As September became October, so the ‘start of term’ feel to the school rugby season moved on. We are into the meat of the season now.
It was a brilliant weekend, with some absolutely terrific games of rugby, full of intense competition and exciting, skilful, rugby as schools around the country looked to entertain and enjoy.
Ten to Watch
Eton College 19-19 Bedford
KCS Wimbledon 22-10 Wimbledon College (Schools Cup)
Marlborough College 17-26 Rugby
Millfield 46-17 Sherborne
Oakham 36-12 Bromsgrove
Seaford College 16-36 Berkhamsted
Sedbergh 33-19 Ipswich
Stonyhurst 17-10 Lancaster RGS (Schools Cup)
Whitgift 40-19 John Fisher
Woodhouse Grove 12-43 RGS Newcastle
Our ten to watch turned out to be a spectacular series of games, perhaps none more so than the 19-19 drawn between Eton College and Bedford. It was a second draw on the spin for Eton College, who remain unbeaten, much like Bedford, from whom this was also a second draw – these two like their tense games!
Running high in the tension stakes were the two U18 Schools Cup games this weekend. KCS Wimbledonhosted Wimbledon College for the closest derby in the country and a suitably competitive and compelling game ensued. KCS just had things under control though to take a 22-10 victory, sending them through to Round 2 where they will face either Hampton or St Paul’s. The other Schools Cup game was in North A, where Stonyhurst hosted Lancaster RGS. Again it was a close game, but again it was the home side that just had enough to seal a 17-10 victory and a place in Round 2, where they will host former finalists RGS Newcastle.
RGS Newcastle themselves were also in the Ten to Watch this week, though not in Cup action, they travelled to Woodhouse Grove, who could be a potential third round opponent, and put in a mighty performance for a 43-12 victory. RGS Newcastle are looking pretty formidable this year.
So too are Sedbergh, who were given their stiffest challenge of the season to date when they hosted Ipswich on Saturday, yet still emerged victors by a strong 33-19 margin. Sedbergh are absolutely flying at the moment and it is going to take something special to stop them, but Ipswich ought to take heart at mixing it with the best in such a way.
One of the most special games of the entire weekend was the return of Whitgift v John Fisher to its historical Saturday slot. Plenty of excitement was in the air in the buildup and the game had plenty too, hopefully paving the way for this fixture to once again become one of the jewels in the schools rugby crown. Whitgift confirmed their status as favourites to claim a 40-19 victory, but John Fisher gave a superb account of themselves too.
Elsewhere Daily Mail Trophy champions Berkhamsted had one of the biggest steps in their defence of that title so far, travelling to Seaford College for an impressive 36-16 victory that keeps their unbeaten record in tact. Also remaining unbeaten are Oakham, who made it four on the spin with an outstanding 36-12 defeat of a strong Bromsgrove side.
Millfield were in sensational from in what was, remarkably given that we are almost a month into the season, their first home game of the year. They welcomed Sherborne, Schools Cup semi finalists last year no less, and put in a brilliant display for a 46-17 victory that should leave them high on confidence ahead of this weekend’s trip to Wellington College.
Finally in our Ten to Watch, a thriller in Wiltshire as Marlborough College hosted Rugby School in a real cracker. It was a proper tussle of a game but eventually it was to be the visitors that claimed victory, 26-17.
Friday
Dame Allan’s 34-24 Yarm (at The Northern Echo Arena)
KES Birmingham 8-22 Solihull (at Birmingham Moseley)
Mill Hill 13-12 St Benedict’s (at StoneX)
Rendcomb College 12-41 St Edward’s, Cheltenham (at Cheltenham RFC)
Sandbach 0-38 King’s Macclesfield
St Peter’s, Gloucester 0-12 The Crypt
Friday night was a busy one and there were some stunning games, not least at The Northern Echo Arena where Dame Allan’s and Yarm ran each other close. A stunning game of rugby ended 34-24 in Dame Allan’s favour. Solihill were also on song, bouncing back from midweek Cup defeat to beat KES Birmingham 22-8 at Birmingham Moseley, while King’s Macclesfield continued their utterly outstanding start to the season with another strong victory, 38-0 at Sandbach.
Down at the StoneX Stadium, Mill Hill edged St Benedict’s in an incredibly tight and tense game, 13-12, while in the South West St Edward’s Cheltenham were flying for a 41-12 victory over Rendcomb College at Cheltenham RFC and The Crypt won a low scoring one 12-0 at St Peter’s, Gloucester.
