For so many teams this was the final weekend of the schools rugby season, and it certainly lived up to expectations on a thrilling weekend that saw some big shake ups ahead to the very final week of the term.
There was Schools Cup action and huge Daily Mail Trophy ramifications, that competition will come to a thrilling close this week, and sadly a few fixtures that had to be cancelled for a number of reasons.
Ten to Watch
Those cancellations extended to our Ten to Watch, prior to the weekend games that were to be included were cancelled, and then late on the big derby in Suffolk was also lost, Ipswich v Royal Hospital School.
Elsewhere though, the other 9 went ahead and our readers were in red hot form, correctly predicting eight of the nine games. The game our readers got wrong was the very first game of the weekend as Whitgift and Denstone College, 77% of readers thought that Whitgift would claim victory at Esher RFC on Friday night and at half time it looked that way, with Whitgift leading 12-0, however Denstone College came storming back in the second half to seal a dramatic 14-12 victory.
Also in our Ten to Watch was the South West A U18 Schools Cup regional final, where Sherborne and Canford went head to head. Sherborne reached the semi finals of the last edition, back in 2019/20, before covid finished things and they have a chance to get back there after an 18-3 victory, which 70% of readers predicted, takes them to the quarter finals where they will host Harrow.
That game will take place on Thursday and it left Harrow in a tricky spot. On Saturday Harrow secured a brilliant 33-17 victory over Epsom College, in line with the predictions of 70% of readers. It was a tough blow for Epsom, who have been so good this season but they will have a chance to bounce back against Hurstpierpoint College next weekend, for Harrow it kept alive a slim hope of claiming the Daily Mail Trophy, however they have had to sacrifice that chance in order to play that Schools Cup quarter final on Thursday.
That was bad news for Wellington College, too, whose outstanding 36-17 victory over Tonbridge on Saturday originally kept their hopes alive. However they were supposed to play Harrow on Thursday, with victory for either giving them a chance of the Daily Mail Trophy, with that cancelled though they now face Ipswich, which will not give them enough opposition bonus points. Nevertheless, Saturday was superb from Wellington College and though 72% of readers thought they would beat Tonbridge, it was never going to be that simple, Tonbridge have been utterly brilliant this season. They may have lost on Saturday, a tough way to end the year, but they ought to be proud. So too Wellington College though, a brilliant performance, and you can read our report from that game here: Wellington College v Tonbridge.
There are plenty of sides that are still in the Daily Mail Trophy hunt though, Sedbergh v Millfield on Saturday is going to be crucial of course, but waiting in the wings are Berkhamsted who remain very much in the hunt. They also remain unbeaten this season and in the Quarter Finals of the Schools Cup, and on Saturday they put in yet another impressive display. This time it was against Hertfordshire rivals Haileybury. 87% of readers expected a Berkhamsted victory and this incredibly impressive side duly delivered, 43-23, sending them into Saturday’s game with Dulwich College knowing that a victory will see them claim the title if Sedbergh slip up against Millfield. Haileybury may have lost, but against one of the top couple of sides in the country it was a brilliant performance with which to end their season.
Also waiting to pick up pieces are the extraordinary St Benedict’s. 85% expected them to beat Tiffin on Saturday but there was huge pressure on the fixture for St Benedict’s. They have not lost outside of the Cup this season, even then only just, and are sitting in third in the Daily Mail Trophy table. Depending on how things go in the Berkhamsted v Dulwich and Sedbergh v Millfield games, they have a chance on a stunning title win. In order to give themselves that chance against Magdalen College next weekend, they had to do the job on Saturday though, and what a job they did, a stunning 50-15 victory over Tiffin.
Elsewhere in our Ten to Watch, Kirkham Grammar School kept in the top ten in the Daily Mail Trophy with another excellent victory. This time beating a tough Bloxham outfit 24-5 away from home, and though 62% of readers predicted it, it was a far closer game that the scoreline suggested though. The upshot is, this incredible Kirkham Grammar School side has sealed an unbeaten regular season, and look so well prepared ahead of a massive U18 Schools Cup Quarter Final against Bedford on Friday. Bloxham have had a strong year too, and though they might have lost they should take great credit for giving one of the strongest sides out there such a tough game.
It was the penultimate game of the season for both Cheltenham College and Rugby, they each play on Thursday with Cheltenham facing Teddies Oxford and Rugby hosting prestigious Scottish opposition in the form of Fettes College. On Saturday the two met in an absolute thriller, 81% predicted a Rugby win, and they were to be proved right but it was oh so close. Rugby claimed the victory, 17-15, it was an absolutely cracking game, Cheltenham performed brilliantly, but so too did Rugby, who were without 9 frontline players and in securing victory secured a top ten finish in the Daily Mail Trophy.
