Following an awesome weekend of school rugby in some truly testing conditions, we move into an exciting and busy midweek of action.
The bulk of the knockout games for the current rounds of competition took place last week, but there are still plenty of leftover Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl ties taking place this week as the final few regional finalists are confirmed.
Tuesday
A massive Schools Cup tie in South West A will dominate on Tuesday, it is the regional semi final between Taunton School and Ivybridge Community College, two sides that have really impressed. The winner will have to wait a day to find out their opponents in the regional final, Sir Thomas Rich’s and Sherborne meet on Wednesday afternoon.
Over in the Schools Plate there is some key action too as Bishop’s Stortford High School host Royal Hospital School. Either Stowe of Bedford will await the victors in the regional final, those to are yet to play.
Elsewhere there in a massive Cambridge derby as The Leys host The Perse, while in Devon Plymouth College welcome Wells Cathedral.
Wednesday
There are two key Schools Cup game on Wednesday, one of them being that Sir Thomas Rich’s v Sherborne fixture mentioned above. The two are both looking seriously strong this year, and when they take the field on Wednesday they will know if it is Taunton or Ivybridge that awaits the victors in the regional final.
Mill Hill and KCS Wimbledon already know who awaits the victor of their game. They meet on Wednesday in the London & South East A regional semi final, with in form John Fisher awaiting the victors in the Regional Final.
There is Schools Plate action on Wednesday too, not least in the form of the current Plate champions, Bloxham, travelling to Worksop College in the Midlands A regional semi final. King’s Worcester await the winners in the regional final.
Over in the North B section former Champions Trophy finalists Grammar School at Leeds are hosting Hymers College in the regional semi final, a trip to Hartlepool 6th form College in the regional final is the prize for the victors.
The Schools Vase also sees action, Wellington and Malesbury meet in the South West A regional semi final, while over in London & South East A both of the semi finals are taking place, Eastbourne College v Reigate Grammar and Glyn v Tring.
There are also a few Schools Bowl games, notably Ratcliffe College v Royal Latin and Birkdale v Carre’s Grammar School.
Plenty of sides are also in County Cup action, not least the Cheshire County Cup final between Cheadle Hulme and Lymm High School, two cracking sides. In Sussex Churcher’s College and Peter Symonds’ College take each other on, elsewhere Hayes host in form Langley Park.
There is also knockout action in Scotland, Edinburgh Academy hosting Fettes College in the Schools Cup quarter final.
On of the great occasions on Wednesday will be back to back games at the Twickenham Stoop. St John’s Leatherhead and Caterham will take to the field first early on Wednesday afternoon and they are followed by Emanuel v Gordon’s. For all four sides it should be an awesome afternoon, inspiring and wonderful opportunity to play on the very same spot as some of their great heroes.
Elsewhere there is plenty of other rugby going on, not least a Truro derby between Truro School and Truro College’s non-AASE side. Meanwhile in form Trinity host Cedars, while St Olave’s Grammar host Beth’s Grammar, and Latymer Upper travel to Wetherby.
There is a cracking game on Wednesday between two close rivals that actually met in the Cup last week, Northampton School for Boys and Samuel Whitbread, NSB won that game, but expect Samuel Whitbread to come fighting back strong.
In the South East Harris City Academy travel to Robert Clack, while Sir Roger Manwood’s host Kent College, Colfe’s welcome Judd, and Chatham & Clarendon head to Duk of York’s Royal Military School. Elsewhere Shrewsbury host Welsh side Rydal Penrhos, while in Wales Christ College welcome Bro Dinefwr.
Shiplake College are taking on LVS Ascot at home, while in Hertfordshire St Edmund’s College head to Roundwood Park and Oaklands College host Sandringham. Elsewhere KES Five Ways head to Bablake.
Meanwhile in the North West Manchester Grammar host Rishworth and Liverpool College welcome Rossall, while moving south it is a trip to KES Aston for Newcastle-Under-Lyme, with Sidcot heading to Kings of Wessex and George Abbot host Howard of Eppingham, Halliford head to Forest School.
The North East sees Durham welcoming Ripon Grammar to their magnificent setting, while Emmanuel College are at home against King’s Priory. Elsewhere KES Aston head to KES Five Ways, and Dr Challoner’s welcome Sir William Borlase’s, Cleeve host St Edward’s Cheltenham, and Reading travel to Claires Court.
Thursday
Aylesbury RFC will host a massive game on Thursday evening as Stowe, looking for a bit of form, take on Berkhamsted, who played well on Saturday to earn a draw at Hampton. Elsewhere Burford host Wallingford, while Oakwood Park host St Lawrence College.
The South West sees plenty of action on Thursday, Marlborough College will be looking to back up Saturday’s Silk Cup when they host Beechen Cliff’s non-AASE side. There is a massive game at Downside when former Schools Cup finalists Bishop Wordsworth’s come to town, meanwhile Clayesmore are also in action on Thursday, travelling to Milton Abbey.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Fixtures (predictions in bold):
Tuesday
Bishop’s Stortford HS v Royal Hospital School (Schools Plate)
The Leys v The Perse
Plymouth College v Wells Cathedral
Taunton v Ivybridge Community College (Schools Cup)
Wednesday
Bablake v KES Five Ways
Birkdale v Carre’s GS (Schools Bowl)
Caterham v St John’s, Leatherhead – Twickenham Stoop
Cheadle Hulme v Lymm HS (County Cup Final)
Churcher’s College v Peter Symonds’ College (County Cup)
Christ College v Bro Dinefwr
Claires Court v Reading
Cleeve v St Edward’s, Cheltenham
Colfe’s v Judd
Dr Challoner’s GS v Sir William Borlase’s GS
Duke of York’s RMS v Chatham & Clarendon
Durham v Ripon GS
Eastbourne College v Reigate GS (Schools Vase)
Edinburgh Academy v Fettes College (Scottish Schools Cup QF)
Emanuel v Gordon’s – Twickenham Stoop
Emmanuel College v King’s Priory
Forest v Halliford
Hayes v Langley Park (County Cup SF)
George Abbot v Howard of Effingham
Glyn v Tring (Schools Vase)
Grammar School at Leeds v Hymers College (Schools Plate)
KES Aston v Newcastle-Under-Lyme
KES Five Ways v KES Aston
Kings of Wessex v Sidcot
Liverpool College v Rossall
Manchester GS v Rishworth
Mill Hill v KCS Wimbledon (Schools Cup)
Northampton School for Boys v Samuel Whitbread
Oaklands College v Sandringham
Ratcliffe College v Royal Latin (Schools Bowl)
Robert Clack v Harris City Academy
Roundwood Park v St Edmund’s College
Shiplake College v LVS Ascot
Shrewsbury v Rydal Penrhos
Sir Roger Manwood’s v Kent College
Sir Thomas Rich’s v Sherborne (Schools Cup)
St Olave’s GS v Beth’s GS
Trinity v Cedars
Truro v Truro College Non-AASE XV
Wellington v Malmesbury (Schools Vase)
Wetherby v Latymer Upper
Worksop College v Bloxham (Schools Plate)
Thursday
Berkhamsted v Stowe – Aylesbury RFC
Burford v Wallingford
Downside v Bishop Wordsworth’s
Marlborough College v Beechen Cliff Non-AASE XV
Milton Abbey v Clayesmore
Oakwood Park GS v St Lawrence College
