After a brilliant term of rugby, the main schools rugby season drew to a close this week with some absolutely fantastic games of rugby.
It was a fitting end to what has been an absolutely fantastic term, from the sheer joy at simply having rugby back to the quality of rugby on show, to then the commitment to continue pushing for games to happen as the world started to close in again towards the end of term.
In the middle of it all were the pupils, the players that had been denied the chance to pull on a school shirt for at least eighteen months, finally able to pull on those shirts that have existed for longer than any of the unions that govern the game in so many cases.
Indeed that fact that so many school teams have a greater history in the game than the union itself leads to some interesting thoughts that have reared their head more seriously than for many a year this season after meetings revealed some key differences. Food for exploration in these pages in the quieter weeks to come.
On the field the rugby has been superb and this week rounded it off fantastically, with huge Quarter Final games and some fantastic head to heads on Tuesday and Thursday.
Tuesday
The focus of attention on Tuesday here at NextGenXV was the U18 Schools Cup quarter final between Trinityand Berkhamsted. Both had had great runs as U15s pre-covid and both had huge ambitions here, Trinity were unbeaten since October, while Berkhamsted had not been defeated at all and on Saturday they had claimed the Daily Mail Trophy title. An incredibly tense game played out, with physicality beyond belief but it was Trinity’s maul work that ultimately made the difference as they scored two tries for a 17-3 victory of which you can see highlights below.
That victory takes Trinity to the semi finals, joining Barnard Castle, Kirkham Grammar School, and Sherborne. The semi finals remain regional and are drawn Quarter Final 1 winner v Quarter Final 2 winner and Quarter Final 3 winner v Quarter Final 4 winner, though the venues are yet to be confirmed (though will likely be at the home team’s school). That means that Barnard Castle will be hosting Kirkham Grammar School, while Trinity will be at home against Sherborne, after Sherborne’s incredibly tense win on our live stream over Harrow last week, highlights of which you can see below.
There was also Schools Bowl action and what a fantastic advert for schools rugby it turned out to be as Colchester RGS and Prince Henry’s Grammar went head to head in their quarter final. Colchester RGS won out in the end, 42-12, but the game ran far closer than that, with both sides giving everything and showing great spirit, both in their charge for the game and in their attitudes to one another, it was magnificent. It’s a trip to from Colchester to Cambridge now for Colchester RGS, they will face Hills Road 6th form College in the semi final.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, George Abbot and Guildford County School went head to head in a really competitive end of season finale, George Abbot winning 25-15.
Wednesday
The Schools Vase came into view on Wednesday with the last of the Quarter Finals in that group, Ipswich School headed to Coventry College, two schools really climbing high. It was Ipswich that climbed highest on Wednesday though, claiming a 44-22 victory to send them into the semi finals, where they will be hosting Mount St Mary’s College. Meanwhile Sutton Valence will be hosting Reading Blue Coat, highlights of Reading Blue Coat’s quarter final win over Wallington County Grammar can be seen below.
The Schools Bowl Quarter Finals were also rounded off on Wednesday and in utterly fantastic style as Eastbourne College scored a try through Dylan Pearson in the final play to beat West Buckland 16-13 away from home, setting up a semi final at home against Glyn.
Elsewhere there were some fantastic performances which which to see out the term, among them the aforementioned Mount St Mary’s College, who beat King’s Grantham 31-9. Similarly Maidstone Grammar won 34-5 at home to Oakwood Park, and Gravesend Grammar won 15-3 against King’s Rochester.
Sir Thomas Rich’s finished on a huge high, with a brilliant 39-0 victory at St Peter’s Gloucester, while Hereford 6th form College were also in brilliant form to close the season, beating Birmingham Moseley College 32-7. Aylesbury Grammar and Dr Challoner’s Grammar played out a classic that could have gone either way, eventually ending up 29-24 in Aylesbury’s favour.
Even closer was Ewell Castle v Saint Cecilia’s, which ended in a 19-19 draw, while Beaumont v Sandringham was also close, 19-12 to Beaumont. Harrogate Grammar, what a season they have had by the way, closed with another well earned victory, beating Ripon Grammar 22-14.
There was silverware on offer on Wednesday evening, too. The Jimmy’s Cup, and it was contested by St Olave’s Grammar and Hayes, who have recently partnered with Ealing Trailfinders. Either way the two teams were going to finish with some fun and enjoy their last game, but it was to be St Olave’s that would get to enjoy it the most, winning 20-14 to claim the silverware.
If you have any photos, video, reports, or any other content from the week’s school rugby then please do send it in via our social media channels or admin@nextgenxv.com and if you are interested in us live streaming one of your games or an event then please do get in touch!
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Tuesday 14th December
George Abbot 25-15 Guildford County School
RGS Colchester 42-12 Prince Henry’s Grammar (Schools Bowl QF)
Trinity 17-3 Berkhamsted (Schools Cup QF)
Wednesday 15th December
Beaumont 19-12 Sandringham
Coventry College 22-44 Ipswich (Schools Vase QF)
Dr Challoner’s Grammar 24-29 Aylesbury Grammar
Ewell Castle 19-19 Saint Cecilia’s
Harrogate Grammar 22-14 Ripon Grammar
Hayes 14-20 St Olave’s Grammar
Hereford 6th form College 32-7 Birmingham Moseley College
King’s Rochester 3-15 Gravesend Grammar
Lancaster RGS 37-17 Cheadle Hulme
Maidstone Grammar 34-5 Oakwood Park Grammar
Mount St Mary’s College 31-8 King’s Grantham
St Peter’s, Gloucester 0-39 Sir Thomas Rich’s
West Buckland 13-16 Eastbourne College (Schools Bowl QF)
Still to Come:
Ashville Triangular: Ashville College, Silcoates, Yarm
Denstone College v Hartpury College
