The U18 Schools Cup, Plate, Vase, and Bowl quarter finals draws took place today as the competitions edge ever nearer to a stage that is national.
Across all four competitions the North and Midlands sections together for their quarter finals, with the London & South East and South West sections on the other side of the draw.
U18 Schools Cup
Barnard Castle v Oakham
Kirkham Grammar v Bedford
Trinity v Berkhamsted
Sherborne/Canford v Hampton/Harrow
The U18 Schools Cup draw looks fascinating, headed up by a tie between two legends of the tournament, Barnard Castle from North B, who have reached the final but never quite cleared the final hurdle, and former champions Oakham, from Midlands A. North A’s representatives are Kirkham Grammar School, unbeaten so far this season and almost entirely untroubled so far in this competition. They host Bedford, who won a thriller against Felsted to reach this stage in Midlands B.
The other side of the draw sees Trinity, who beat local rivals and reigning champions Whtgift to win the London & South East B section, host South West B’s champions, Berkhamsted, who are yet to lose all season and are looking rampant. The only side to trouble them have been Harrow, who face Hampton in the London & South East A final on Tuesday, the winner of that will be travelling to the winner of South West A, where Sherborne and Canford meet on Saturday.
U18 Schools Plate
Grammar School at Leeds v Stowe
Stockport Grammar v Norwich/Campion
Marlborough College v KCS Wimbledon
Henley College v Wimbledon College/Caterham
The Plate has been an odd competition, there are sides in the quarter final draw that have not actually played a game in the competition, chiefly Stowe, who were the only side in the Midlands A draw. Despite that they are one of the favourites. They will travel to Grammar School at Leeds, who did not have to play a game in North B after their first round defeat of Bradford Grammar. Stockport Grammar played plenty in North A to emerge after a thriller at Stonyhurst, they will host the winner of Norwich v Campion in Midlands B, who meet on Tuesday.
The bottom half of the draw sees two big names go head to head as Marlborough College, who won South West A, host KCS Wimbledon, who won London & South East A and will really be keen to go deep here. The other game sees South West B’s Henley College host either Wimbledon College or Caterham, they play in the London & South East B Regional Final on Wednesday.
U18 Schools Vase
Coventry College/Oundle v Ipswich
Mount St Mary’s College v St Anselm’s College
Skinners’/Sutton Valence v Truro/Bristol Grammar
Reading Blue Coat v Wallington County Grammar
The Vase still has a bit of work to be done, but in the top half of the draw Midlands B winners Ipswich will be heading to either Coventry College or Oundle, once they have played their Midlands A final. MeanwhleMount St Mary’s College, so impressive this year like Ipswich, while be hosting St Anselm’s College in a North B v North A quarter final.
Reading Blue Coat, who were so brilliant in our live stream of the South West B final against Bryanston, will be at home again, this time against London & South East A’s Wallington County Grammar. The other quarter final will be known on Wednesday as the winner of Skinners’ v Sutton Valence will host the winner of Truro v Bristol Grammar, both of which are being played on Wednesday.
U18 Schools Bowl
Hills Road v Nottingham HS
RGS Colchester v Prince Henry’s Grammar/Wilmslow High
West Buckland/Wycliffe College v Eastbourne College
Cokethorpe/Lord Wandsworth College v Glyn
Over in the Schools Bowl some clarity was finally brought to a competition that has been harder than ever to follow. Hills Road won Midlands A and will host North B champions Nottingham High, while Colchester RGS won Midlands B and will face the winner of the North A final, Prince Henry’s Grammar v Wilmslow High.
The other side of the draw sees London & South East B’s Eastbourne College head to the winner of the South West A final between West Buckland and Wycliffe College, while London & South East A’s Glyn will be at either Cokethorpe or Lord Wandsworth College those two meet in the South West B final on Wednesday.
