This weekend was the first weekend of the season where the 15s and 7s season had a real crossover, with both formats of the game taking place across the weekend.
The action all began on Friday night at the superb Grasshoppers RFC, where St James and Orleans Park went head to head. No result was published, but Orleans Park were the side to have the edge in a magnificent occasion to kick the weekend off.
Saturday
There was plenty of action on Saturday and the in the South East there were some absolute crackers on the fifteen a side field, where Whitgift were utterly brilliant in their game against St Joseph’s College, winning 52-19 – it has been a sensational 2022 for Whitgift so far.
Also in flying form were Hampton, who had a huge game at St Benedict’s. The hosts were going all guns blazing for this one, but Hampton stepped up superbly with an absolutely cracking display, winning by an impressive 31-7 margin.
RGS High Wycombe were also on form, they travelled into London to take on Campion, always a tricky away trip, but RGS took it in their stride, performing magnificently for a 26-0 victory. Along the road Coopers’ Coborn were also in good away form, winning a thrilling contest at Gravesend Grammar, 26-24.
The Midlands saw some great rugby over the weekend, Northampton School for Boys hosted a triangular with John Fisher and Warwick on Saturday. All three played some brilliant rugby at times on a fantastic occasion.
Bablake & King Henry VIII enjoyed success at 2nd XV level with a 27-5 victory at Repton, while Oswestry were on cracking form in a 19-0 victory at Shrewsbury. There was also a thriller between KES Camp Hill and local club side Camp Hill RFC. It could have gone either way as the points rained in, but it was the school that took it, winning 41-35.
One of the key contests was Old Swinford Hospital’s trip to Sir Thomas Rich’s, both have been in fantastic form, but it was Old Swinford Hospital that edged it in a really close battle, 12-10.
Further north, Lancaster RGS remain in great form, they travelled to Wirral Grammar and secured a 17-6 victory – an impressive result against a Wirral side that have impressed all year. Along the road Manchester Grammar’s strong form continued, they beat Calday Grange Grammar 35-14, while King’s Macclesfield won 17-12 at Crossley Heath.
Scotland had some crucial encounters, not least the Schools Shield semi finals. Queen Victoria School won their rearranged fixture against Morrison’s Academy 24-8 to set up a Scottish Schools Shield final against Loretto, who were absolutely superb in their 34-0 semi final victoy over Preston Lodge.
Elsewhere in Scotland there were plenty of other strong performances, not least from George Heriot’s, who beat Glasgow Academy 52-7. George Watson’s College were also on strong form, beating Glasgow High 27-0.
Elsewhere, Edinburgh Academy won 34-19 away at Dundee High, while Merchiston Castle won against club side Ayr RFC, 27-14. Stewart’s Melville meanwhile beat Hutchesons’ Grammar in a really tight game away from home, 27-14.
There was also some short form rugby on Saturday, the Bain 10s at Durham School. A fantastic day of rugby took place, with ten different sides in action in the north east. Two of the biggest names in school rugby reached the final, Barnard Castle and RGS Newcastle. It was a stunning final, Barnard Castle raced out to a 21-0 lead at half time but RGS Newcastle mounted a sensational comeback, chipping their way back to 21-19. However they could not quite make the final step in the comeback, with Barnard Castle holding out for the victory. Barnard Castle were exceptional in the last 7s season, back in 2020, and are showing all the signs of being back at that level again this year – they are one to keep an eye on for sure.
Sunday
7s season was well and truly flying on Sunday, with competitions going on all over the country. The two key ones came at Shiplake College and Portsmouth Grammar School, with 32 teams in action in total across the two tournaments.
Wellington College were on form in the Shiplake 7s, claiming their first major silverware of the season – you can see our roundup of that competition here: Shiplake 7s Roundup.
Over at the South Coast 7s at Portsmouth Grammar it was Brighton College that claimed the silverware, in a fantastic display. You can see our summary of that competition here: South Coast 7s Roundup.
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Friday
St James v Orleans Park
Saturday
Bain 10s at Durham School: Barnard Castle 21-19 RGS Newcastle
Camp Hill RFC 35-41 KES Camp Hill
Campion 0-26 RGS High Wycombe
Crossley Heath 12-17 King’s Macclesfield
Dundee High 19-34 Edinburgh Academy
George Heriot’s 52-7 Glasgow Academy
George Watson’s College 27-0 Glasgow High
Gravesened Grammar 24-26 Coopers’ Coborn
Hutchesons’ Grammar 5-7 Stewart’s Melville
Loretto 34-0 Preston Lodge – Schools Shield Semi Final
Manchester Grammar 35-14 Calday Grange Grammar
Merchiston Castle 27-14 Ayr RFC
NSB Triangular: Warwick John Fisher 5-24 Warwick, NSB 12-7 Warwick
Queen Victoria School 24-8 Morrison’s Academy – Schools Shield Semi Final
Repton 5-27 Bablake & King Henry VIII 2nd XV
Shrewsbury 0-19 Oswestry
Sir Thomas Rich’s 10-12 Old Swinford Hospital
St Benedict’s 7-31 Hampton
St Joseph’s College 19-52 Whitgift
Wirral Grammar 6-17 Lancaster RGS
Sunday
Norwich 7s
Shiplake 7s: See Roundup Here
South Coast 7s: See Roundup Here
