The 2021 schools rugby term drew to a close this weekend, some twenty games are taking place in midweek but for everyone else it was the end to this glorious of rugby, the term where school rugby returned after 18 long and testing months.
It has not been without its challenges, and this weekend was another example of that as swathes of games were called off, but the joy at having the game back and the intensity that has been there right since early September was there again for all to see.
There was also a thrilling climax to the Daily Mail Trophy and a massive U18 Schools Cup quarter final among the weekend’s games, but whether any game had something big on the line or not, it meant something huge to everyone involved, especially those pulling on the shirt for the final time.
Ten to Watch
Our ten to watch became nine to watch after Wellington College v Ipswich was cancelled, but the games quickly got underway beginning with a huge U18 Schools Cup Quarter Final on Friday afternoon as Kirkham Grammar School hosted Bedford. 88% of readers thought that Kirkham would extend their unbeaten season and march into the Semi Finals, and so they did with an outstanding 27-0 victory that confirmed their brilliance, not that it needed much confirmation, Kirkham have been one of the best in the business all season.
It was then off to Rams RFC for our live stream of Shiplake College v Pangbourne College…except that the live stream was unable to take place as a power failure at the ground meant that the sides had to play on a different pitch and therefore without the live cameras. It was a great shame for those at home, but for those at the ground it mattered little, over 1000 people surrounded the back field creating an intense and joyous atmosphere as the two sides played out a game that will live long in the memory as a result of that atmosphere. Shiplake College won 13-8, as 61% of readers had predicted, but Pangbourne definitely did themselves proud. Both sides did the game proud though in a wonderful showcase of schools rugby. Hopefully there is better luck with the power this Friday when our live cameras return for Rams RFC v Chinnor RFC at the same venue!
Onto Saturday and the game on everyone’s lips was Berkhamsted’s trip to Dulwich College. Victory would see Berkhamsted claim the Daily Mail Trophy title ahead of former champions Sedbergh, who had led the table throughout but whose defeat to Millfield in midweek had left the door ajar for Berkhamsted. Dulwich College gave this undefeated Berkhamsted side a test as strong as they’ve had in a scrappy game in sodden conditions, but Berkhamsted were not to be deterred. As 83% of readers expected they worked their way to a 24-3 victory and a superb Daily Mail Trophy winning campaign. It is a quite outstanding achievement for the Hertfordshire side who have gone through the season without defeat and now head into a huge U18 Schools Cup quarter final on Tuesday against Trinity, which will be live streamed here on NextGenXV, it could yet get even better for them.
Sedbergh meanwhile probably knew their Daily Mail Trophy chances were distant, but nonetheless in their annual game with Llandovery College they put that to the back of their minds and finished off their year with yet another absolutely brilliant performance. A 40-7 victory over Llandovery College, one of the top names in Wales, was in line with the expectations of 90% of readers, but the margin surely was not. A quite outstanding way in which to finish a campaign that has seen Sedbergh defeated just once all season.
The game of the day from a tension point of view though was surely Marlborough College v Radley College. Radley College had beaten Marlborough earlier in the year, but an injury plagued side was going to have a much tougher test. 54% of readers expected a Radley College victory, which suggested expectation was for something close and so it proved as Marlborough held the visitors to a 12-12 draw after a strong comeback that so nearly saw victory for the home side but for the most subtle of knock ons. In any case, it was a thrilling and perhaps fitting way to end the season for both.
Seaford College ended on a high, beating a strong RGS Guildford side 25-12 as 85% of readers had expected. It ends a brilliant campaign from Seaford College, but a campaign after which RGS Guildford ought to hold their heads high too, they have been in magnificent form but just did not quite have enough to beat what has been a superb Seaford College side this year.
St Benedict’s rounded off their campaign in style, beating Magdalen College 37-5 to seal an extraordinary 3rd place finish in the Daily Mail Trophy and to seal a season that has only seen them defeated once, and even that was in the Cup to an excellent Harrow side. It is surely their best season since they reached the Schools Cup final in 2008 and one that they should rightly be incredibly proud of. A magnificent way to round off a glorious season for the West London side.