One side who are right on the cusp of the top ten are Woodhouse Grove, who moved up to 11th thanks to yet another magnificent victory, this time beating St Peter’s York 24-8 away from home. 76% of readers predicted that Woodhouse Grove victory, and little wonder, they have been the quiet stars of this schools rugby season. For St Peter’s it’s a tough outcome, but they have a game at Pocklington this weekend that they will hope is an opportunity to end the season on a real high.
Friday
As well as Whitgift v Denstone, Friday night also saw Cathedral School Llandaff host Wycliffe College at the Cardiff Arms Park. It was a fantastic occasion and almost an even more fantastic game, Cathedral School winning 25-22 to finish up in thrilling fashion. AKS Lytham and St David’s also met but the result is yet to come through.
Saturday
There was a key result in the Daily Mail Trophy on Saturday outside of our Ten to Watch, too, as KCS Wimbledon, who have just been stunningly impressive all season, secured a 33-19 victory over St John’s Leatherhead to go marching into the Top 10, where they will almost certainly stay. It was their last game of what has been an utterly brilliant season for KCS, while for St John’s there is one more. That comes against Hampton next week, and Hampton will arrive with confidence after returning to winning ways away at John Fisher, 26-5. KCS’ local rivals, Wimbledon College, were also on the right side of a result on Saturday but it was such a tense game as they just edged out Campion, 13-12.
Elsewhere, Trinity, who have a huge Schools Cup quarter final against Berkhamsted next week, showed their outstanding form once again on Saturday with a quite brilliant 28-8 victory away at Eton College, who of course had that magnificent memorial game for Edward Bush in midweek. The only sides to have beaten Trinity this year are Brighton College and Cranleigh, both of whom impressed this weekend. Brighton College travelled to RGS Guildford, who have been outstanding in the last month or so and really challenged Brighton, however the men from the south coast were not in any mood to end the term without a victory and duly did the business, ending a brilliant term with a 26-14 victory. Cranleigh meanwhile hosted Marlborough College and put in one of their best displays of the year for a 40-24 victory, ending their season in style. Marlborough, meanwhile, have a Schools Plate quarter final still to come.
Elsewhere, Caterham look ready for their Plate quarter finals, they were on fine form once again as they beat Sevenoaks 36-17, while Gravesend Grammar were also looking good, beating Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar 27-5. Shiplake College’s preparations for our live stream of their game against Pangbourne College on Friday night will include recovering from a 15-7 defeat to Churcher’s College, however so good have Churcher’s been of late that Shiplake should view that result with a big degree of pride. Meanwhile King’s Rochester won 24-14 at Colfe’s, and Emanuel sealed a good 29-14 victory down at St George’s Weybridge.
Seaford College have really impressed this year and on Saturday they put themselves in position for a spectacular final game against RGS Guildford next weekend thanks to a stunning 41-14 victory over old rivals Hurstpierpoint College away from home. Hurst will have their chance for a big finish though, they face Epsom College next time. Elsewhere there was a thrilling draw between Eltham College and St Olave’s Grammar, 21-21, while things were close at Reigate Grammar too, where they just held of Reed’s, 12-8. King’s Canterbury won a close one too, beating Worth 19-17 away from home, while QES Barnet won 17-12 at Watford Grammar.
The Judd, whose players have worked so hard and were so gutted to be called off last time out, were able to get back on the horse quickly with a brilliant 22-5 victory over Maidstone Grammar. They will finish up next week with a massive game against Skinners’, who are in such outstanding form this year and were so against on Saturday, beating Sir Joseph Williamson’s 55-12. It was a great way to bounce back from Schools Vase defeat to Sutton Valence, who prepared for Wednesday’s quarter final in that competition with another solid victory, this time beating Duke of York’s 27-10.
St Paul’s and Dulwich College went head to head in a real schoolboy classic on Saturday, and it lived up to the billing too, a really tight game that just went the way of the hosts, St Paul’s, 16-8. Elsewhere in and around London there were some seriously impressive scorelines, Mill Hill beating UCS 47-0 away from home and St Columba’s travelling to Latymer Upper for a 56-10 victory, not to mention Gordon’s winning 41-0 at Royal Alexandra and Albert. At home Langley Park were brilliant in a 55-29 thriller against Glyn, while elsewhere Eastbourne College impressed in a 33-7 victory over Christ’s Hospital. Meanwhile King’s Rochester won 24-14 at Colfe’s and St Dunstan’s defeated Coopers’ Coborn 20-5.
Meanwhile on the South Coast KES Southampton won their massive derby against Portsmouth Grammar in a real battle royale, sealing an utterly thrilling 31-29 victory. Things were close at Lord Wandsworth College too, where Bryanston just edged out the hosts, 15-14.
