worth for a 31-17 victory, while Beechen Cliff’s non-AASE side were very good at Prior Park, winning 56-0. Wycliffe College hosted a really good contest against Cathedral School, Llandaff, and came out on top 17-14.
There were a couple of other really exciting looking game in the form of Eton College v Tonbridge and Monkton Combe v Kingswood, but those results are yet to come through.
Meanwhile there was yet more Vase action on Thursday as 2018 champions Langley continued their excellent progress in Midlands B with a 34-10 victory over Culford. Over in the Bowl Wallington County Grammar won 38-5 at Rutlish.
You can see the full lay of the land in the U18 Schools Vase below the roundup of all the results from the week below.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Results:
Tuesday
Bishop Stopford 0-41 Leicester GS (Schools Vase)
Clifton College 29-0 Millfield (Ryan Bresnahan Memorial)
Loretto 14-5 Lasswade HS (Scottish Schools Cup)
Oakham 0-22 Maritzburg College (South Africa)
St Lawrence College 24-5 Chatham & Clarendon (Schools Vase)
Wells Cathedral 10-10 Backwell (Schools Vase)
Wednesday
Aylesbury GS 50-0 St Columba’s College (Schools Vase)
Bablake 49-19 KES Five Ways (Schools Vase)
Bolton 7-27 St Ambrose College
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 20-19 Hayes (Schools Vase)
Cokethorpe 8-7 Royal Latin
Dame Alice Owens 21-20 Broxbourne
Dollar Academy 22-14 Dundee HS (Scottish Schools Cup)
Enfield GS 14-45 Finchley CHS
Esher College 7-18 Glyn (Schools Vase)
Forest 28-47 Gordon’s (Schools Vase)
Gravesend GS 17-7 Beth’s GS
Haileybury 16-15 Llandovery College – Allianz Park
Hereford Cathedral 13-22 RGS Worcester (Schools Vase)
Hutchesons’ GS 28-14 St Columba’s
Isleworth & Syon 53-21 Saint Cecilia’s (Schools Bowl)
KES Stratford 35-7 KES Camp Hill (Schools Vase)
Lymm HS 19-7 Benoni HS (South Africa)
Oakwood Park 0-40 Maidstone GS (Schools Bowl)
Reading 22-24 Claires Court
Richard Hale 3-26 The Perse (Schools Vase)
Saffron Walden 14-7 Coopers’ Coborn
Sandringham 45-0 Samuel Ryder Academy (Schools Bowl)
Shebbear College 19-10 Plymouth College
Shiplake College 43-45 Lord Wandsworth College
Shrewsbury 17-52 Bishop Heber HS (Schools Vase)
Sir Roger Manwood’s 21-42 Duke of York’s RMS (Schools Vase)
Sir William Borlase’s GS 15-29 Roundwood Park (Schools Bowl)
Skinners’ 25-34 Sutton Valence (Schools Vase)
St Dunstan’s College 47-0 Darrick Wood (Schools Bowl)
St Edward’s, Oxford 21-15 The Oratory (Schools Vase)
St Peter’s, Gloucester 71-0 Royal Wootton Bassett (Schools Vase)
Truro 26-5 Ivybridge Community College
West Norfolk RFC 0-40 Gresham’s
Thursday
Eton College v Tonbridge – Still to come
Harrow 14-52 Rugby
Langley 34-10 Culford (Schools Vase)
Monkton Combe v Kingswood – Still to Come
Prior Park 0-56 Beechen Cliff 2nd XV
Rutlish 5-38 Wallington CGS (Schools Bowl)
Worth 17-31 King’s Canterbury
Wycliffe College 17-14 Cathedral School, Llandaff
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 0-53 Bishop Heber
Oswestry 0-45 Shrewsbury
Liverpool College v Birkenhead
St Anselm’s College v St Edward’s College
King William’s College 50-3 Castle Rushen
Altrincham GS v Sale GS
Bolton v The Grange
Bye v Bye
Bye v Bye
Newcastle Under Lyme 27-20 Adams GS
St Joseph’s College w/o Thomas Alleynes
Birkdale 24-24 Lady Manners
Nottingham HS v Priory Ruskin
King’s Grantham 55-10 Carre’s GS