Equally glorious has been that of Royal Hospital School and one Saturday they finished it all off in style with a stunning 52-12 away win at local rivals, and schools rugby powerhouses, St Joseph’s College. 53% thought they would do the job but none could have predicted that margin, surely. It was an incredible end to what has been an even more incredible season, one that has seen them go through the year unbeaten and taking down some of the biggest names in the area. An incredible job from Royal Hospital School.
Oakham have also done an incredible job and on Saturday they bounced back from their midweek Cup disappointment at Barnard Castle with an exceptional 45-20 victory in their biggest game of the year, their massive derby at Uppingham. Uppingham gave a great account of themselves, but this Oakham side has been so good, particularly of late, and simply had too much for their hosts. A sublime end to the season from Oakham, and these two will be meeting again on the 7s field next term.
Friday
Aside from victories for Shiplake College and Kirkham Grammar School, there were a host of other games on Friday and some incredibly strong performances. Among the strongest was a brilliant 67-0 victory for St George’s Harpenden over Roundwood Park, and amazing end to the season for St George’s. In similarly potent form were Halliford, and perhaps we should have been expecting this by now, they defeated Weybridge Vandals RFC 45-0.
King’s Gloucester were in similar form to round off the year with a 42-3 defeat of Katharine Lady Berkeley’s, while Bablake & King Henry VIII Coventry finished off a term that had begun with so much change, as two schools became one, in wonderful fashion thanks to a 53-10 victory over KES Stratford. Things were closer between KES Birmingham and KES Five Ways, Five Ways winning 15-7, while Claremont beat Cobham International School 34-24.
Saturday
One of Saturday’s most extraordinary performance was a sublime 62-10 victory for Epsom College over Hurstpierpoint College, a wonderful end to the season for this Epsom College side that have looked so good all year. Along the road Reigate Grammar ended well too with a 35-24 victory at Glyn, while Hampton School signed off in some style in Leatherhead, beating St John’s by an impressive 36-7 margin.
One of the most extraordinary games of the day was Skinners’ v Judd, the 99th meeting between the two. In front a of a big crowd Judd had much of the territory and possession, but Skinners’ showed what a good side they are by scoring quickly when given a chance and building to a 19-3 lead with twenty minutes to play. Judd refused to give in though and playing up the hill they clawed their way back to the point where it all came down to a final kick from fifteen-year-old Angus Hall. Showing nerves of steel the Judd youngster banged it over to give his side a dramatic 20-19 victory on a great day for the Judd, whose U16s secured an unbeaten season on a day where the school put out over 75 boys at senior level.
Elsewhere, Caterham won another tight game, beating City of London Freemen’s 19-15, and it was a close 15-7 victory for Colfe’s at home to St Dunstan’s, a game that finishes their season after their annual fixture with Bradford Grammar was sadly cancelled on Friday. Meanwhile RGS Colchester were utterly sensational ahead of Tuesday’s U18 Schools Bowl Quarter Final, beating Brentwood 52-10 away from home, while Dartford Grammar won 20-7 at Gravesend Grammar and Eltham College sealed an excellent 39-10 victory at Sevenoaks.
Reed’s pulled off an excellent 15-0 victory at Merchant Taylors’, who have been so impressive, while Emanuel won a tight battle at Wimbledon College 19-13. In Kent Simon Langton Grammar beat King’s Canterbury 17-8.
Along the coast Portsmouth Grammar School won a close season ender at home to Ryde, 12-0, while Dauntsey’s travelled to Lord Wandsworth College and secured a highly impressive 32-5 victory.
Along to the South West RGS Worcester were on song away at Wycliffe College for a 36-26 victory, while Colston’s were also on stunning form on the road, beating Pate’s Grammar 43-12 to round off a strong year.
Bloxham also finished off in flying form away from home, a brilliant 48-5 victory at Kingswood, while Prior Park College won 22-17 at KES Bath.
One of the biggest games in the south west was the epic annual clash between Truro and their visitors from Yorkshire, Woodhouse Grove. Woodhouse Grove have been brilliant all year, almost sealing a top 10 finish in the Daily Mail Trophy, and it duly showed as they sealed a 38-7 victory. Blundell’s meanwhile bounced back from defeat last week to claim a brilliant 43-12 season ending victory against King’s College, Taunton.