Saturday
Abingdon 15-38 Cheltenham College
Bishop’s Stortford High 19-27 RGS Colchester
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar 10-7 KES Stratford
Brentwood 24-18 Richard Hale
Brighton College 7-31 Trinity
Bristol Grammar 19-14 King’s College, Taunton
Canford 26-22 Blundell’s
Churcher’s College 21-25 Reigate Grammar
Claremont Fan Court 14-38 Latymer Upper
Colfe’s 22-5 UCS
Coopers’ Coborn 29-31 QES Barnet
Cranleigh 39-20 Reading Blue Coat
Dollar Academy 17-3 Fettes College
Duke of York’s Royal Military 26-40 Cranbrook
Durham 11-27 Barnard Castle
Eltham College 24-18 Caterham
Exeter 36-17 Downside
Felsted 15-8 Gresham’s
George Watson’s College 26-12 Stewart’s Melville
Hampton 55-14 Hurstpierpoint College
Hutton Grammar 12-38 Birkenhead
Hymers College 31-19 Ampleforth College (Schools Vase)
Kelvinside Academy 28-12 Marr College
KES Southampton 22-40 Dauntsey’s
Kingswood 27-7 Cathedral School, Llandaff
Kirkham Grammar 65-7 Queen Ethelburga’s
Langley Park 40-12 Wallington County Grammar
Leicester Grammar 3-53 Bablake & King Henry VIII
Loughborough Grammar 29-7 King’s Worcester
Magdalen College 36-5 Warwick 2nd XV
Merchant Taylors’ 8-5 London Oratory
Merchiston Castle 26-29 Edinburgh Academy
Mount St Mary’s College 17-21 Denstone College
Nottingham High 24-12 Denstone College 2nd XV
Oundle 18-31 Haileybury
QEH 19-19 Pate’s Grammar
Radley College 33-41 St Paul’s
Ravens Wood v5-50Gravesend Grammar
Reed’s 36-24 Campion
RGS Worcester 7-43 Dean Close
Sevenoaks 28-14 Christ’s Hospital
Sir Thomas Rich’s 7-87 Monmouth
Skinners’ 17-44 Tonbridge
St Albans 84-17 Aylesbury Grammar
St Aloysius’ College 0-10 Hutcheson’s Grammar
St Ambrose College 54-19 Grammar School at Leeds
St Anselm’s College 37-12 Manchester Grammar
St George’s College, Weybridge 38-10 Shiplake College
St John’s Leatherhead 21-19 RGS Guildford
St Olave’s Grammar 32-17 The Cedars
Sutton Valence 26-7 St Lawrence College
Taunton 34-24 Collegiate
The Judd 57-0 Dartford Grammar
The Oratory 15-14 Bishop Wordsworth’s
The Perse 15-26 Norwich
Tiffin 31-7 Gunnersbury
Trent College 47-31 Princethorpe College
Uppingham 12-47 Stamford
Warwick 34-30 Samuel Whitbread Academy
Wellington College 41-5 Dulwich College
West Buckland 49-14 Queen’s College, Taunton
Worth 48-8 Emanuel
Wymondham College 5-46 St Joseph’s College
Saturday was an incredibly busy day with some incredibly good games of rugby, among them a tight one at Canford which saw them overcome a strong Blundell’s outfit 26-22.There were similarly great contests all over the place, such as The Oratory edging out Bishop Wordsworth’s, former Cup finalists remember, 15-14, a brilliant result for The Oratory.
Things were tight at Felsted too, where they edged out the travelling Gresham’s 1st XV 15-8. Not too far away QES Barnet were earning a morale boosting and dramatic 31-29 victory over Coopers’ Coborn. One absolute thriller between two top schools rugby sides was at Warwick School, where they held off an exciting Samuel Whitbread Academy side 34-30 in a fantastic game of rugby. Their second XV, meanwhile, were at Magdalen College, who held on to victory there by a 36-5 margin.
Elsewhere the great games came rolling in, Cranleigh were engaged in a great game with Reading Blue Coat, winning 39-20. Credit to Reading Blue Coat though, a second week on the bounce that they have given great competition to traditionally very strong schools. Further South Trinity continue to impress, they defeated Brighton College 31-7, though a Brighton College side very much engaged in giving players an opportunity after an injury hit early season. Not too far away Reigate Grammar School just edged an incredibly competitive game at Churcher’s College, 25-21, Reigate Grammar are looking highly impressive this year.
Wellington College have found some real rhythm and that was on display at home against Dulwich College as they put in a top class display for a 41-5 victory. In towards the capital a bit further and another side that is looking very very polished so far this season, Hampton. They started the weekend unbeaten and finished it that way too with a stunning 55-14 victory over Hurstpierpoint College which had onlookers messaging us with tales of impressed they were.
St John’s Leatherhead will be delighted, have just edged past an RGS Guildford side that has had some incredible sides this year, winning 21-19 and demonstrating signs of things to come perhaps. St George’s College Weybridge had a slightly less tense Saturday, earning a 38-10 victory over Shiplake College.
There truly were some outstanding efforts in and around the capital, an excellent 24-18 victory for Eltham College against a good Caterham side being one, Colfe’s beating UCS 22-5 too, while Latymer Upper travelled to Claremont and claimed a 38-14 victory.
Merchant Taylors’ and London Oratory played out a low scoring thriller, Merchant Taylors’ just edging it by a penalty, 8-5. In contrast Langley Park earned a 40-12 victory at home to Wallington County Grammar. Gravesend Grammar were in similarly devastating form, earning a 50-5 victory at Ravens Wood, while Tiffinwere also on song, beating Gunnersbury 31-7.