Thomas Rotherham College v Hill House
South Hunsley v Bye
Round 2
Bishop Heber 17-52 Shrewsbury
Liverpool College/Birkenhead v St Anselm’s College/St Edward’s College
King William’s v Altrincham GS/Sale GS
Bolton/The Grange v Bye
Newcastle Under Lyme v Bye
St Joseph’s College v Birkdale/Lady Manners
Nottingham HS/Priory Ruskin v King’s Grantham
Thomas Rotherham/Hill House v South Hunsley
Midlands A
Round 1
Hereford Cathedral School 10-7 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 31-27 KES Lichield
Bye v Bye
KES Aston v Birmingham Metropolitan
Bye v Bye
Loughborough College 55-5 Ratcliffe College
Bishop Stopford v Bye
Leicester GS w/o Robert Smyth
Bye v Bye
Wellingborough 12-10 Royal Latin
Round 2
Hereford Cathedral 13-22 RGS Worcester
KES Stratford 35-7 KES Camp Hill
Bablake 49-19 KES Five Ways
Queen Mary’s GS v Bye
KES Aston/Birmingham Met v Bye
Loughborough College v Bye
Bishop Stopford 0-41 Leicester GS
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 w/o Samuel Ryder
Richard Hale w/o St Edmunds College
The Perse v Bye
Hitchin Boys v Knights Templar
Bye v Bye
Saffron Walden 10-33 Hills Road
Mark Rutherford 20-60 Hitchingbrooke
Spalding GS 8-45 Gresham’s
Bye v Bye
Wymondham College 10-60 Langley
Culford w/o Thomas Mills
Ipswich 51-0 Woodbridge
RGS Colchester v Bye
Round 2
Aylesbury GS 50-0 St Columba’s College
Sir John Lawes v Beaumont
Richard Hale 3-26 The Perse
Hitchin Boys/Knight Templar v Bye
Hills Road v Hitchingbrooke
Gresham’s v Bye
Langley 34-10 Culford
Ipswich v RGS Colchester
London & South East A
Round 1
Tring 29-19 Hemel Hempstead
John Hampden GS 19-0 Chesham GS
Longdean w/d Parmiter’s
Rickmansworth 7-14 QES Barnet
Isleworth & Syon 43-10 Orleans Park
Grey Court w/d 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 v John Hampden
Parmiter’s v QES Barnet
Isleworth & Syon 53-21 Saint Cecilia’s
Esher College 7-18 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 12-14 Robert Clack
Bye v Bye
Coopers Coborn v Bye
Southend HS w/o 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 5-24 St Lawrence College
Bye v Bye
Duke of York’s RMS v Bye
Sir Roger Manwood’s w/o Kent College
Round 2
Robert Clack v Bye
Coopers Coborn v Southend
Dartford GS v Bye
Wilmington/Gravesend GS v Bye
Chislehurst & Sidcup 20-19 Hayes
Skinners’ 25-34 Sutton Valence
St Lawrence College v Bye
Duke of York’s RMS 42-21 Sir Roger Manwood’s
South West A
Round 1
Mount Kelly 15-7 Plymouth College
Torquay Boys’ GS 14-42 Wellington
Woodroffe v Thomas Hardye
Yeovil College v The Gryphone
Wells Cathedral 10-10 Backwell
Bristol Cathedral Choir v Frome College
St Laurence w/d Hardenhuish
Sheldon w/d Malmesbury
St Peter’s, Gloucester v Bye
Royal Wootton Bassett w/o 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 v Wellington
Woodroffe/Thomas Hardye v Yeovil College/The Gryphone
Wells Cathedral v Bristol Cathedral/Frome College
Hardenhuish v Malmesbury
St Peter’s Gloucester 71-0 Royal Wootton Basset
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 Bye
Forest v Windsor Boys’
Gordon’s w/o 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 44-7 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 21-15 The Oratory
Forest 28-47 Gordon’s
Farnborough/Godalming College v Bye
Kennet/St Bartholomew’s v Park House
Peter Symonds’ College v Bye
Exeter v Bye
Brockenhurst/Bournemouth v Bye
Clayesmore/Poole GS v Bye