In the Midlands Bishop Vesey’s finished a good year with a 16-8 victory over Solihull, while closer towards London Reading Blue Coat rode the crest of the wave that has take them to the U18 Schools Vase semi finals with another super victory, beating Aylesbury Grammar 24-12 away from home. Along the road Eton College and Bishop Wordsworth’s finished the season off with a really fantastic game of rugby, which Eton just came out on top of 20-12, it has been a good year for both sides.
Further North Denstone College continued their brilliant late-season form with a 29-6 victory over QEGS Wakefield, they now ought to head into that massive game against Hartpury College in midweek with real confidence.
Further North again there were some extraordinary finishes to the season. RGS Newcastle were utterly brilliant en route to a 59-7 victory over Ampleforth College, a stunning final game of the season that was only really outdone but the sublime St Peter’s York, who travelled to Pocklington and claimed an incredible 63-0 victory. Manchester Grammar were also in pretty spectacular form as they defeated St Ambrose college 40-5 on the road, while Scarisbrick Hall defeated The Grange’s U17s 26-7.
Scotland saw plenty of cancellations but also some brilliant performances, not least a stunning 43-0 victory for Strathallan at home to Glenalmond College. Hutchesons’ Grammar were equally good and secured a breath-taking unbeaten season with brilliant 53-14 victory over Marr College. Elsewhere there were some cracking close games, Stewart’s Melville won 24-21 at home to Dollar Academy, while Robert Gordon’s College sealed a thrilling 33-31 win at Edinburgh Academy, and Loretto saw off Stirling County RFC 22-10.
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Friday 10th December
Bablake & King Henry VIII, Coventry 53-10 KES Stratford
Claremont Fan Court 34-24 ACS Cobham International
KES Birmingham 7-15 KES Five Ways
Kirkham Grammar 27-0 Bedford (Schools Cup QF)
King’s Gloucester 42-3 Katharine Lady Berkeley’s
Roundwood Park 0-67 St George’s, Harpenden
Shiplake College 13-8 Pangbourne College
Weybridge Vandals 0-45 Halliford
Saturday 11th December
Aylesbury Grammar 12-24 Reading Blue Coat
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar 16-8 Solihull
Blundell’s 43-12 King’s College, Taunton
Brentwood 10-52 RGS Colchester
Caterham 19-15 City of London Freemen’s
Colfe’s 15-7 St Dunstan’s
Denstone College 29-6 QEGS Wakefield
Dulwich College 3-24 Berkhamsted
Edinburgh Academy 31-33 Robert Gordon’s College
Epsom College 62-10 Hurstpierpoint College
Eton College 20-12 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Glyn 24-36 Reigate Grammar
Gravesend Grammar 7-20 Dartford Grammar
Hutcheson’s Grammar 53-14 Marr College
KES Bath 17-22 Prior Park College
King’s Canterbury 8-17 Simon Langton Grammar
Kingswood 5-48 Bloxham
Llandovery College 7-40 Sedbergh
Lord Wandsworth College 5-32 Dauntsey’s
Loretto 22-10 Stirling County RFC
Marlborough College 12-12 Radley College
Merchant Taylors’, Northwood 0-15 Reed’s
Pate’s Grammar 12-43 Colston’s
Pocklington 0-63 St Peter’s, York
Portsmouth Grammar 12-0 Ryde
RGS Newcastle 59-7 Ampleforth College
Scarisbrick Hall 26-7 The Grange U17
Seaford College 25-12 RGS Guildford
Sevenoaks 10-39 Eltham College
Skinners’ 19-20 The Judd
St Ambrose Grammar 5-40 Manchester Grammar
St Benedict’s 37-5 Magdalen College
St John’s, Leatherhead 7-36 Hampton
St Joseph’s College 12-52 Royal Hospital School
Stewart’s Melville 24-21 Dollar Academy
Strathallan 43-0 Glenalmond College
Truro School 7-38 Woodhouse Grove
Uppingham 20-45 Oakham
Wimbledon College 13-19 Emanuel
Wycliffe College 26-36 RGS Worcester
Still to Come:
Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar v St Olave’s Grammar
Dundee High v Queen Victoria School
Liverpool College v Oswestry
Petersfield RFC v Churcher’s College (Friday)
Shebbear Triangular: Shebbear College, Wellington School, Queen’s College Taunton
St Paul’s v London Oratory