In Kent, Tonbridge avenged last year’s result with a 44-17 victory at Skinners’, an impressive display. But the talk of Kent at the moment is The Judd, who were once again in simply sensational form for a 57-0 victory over Dartford Grammar. Cranbrook won a high scoring encounter at Duke of York’s Royal Military, 40-26, while Sutton Valence continue to quietly impress, thanks to a 26-7 victory over St Lawrence College. St Olave’s, meanwhile, were 32-17 victors over The Cedars and Sevenoaks were impressive for a 28-14 victory over Christ’s Hospital.
Further West, Worth enjoyed an outstanding 48-8 victory over Emanuel, while Dauntsey’s won a cracker at KES Southampton, 40-22. Meanwhile back into Surrey there was a stunner of a game at Reed’s, who hosted Campion and both sides really turned up to the party, splitting 60 points with Reed’s just on top, 36-24.
To the North of London, St Albans were again irrepressible, 84-17 victors at home to Aylesbury Grammar, with RGS Colchester travelling to Bishop’s Stortford High for a 27-19 victory. Back closer to home to RGS, Brentwood won a really good contest against Richard Hale, 24-18, while in Cambridge Norwich performed well for a 26-15 victory over The Perse. St Joseph’s College’s Festival preparations are meanwhile going from strength to strength, they enjoyed a stunning 46-5 victory over Wymondham College on Saturday.
Back towards that central section of the country, Stamford earned a 47-12 victory over Uppingham after a blistering second half, the game had been close at the break. It meant retaining the Robert Wills Trophy for Stamford, who are looking impressive. However the game will be remembered most as a tribute to one of the Uppingham pupils, who recently so sadly lost his life.
On the field one of those two schools great rivals, Oundle went down in a good game to Haileybury, 31-18, meanwhile Bablake & King Henry VIII enjoyed themselves at Leicester Grammar, winning 53-3. Along the road Loughborough Grammar caught out King’s Worcester, who had had a string of recent strong performances, 29-7. Meanwhile Trent College v Princethorpe College surely wins the prize for most points flying around between teams, Trent won that one 47-31.
Denstone College had two side out in 1st XV action this weekend, both involved in close games. their 1st XV earned a 21-17 victory at Mount St Mary’s College that was a really fantastic game of rugby, while their second team went down 24-12 in a good game at Nottingham High.
In Oxford, St Paul’s won a spectacular game at Radley College, with trys flying in from everywhere as they returned back along the M40 with a 41-33 victory. Radley’s neighbours Abingdon had a similar day, losing out in a great game to a Cheltenham College side playing some wonderful rugby for a 38-15 victory.
Futher West, Dean Close were on fire at RGS Worcester, winning 43-7, but there was a closer one at Bishop Vesey’s as they just edged out KES Stratford 10-7. Into the South West, where Monmouth travelled over from Wales and earned a stunning 87-7 victory at Sir Thomas Rich’s and West Buckland enjoyed a 49-14 victory over a Queen’s College Taunton side that is working hard for numbers.
Elsewhere things were tighter, not least at QEH where they were held to a brilliant 19-19 draw by visitors Pate’s Grammar. Bristol Grammar just avoided the same at home to King’s College Taunton, edging that one 19-14. King’s College’s local rivals Taunton School meanwhile won a thriller of their own, holding off Collegiate for a 34-24 victory. Meanwhile Kingswood beat Welsh visitors Cathedral School Llandaff 27-7 and Exeter were 36-17 victors over Downside.
Up in the North West of the country St Anselm’s College played brilliantly for a 37-12 victory over Manchester Grammar, while St Ambrose College were in stunning form for a 54-19 victory over Grammar School at Leeds. Hutton Grammar were hosting Birkenhead, who enjoyed a 38-12 victory and Kirkham Grammar School meanwhile flexed their muscles, beating Queen Ethelburga’s 65-7.
Over in Yorkshire there was Schools Vase action as Hymers College progressed to the next round thanks to a 31-19 defeat of Ampleforth College. Further North Barnard Castle won a game between to greats of the school game at Durham, defeating their hosts 27-11.
In Scotland the game and result of the day was surely Edinburgh Academy’s thrilling 29-26 victory at Merchiston Castle, a game for the games. George Watson’s College meanwhile sealed a 26-12 victory over Stewart’s Melville, while Dollar Academy won 17-3 against Fettes College. Over in Glasgow things were tight, Hutcheson’s Grammar winning 10-0 at St Aloysius’ College. Meanwhile Kelvinside Academy were on form, beating Marr College 28-12.
Still to Come:
Launceston RFC v Plymouth College – Friday
Altrincham Grammar v Lymm High
Angus RFC v Robert Gordon’s College
Glasgow High v Glasgow Academy
Morrison’s Academy v St Leonards
St Mary’s College, Crosby v Bolton