Across to the South West, Bishop Wordsworth’s were in utterly incredible form as they finished up their home fixtures with a sensational 61-0 victory over Kingswood. Meanwhile QEH were also utterly fantastic as they sealed a 47-0 victory over Prior Park College. Elsewhere, Kingham Hill were on form at home to Rendcomb College, 17-5, while Clayesmore won a tight one at home to Monkton Combe, 14-11. Things were incredible close between Wellington School and KES Bath too, KES just edging it 26-24.
Exeter School put in a wonderful display in their annual fixture with Truro School, winning 21-0, a fantastic performance. There was also a massive performance from Taunton School, who beat Blundell’s 36-13, a really impressive result. Elsewhere Pate’s Grammar won a tight on 12-8 at home to King’s Worcester, while KES Birmingham travelled down to King’s Gloucester and sealed a good 20-10 victory. Monmouth, meanwhile, bounced right back from that tight defeat to Millfield with yet another thoroughly impressive performance, beating Solihull 38-5.
Bristol Grammar look in red hot form ahead of Wednesday Schools Vase quarter final against Sutton Valence, they travelled to RGS Worcester and won 31-7. Meanwhile along the road Old Swinford Hospital were also in great form with a 40-19 victory over Bablake & King Henry VIII. KES Stratford, meanwhile, won a really tight one 17-15 at Princethorpe College.
Over to Oxford, where Malvern College ended their season with a really gritty 15-14 victory at St Edward’s, while Magdalen College won 19-12 against Reading Blue Coat, whose Schools Vase quarter final we will be live streaming on Wednesday.
Along the M40, RGS High Wycombe put in arguably their top performance of the season in a stunning 39-0 defeat of Dean Close, RGS are finishing the year in utterly sensational form. Meanwhile Halliford sealed a 12-5 victory at Windsor Boys’.
Whipping around the M25, St Albans and Merchant Taylors’ put on a real show, with St Albans just coming out on top, 20-17, while St George’s Harpenden were in stunning form against Bedford Modern, 50-0. St Edmund’s Ware had a great 19-0 win over local club side Hertford RFC.
Bedford finish their season off with a massive Schools Cup quarter final on Friday against Kirkham, but they should go in confident after a thrilling 36-21 defeat of Abingdon, whose season ended in frustrating style. Over in Cambridge Uppingham prepared for that massive final game of the season against Oakham with a good 35-14 victory at The Leys, while Framlingham College won 19-15 at The Perse. Wymondham College meanwhile saw off King’s Ely in a really tight on, 15-12, while Gresham’s were utterly brilliant as they claimed a 63-5 victory over Bishop’s Stortford College. Felsted were also fantastic with one of their best performance of late, a 40-7 victory at Norwich.
In Northamptonshire there were a couple of fantastic games, most notably at Oundle where they earned by far and away their best result of the season, beating that fierce Radley College side 17-12. Sir Thomas Rich’s meanwhile made the long trip to Northampton School for Boys and it paid off as they secured an excellent 23-10 victory. Over in Leicester, Leicester Grammar defeated Ratcliffe College 29-5, while Wellingborough were once again incredible impressive at they travelled to Nottingham and secured a fantastic 29-14 victory at Trent College.
In the North of the country there were some excellent performances and right up at the top end was Barnard Castle, who secured a 19-5 victory over RGS Newcastle and look in red hot form ahead of that Schools Cup quarter final against Oakham. Not too far from there, Durham put in one of their best performances of the season for a 50-5 victory over Giggleswick, while in Yorkshire Ampleforth College won a close one against Pocklington, 21-17. Bradford Grammar meanwhile got ready for a busy end of term with a strong 29-0 victory over Hill House, and Gramar School at Leeds look strong ahead of their Vase tie against Stowe in midweek, beating King’s Macclesfield 31-10.
On the other side of the Pennines Lancaster RGS played well for a 20-12 victory over Merchant Taylors’, while there were wins on the road for Birkenhead and Cheadle Hulme, Birkenhead winning 17-7 at Liverpool College and Cheadle Hulme winning at 24-10 at St Ambrose College. Ellesmere College meanwhile won 24-0 at home to Bishop Vesey’s Grammar, a really impressive result.
In Scotland meanwhile there were some great games and performances, and one of the best was from Merchiston Castle who won a massive game at George Watson’s College 19-0. Stewart’s Melville won another of the big top end clashes, beating Strathallan 12-0 away from home, while Dollar Academy beat George Heriot’s 40-10.
Edinburgh Academy prepared for their trip to England and Durham School with a good 23-17 victory at Fettes College, who are preparing for their own trip to England to take on Rugby School, while Morrison’s Academy and Dundee High drew 29-29. Over in Glasgow, Kelvinside Academy won in stunning fashion, 61-7 at Glasgow Academy, while Glasgow High held off Marr College, 31-19.
