As we head towards the penultimate weekend of the term, we have had a midweek of schools rugby to savour.
On Wednesday night Sedbergh and Wellington College went head to head at Broadstreet RFC in a game that would have a huge bearing on the outcome of the Daily Mail Trophy, while there were also key games in the Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl, as well as so many more fixtures around the country.
Tuesday
The week’s action all began on Tuesday, and it was a great day for Bedford as they secured their first victory of the season when they travelled to Radley College, coming home with a 14-9 victory to give them a deserved uplift as they head towards the close of the season.
In Norfolk Langley won a really tight game at home to Norwich, 15-12, while in Suffolk Woodbridge enjoyed a strong 37-0 win away against Royal Hospital School’s 2nd XV. Meanwhile in Scotland Merchiston Castle were in fine form again, winning 31-12 at Boroughmuir.
Wednesday
Most of Wednesday’s major headlines were coming from Broadstreet RFC where Sedbergh beat Wellington College 20-10 in a schools rugby match of the absolute highest order. You can read our report from that game here: Sedbergh 20-10 Wellington College.
The final few Regional Finals in the Schools Cup also took place on Wednesday, champions Whitgift secured their quarter final place with a brilliant 56-5 victory over Simon Langton. They will now travel to Abingdon next week for their quarter final.
In London & South East B KCS Wimbledon secured a 32-15 victory over John Fisher to set up a quarter final at Sherborne, you can read our report from that game here: KCS Wimbledon 32-15 John Fisher.
Over in the Schools Plate St Mary’s College progressed as North A champions by the slimmest possible margin, drawing 11-11 with Bradford Grammar but progressing as the away side. They will host Bloxham, the reigning champions, in the quarter finals after they beat King’s Worcester on Thursday.
Meanwhile in London & South East B Langley Park reached the quarter finals in an incredibly tight game against Cardinal Newman, winning 13-12 to secure a quarter final place at home to Dean Close.
Wednesday did not see any Schools Vase action but there was plenty of acton in the Schools Bowl. In North B St Edward’s College sealed the quarter final berth thanks to a 20-3 victory over Birkdale, they will host Sandringham in that quarter final.
Maidstone Grammar earned a close 24-17 victory at King John in the London & South East B regional final, their quarter final will be against either Windsor Boys or KES Southampton in South West B.
Most extraordinary of all though was the result in the Midlands A regional final, where Hereford 6th form College and Royal Latin School drew 0-0. The result means that Royal Latin will progress as the away side, a heartbreaker for their hosts, and they will be travelling to North A champions Ampleforth College for their quarter final.
There was also plenty of County Cup action, Isleworth & Syon and London Oratory both earned their county titles, Isleworth & Syon beating Wetherby 15-7, and London Oratory beating Hampton’s 2nd XV 12-10. Meanwhile King’s Priory beat RGS Newcastle’s 2nd XV in a thriller, 38-26.
There was an exciting game on Wednesday evening at Aylesbury RFC, too. On the artificial surface RGS High Wycombe and Berkhamsted went head to head in a fantastic contest, Berkhamsted running out 21-15 victors.
Further north there was an absolutely stunning performance from Denstone College, who beat St Joseph’s College 82-5. A performance of sublime attacking imagination and intensity.
Elsewhere there were victories for St Columba’s College, Ellesmere College, and King’s Rochester, while Cokethorpe enjoyed a superb 22-3 victory over Shiplake College. Meanwhile Christ’s Hospital enjoyed a 12-5 victory over Royal Alexandra & Albert, with Christ College, KES Southampton, and Sutton Valence all also enjoying good wins.
Woodhouse Grove were again looking very impressive on Wednesday as they sealed a 33-19 victory over Ashville College. Meanwhile Gordon’s played well for a 24-14 victory over Reigate Grammar. There were also strong victories for King’s College Taunton and Dr Challoner’s Grammar.
Thursday
In the Schools Plate reigning champions Bloxham advanced with a hard-fought win over Bowl champions King’s Worcester at Worcester Warriors’ at Sixways Stadium. Bloxham quickly asserted themselves with tries from, Charlie Fellingham and Jack Wildman, to lead 12-0 at half time. King’s Worcester bounced back after the interval with a try and penalty to close the gap to four points before Bloxham’s forwards took control with a series of drives leading to a try for the third member of the side’s front row, Harry Fellingham. They now travel to St Mary’s College for their quarter final after their draw against Bradford Grammar saw them progress as the away side.
There was also a game in the Schools Vase, where Wellington School saw off former Cup champions St Peter’s Gloucester. Their 24-10 victory sees them emerge from South West A, and they will host Exeter School in their quarter final.
Elsewhere Milton Abbey were 22-7 victors over Sexey’s, while King’s Grantham were 27-5 victors over Trent College. Meanwhile in a massive game in the South West Bishop Wordsworth’s enjoyed an exciting 26-19 victory over Bryanston. Over in the County Cup Burford beat Wallingford 26-7.
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Schools Rugby Midweek Results:
Tuesday
Boroughmuir HS 12-31 Merchiston Castle
Langley 15-12 Norwich
Radley College 9-14 Bedford
Royal Hospital School 2nd XV 0-37 Woodbridge
Wednesday
Bradford GS 11-11 St Mary’s College (Schools Plate)
Cathedral School, Llandaff 14-24 Christ College
Christ’s Hospital 12-5 Royal Alexandra & Albert
Cokethorpe 22-3 Shiplake College
Dame Alice Owens 3-49 Dr Challoner’s GS
Denstone College 82-5 St Joseph’s College
Duke of York’s RMS 5-29 King’s Rochester
Ellesmere College 42-0 Wrekin College
Emanuel 5-27 Sutton Valence
Haberdashers’ 5-27 St Columba’s College
Hereford 6th form College 0-0 Royal Latin (Schools Bowl)
Isleworth & Syon 15-7 Wetherby (County Cup Final)
KCS Wimbledon 32-15 John Fisher (Schools Cup)
Kent College 3-48 St Dunstan’s College
KES Southampton 19-5 Barton Peveril College
King’s College, Taunton 39-21 Plymouth College
King John 17-24 Maidstone GS (Schools Bowl)
King’s Priory 38-26 RGS Newcastle 2nd XV (County Cup)
Langley Park 13-12 Cardinal Newman (Schools Plate)
London Oratory 12-10 Hampton 2nd XV (County Cup Final)
Reigate GS 14-24 Gordon’s
RGS High Wycombe 15-21 Berkhamsted – Aylesbury RFC
Sedbergh 20-10 Wellington College – Broadstreet RFC
St Edward’s College 20-3 Birkdale (Schools Bowl)
Whitgift 56-5 Simon Langton GS (Schools Cup)
Woodhouse Grove 33-19 Ashville College
Thursday
Bryanston 19-26 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Burford 26-7 Wallingford (County Cup)
King’s Grantham 27-5 Trent College
King’s Worcester 8-17 Bloxham (Schools Plate)
Milton Abbey 22-7 Sexey’s
Wellington 24-10 St Peter’s, Gloucester (Schools Vase)
Image via Sophie Jones
