The U18 Schools Plate kicked off this week with some excellent rugby played right across the country as sides vie for a place at Sixways Stadium in March.
The competition is contested between the sides knocked out in the opening round of the Schools Cup. They remain split in their original regions, with this competition starting at the regional quarter final stage. Like the Cup, each region produces a winner, and those winners are then re-drawn for the National quarter final stage.
Below we run through what has been happening in this opening round and look ahead to round two, the regional semis, breaking it down region by region.
U18 Schools Plate Draw/Results:
North A
Round 1
Stockport GS v Ermysted’s GS
Giggleswick v Bradford GS (Wednesday 16th)
Silcoates v Merchant Taylors’
Calday Grange GS v St Mary’s College
Round 2
Stockport GS/Ermysted’s GS v Giggleswick/Bradford GS
Silcoates/Merchant Taylors’ v Calday Grange GS/St Mary’s College
There does not appear to have been much action in the North A group as yet, Giggleswick v Bradford Grammar is set for Wednesday 16th. The winner of that will be playing either Stockport Grammar or Ermysted’s Grammar away from home. The other side of the draw sees Silcoates v Merchant Taylors’ and Calday Grange Gramamr v St Mary’s College still to be played.
North B
Round 1
Dame Allan’s v BYE
Hartlepool 6th form College v BYE
Grammar School at Leeds v BYE
Prince Henry’s GS 0-50 Hymers College
Round 2
Dame Allan’s v Hartlepool 6th form College
Grammar School at Leeds v Hymers College
North B had only one game played as Hymers College secured a 50-0 victory at Prince Henry’s Grammar. They will now travel to Grammar School at Leeds, who had an opening round bye. Dame Allan’s also had a first round bye, and they will host Hartlepool 6th for College in the second round, another side that had a first round bye.
Midlands A
Round 1
Sir John Dean’s v BYE
Wrekin College v King’s Worcester – TBA
Worksop College v Trent College (Saturday 12th)
Bishop Vesey’s GS 11-30 Bloxham
Round 2
Sir John Dean’s v Wrekin College/King’s Worcester
Worksop College/Trent College v Bloxham
Midlands A contains the reigning Plate champions, Bloxham, and they were in fine form in this opening round on Wednesday coming back from 6-3 down at Bishop Vesey’s at half time to win 30-11. They will be travelling to either Worksop College or Trent College, who meet on Saturday. Sir John Dean’s enjoyed an opening round bye, they will be hosting either Wrekin College or King’s Worcester in Round 2, that first round game is yet to be played.
Midlands B
Round 1
Stowe v BYE
Bedford Modern v BYE
Bishop Stortford’s HS v BYE
Royal Hospital School v BYE
Round 2
Stowe v Bedford Modern
Bishop’s Stortford HS v Royal Hospital
There was no action in Midlands B this week, all four sides had opening round byes. Round 2 will therefore see Stowe host Bedford Modern, while Bishop’s Stortford High School will be hosting Royal Hospital School.
London & South East A
Round 1
Watford GS 31-30 St Benedict’s
St George’s College, Weybridge v BYE
Tiffin 52-5 Cobham International
Reed’s 43-15 Christ’s Hospital
Round 2
Watford GS v St George’s College, Weybridge
Tiffin v Reed’s
Watford Grammar School for a thriller against St Benedict’s, 31-30, to become the first side to qualify through playing in London & South East A. They will now be hosting St George’s College Weybridge, former Bowl winners, in round 2. On the other side of the draw Tiffin will be doing the hosting after a brilliant 52-5 victory over Cobham International School. They will be welcoming Reed’s, who impressively beat Christ’s Hospital 43-15.
London & South East B
Round 1
Eltham College v Colfe’s (Saturday 12th)
St Olave’s GS 14-40 Langley Park
Richard Challoner v BYE
Cardinal Newman v BYE
Round 2
Eltham College/Colfe’s v Langley Park
Richard Challoner v Cardinal Newman
Langley Park and St Olave’s Grammar were the only sides in action in midweek in London & South East B, Langley Park progressing thanks to a 40-14 victory. They will be travelling to either Eltham College or Colfe’s in the second round, they meet on Saturday. Richard Challoner v Cardinal Newman will be the other second round game, both enjoyed first round byes.
South West A
Round 1
Dean Close v BYE
Downside v BYE
Bridgwater & Taunton College v Richard Huish – TBA
BYE v BYE
Round 2
Dean Close v Downside
Bridgwater & Taunton College/Richard Huish v BYE
It was all quiet on the (South) Western Front this week. Dean Close and Downside will be meeting in a blockbuster second round tie after both had first round bye. Meanwhile either Bridgwater & Taunton College or Richard Huish will be heading straight to the regional final thanks to bye, once they play their opening round game.
South West B
Round 1
Marlborough College 15-27 Reading Blue Coat
Pangbourne College 48-10 Dr Challoner’s GS
Portsmouth GS v Bye
Bishop Wordsworth’s v BYE
Round 2
Reading Blue Coat v Pangbourne College
Portsmouth GS v Bishop Wordsworth’s
Reading Blue Coat proved their strong form once again this season with a 27-15 first round victory at Marlborough College. They will be hosting in the second round, welcoming Pangbourne College after their 48-10 victory over Dr Challoner’s Grammar School. The other game sees Portsmouth Grammar host former Cup finalists Bishop Wordsworth’s, both sides had first round byes.
Image via Sophie Jones