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Friday 3rd December
Whitgift 12-14 Denstone College
Wycliffe College 22-25 Cathedral School, Llandaff
Saturday 4th December
Ampleforth College 21-17 Pocklington
Barnard Castle 19-5 RGS Newcastle
Bedford 36-21 Abingdon
Berkhamsted 43-23 Haileybury
Bishop Wordsworth’s 61-0 Kingswood
Bloxham 5-24 Kirkham Grammar
Bradford Grammar 29-0 Hill House
Caterham 36-17 Sevenoaks
Cheltenham College 15-17 Rugby
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar 5-27 Gravesend Grammar
Churcher’s College 15-7 Shiplake College
Clayesmore 14-11 Monkton Combe
Colfe’s 14-24 King’s Rochester
Cranleigh 40-24 Marlborough College
Dollar Academy 40-10 George Heriot’s
Durham 50-5 Giggleswick
Eastbourne College 33-7 Christ’s Hospital
Ellesmere College 24-0 Bishop Vesey’s Grammar
Eltham College 21-21 St Olave’s Grammar
Eton College 8-28 Trinity
Exeter 21-0 Truro
Fettes College 17-23 Edinburgh Academy
George Watson’s College 0-19 Merchiston Castle
Glasgow Academy 7-61 Kelvinside Academy
Glasgow High 31-19 Marr College
Grammar School at Leeds 31-10 King’s Macclesfield
Gresham’s 63-5 Bishop’s Stortford College
Harrow 33-17 Epsom College
Hertford RFC 0-19 St Edmund’s College, Ware
Hurstpierpoint College 14-41 Seaford College
John Fisher 5-26 Hampton
KCS Wimbledon 33-19 St John’s, Leatherhead
King’s Gloucester 10-20 KES Birmingham
Kingham Hill 17-5 Rendcomb College
Lancaster RGS 20-12 Merchant Taylors’
Langley Park 55-29 Glyn
Latymer Upper 10-56 St Columba’s College
Leicester Grammar 29-5 Ratcliffe College
Liverpool College 7-17 Birkenhead
Lord Wandsworth College 14-15 Bryanston
Magdalen College 19-12 Reading Blue Coat
Monmouth 38-5 Solihull
Morrison’s Academy 29-29 Dundee High
Northampton School for Boys 10-23 Sir Thomas Rich’s
Norwich 7-40 Felsted
Old Swinford Hospital 40-19 Bablake & King Henry VIII, Coventry
Oundle 17-12 Radley College
Pangbourne College 14-41 The Oratory
Pate’s Grammar 12-8 King’s Worcester
Portsmouth Grammar 29-31 KES Southampton
Princethorpe College 15-17 KES Stratford
QEH 47-0 Prior Park College
Reigate Grammar 12-8 Reed’s
RGS Guildford 14-26 Brighton College
RGS High Wycombe 39-0 Dean Close
RGS Worcester 7-31 Bristol Grammar
Royal Alexandra & Albert 0-41 Gordon’s
Sherborne 18-3 Canford (Schools Cup) – South West A Regional Final
Skinners’ 55-12 Sir Joseph Williamson’s
St Albans 20-17 Merchant Taylors’, Northwood
St Ambrose College 10-24 Cheadle Hulme
St Benedict’s 50-15 Tiffin
St Dunstan’s College 20-5 Coopers’ Coborn
St Edward’s Oxford 14-15 Malvern College
St George’s College, Weybridge 14-29 Emanuel
St George’s, Harpenden 50-0 Bedford Modern
St Paul’s 16-8 Dulwich College
St Peter’s, York 8-24 Woodhouse Grove
Strathallan 0-12 Stewart’s Melville
Sutton Valence 27-10 Duke of York’s RMS
Taunton 36-13 Blundell’s
The Judd 22-5 Maidstone Grammar
The Leys 14-35 Uppingham
The Perse 15-19 Framlingham
Trent College 14-29 Wellingborough
UCS 0-47 Mill Hill
Watford Grammar 12-17 QES Barnet
Wellington College 36-17 Tonbridge
Wellington School 24-26 KES Bath
Wimbledon College 13-12 Campion
Windsor Boys’ 5-12 Halliford
Wisbech Grammar 15-12 King’s Ely
Worth 17-19 King’s Canterbury
Still to Come:
AKS Lytham v St David’s College, Llandudno
Altrincham Grammar v Sandbach
Dartford Grammar v Brentwood
Hereford Cathedral v The Crypt
Ibstock Place v Isleworth & Syon
Madras College v Glenalmond College
Mount St Mary’s College v Crossley Heath
Robert Gordon’s College v Queen Victoria School
Stockport Grammar v The Grange
Images via John Cannon
