The U18 Schools Plate quarter finals all take place on Wednesday, eight teams vying to reach next term’s semi finals.
Some of the most famous names in schools rugby are there, including former Champions Trophy and Schools Cup finalists, plus the reigning Plate champions.
Quarter Finals
St Mary’s College v Bloxham – Wednesday, 2pm
Bloxham are the reigning champions and are looking in great form once again this year having come through Midlands A, including a tough Regional Final against the Schools Bowl holders, King’s Worcester. They have only seen defeat three times this year, all prior to half term. That is the scale of the challenge that they lay down on their trip to North A champions St Mary’s College, who came through in the tightest of circumstances having drawn 11-11 at Bradford Grammar in the regional final, progressing as the away side. It was a second incredibly gritty performance in two rounds of this competition from St Mary’s, and exactly the type of resilience that they will need on Wednesday afternoon.
Prediction: Bloxham
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Grammar School at Leeds v Stowe – Wednesday, 2.15pm
Grammar School at Leeds were in the inaugural Champions Trophy final back in 2014 but have since switched back to the Cup and this year they are looking like strong contenders for this Plate title having come through their North B section in some style. Stowe are a great name in school rugby, their progress to this quarter final has been unusual though, they have only played one game to date, their regional final against Bishop’s Stortford High School. That was just their third victory of a tricky season, yet with their history they have every chance on Wednesday afternoon to reach a semi final.
Prediction: Grammar School at Leeds
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Langley Park v Dean Close – Wednesday, 2.15pm
Langley Park host an incredibly tough opponent on Wednesday in the form of Dean Close. Oddly though, the South West A champions have only had to play one game so far in this Plate competition, however outside of it they have been sensational. In fact their Schools Cup defeat to Sir Thomas Rich’s that put them into this competition is their only defeat of the season. Langley Park have been impressive too though, they were in flying form in the early rounds of this competition and then won a really tight game against Cardinal Newman in the last round, proving their ability to win those close fixtures. The challenge is a big one for Langley Park, but also for Dean Close.
Prediction: Dean Close
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Bishop Wordsworth’s v Reed’s – Wednesday, 2.30pm
Bishop Wordsworth’s reached the Schools Cup final in 2017 and they were runners up back in 1991 too, the inaugural year of the U18 Schools Cup. This year they are in the Plate but having progressed from South West B ahead of the likes of Marlborough College and Reading Blue Coat they are one of the favourites to secure a final berth in this competition. On Wednesday though they host a tough side in the form of London & South East A champions, Reed’s – though their regional final against St George’s was never actually played for a couple of reasons. Prior victories over Tiffin and Christ’s Hospital proved their quality, however, and it all sets up for what feels like an excellent quarter final on Wednesday.
Prediction: Bishop Wordsworth’s
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U18 Schools Plate QF Draw:
St Mary’s (North A) v Bloxham (Midlands A) – Wednesday, 2pm
Grammar School at Leeds (North B) v Stowe (Midlands B) – Wednesday, 2pm
Langley Park (London & South East B) v Dean Close (South West A) – Wednesday, 2.15pm
Bishop Wordsworth’s (South West B) v Reed’s (London & South East A) – Wednesday, 2.30pm
U18 Schools Plate Fixtures/Results:
North A
Round 1
Stockport GS 34-35 Ermysted’s GS
Giggleswick 14-58 Bradford GS
Silcoates 5-60 Merchant Taylors’
Calday Grange GS 7-57 St Mary’s College
Round 2
Ermysted’s GS 0-47 Bradford GS
Merchant Taylors’ 12-14 St Mary’s College
Round 3
Bradford GS 11-11 St Mary’s College
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 7-26 Hartlepool 6th form College
Grammar School at Leeds 61-0 Hymers College
Round 4
Hartlepool 6th form College 0-43 Grammar School at Leeds
Midlands A
Round 1
Sir John Dean’s v BYE
Wrekin College w/d King’s Worcester
Worksop College 31-15 Trent College
Bishop Vesey’s GS 11-30 Bloxham
Round 2
Sir John Dean’s 5-29 King’s Worcester
Worksop College 0-50 Bloxham
Round 3
King’s Worcester 8-17 Bloxham
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 w/o Bedford Modern
Bishop’s Stortford HS 38-26 Royal Hospital
Round 3
Stowe 38-31 Bishop’s Stortford HS
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 17-48 St George’s College, Weybridge
Tiffin 5-59 Reed’s
Round 3
St George’s College, Weybridge w/d Reed’s
London & South East B
Round 1
Eltham College 49-12 Colfe’s
St Olave’s GS 14-40 Langley Park
Richard Challoner v BYE
Cardinal Newman v BYE
Round 2
Eltham College 24-46 Langley Park
Richard Challoner w/d Cardinal Newman
Round 3
Langley Park 13-12 Cardinal Newman
South West A
Round 1
Dean Close v BYE
Downside v BYE
Bridgwater & Taunton College 3-62 Richard Huish
BYE v BYE
Round 2
Dean Close w/o Downside
Richard Huish v BYE
Round 3
Dean Close 45-5 Richard Huish
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 22-0 Pangbourne College
Portsmouth GS 7-40 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Round 3
Reading Blue Coat 19-24 Bishop Wordsworth’s
