As we race towards half term we saw a busy week of schools rugby action this week, with the last remaining U18 Schools Cup first round games taking place among many other fantastic bits of action.
There was action on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, with Wednesday an absolutely packed day. It all bodes well ahead of a huge weekend of Schools Rugby, which you can see in our preview: Schools Rugby Weekend Preview – 7th/8th October.
It was also an exciting week for schools rugby in the professional ranks, with Stowe’s Henry Pollock making his starting debut for Northampton Saints in the Premiership Cup and scoring a brace alongside a powerful performance. Hear more on Pollock and the wider story around transition from the school game to the pro game on the latest episode of the NextGenXV Podcast.
Tuesday
Berkhamsted 60-10 New Hall (Schools Cup)
Dauntsey’s 26-14 Milton Abbey
Ipswich 19-38 Finborough (Schools Cup)
Morrison’s Academy 12-38 Edinburgh Academy
Oundle 31-20 Wellingborough (Schools Vase)
St Edmund’s College 12-38 Culford (Schools Bowl)
St Lawrence College 29-24 King’s Canterbury (Schools Vase)
The Schools Cup loomed large again on Tuesday and with it came one of the stories of the season so far when Finborough travelled to Ipswich and claimed a 38-19 victory. Having previously defeated Northampton School for Boys, who had themselves edged out Ipswich, it was not necessarily unexpected that Finborough would challenge Ipswich, but even so this was a huge statement, previously little-known, they are now on the map in a massive way. Charging into the second round in Midlands B, and they would find out their opponents on Wednesday.
Also in action in the Schools Cup were Daily Mail Trophy champions Berkhamsted, who last year were knocked out in the quarter finals by eventual champions Trinity. They were hosting New Hall in London & South East B and put in a barnstorming display for a 60-10 victory. Like Finborough, they would disocver their second round opponents on Wednesday.
Over in the Vase Oundle were on fine form against Wellingborough in a great game of rugby, winning 31-20, while there was an absolute thriller in Kent as St Lawrence College and King’s Canterbury went toe to toe, St Lawrence just edging it 29-24. Meanwhile in the Bowl Culford travelled to St Edmund’s College and returned with an impressive 38-12 victory.
Outside of the knockout competitions, Dauntsey’s enjoyed a strong performance against Milton Abbey, winning 26-14, while in Scotland Edinburgh Academy continued their fine form with a 38-12 victory at Morrison’s Academy.
Wednesday
Ashville Harrogate 5-14 St John Fisher (Schools Bowl)
Birkdale 36-17 Fallibroome Academy (Schools Bowl)
Bishop Heber 25-28 The Grange
Bishop’s Stortford High 14-12 Gresham’s (Schools Vase)
Bryanston 30-10 Wellington School (Schools Vase)
Burnham Grammar 0-32 Leighton Park
Campion 19-31 Felsted (Schools Cup)
Cheadle Hulme 25-21 St Ambrose College
Claires Court 51-17 Halliford
Dr Challoner’s Grammar 66-0 Longdean (Schools Vase)
Ellesmere College 12-29 Christ College
Ermysted’s Grammar 14-5 AKS Lytham (Schools Vase)
Gordon’s 53-3 Saint Cecilia’s
Hartpury College 2rd XV 5-29 Samuel Whitbread Academy
Hayes 67-0 St Olave’s Grammar
Hill House 70-12 Hymers College
Ibstock Place 12-31 Harrodian
KES Morpeth 47-5 RGS Newcastle 2nd XV
KES Stratford 7-17 St Edward’s, Oxford (Schools Vase)
King’s College Taunton 40-0 Torquay Boys Grammar
Langley Park 50-0 Kingsdale (Schools Vase)
London Oratory 21-40 Mill Hill (Schools Vase)
Mount Kelly 24-12 Plymouth College (Schools Bowl)
Princethorpe College 5-14 KES Camp Hill
QES Barnet 50-0 Robert Clack (Schools Bowl)
QMC Basingstoke 8-19 Farnborough 6th form College
Queen Mary’s Grammar 21-19 Old Swinford Hospital 2nd XV
Riddlesdown Collegiate 0-7 John Fisher 2nd XV
Royal Latin 10-12 Akeley Wood
Ryde 17-24 Lord Wandsworth College
Scarborough College 61-14 Tranby
Shebbear College 0-22 Stover
Sir Joseph Williamson’s 21-0 Simon Langton Grammar
Sir William Borlase’s 15-50 The Oratory (Schools Vase)
St Benedict’s 5-70 Harrow (Schools Cup)
St Edward’s Cheltenham 29-36 Katharine Lady Berkeley’s
St James’ 0-28 Windsor Boys’
St Peter’s, Gloucester 24-5 Wycliffe College (Schools Bowl)
The Cedars 7-33 Whitgift 3rd XV
The Forest 0-7 Reading
Whitgift 36-9 Chislehurst & Sidcup
Wirral Grammar 41-17 Stockport Grammar
Wednesday was a massive day and, like Tuesday, two Schools Cup games dominated the headlines. In Midlands B Felsted travelled to Campion, the two sides knowing that the winners would be travelling to the buoyant Finborough now. A good contest broke out, and Felsted managed to pull clear for a 31-19 victory and a trip up the road to Finborough in Round 2.
Over in London & South East B, St Benedict’s hosted Harrow. Last season the two met in the Cup early on too, with Harrow inflicting St Benedict’s only defeat of the term. This time the outcome was the same but Harrow were simply unstoppable, winning 70-5 to send them through to Round 2, where they will be hosting Berkhamsted – with the two meeting a week on Saturday anyway, expect that to swiftly double up as a Cup tie.
The Vase, meanwhile, had a really busy day on Wednesday. In North A Ermysted’s Grammar won a tight one over AKS Lytham, 14-5, while in Midlands A St Edward’s Oxford were on song, travelling to KES Stratford for a 17-7 victory. In the same section, Dr Challoner’s Grammar were on fire against Longdean, winning 66-0.
Midlands B saw an incredibly tight game at Bishop’s Stortford High School, with Gresham’s the visitors. It was on a knife edge but the hosts just claimed the victory, 14-12. Over in London & South East A Mill Hill won a high scoring contest over London Oratory, 41-20, while Langley Park were sensational at home against Kingsdale, winning 50-0.
Over in South West A Bryanston progress after a good 30-10 victory over Wellington School, while in South West B it is The Oratory to progress, they headed to Sir William Borlase’s and came home with a brilliant 50-15 victory.
Over in the Bowl, St John Fisher won a close one at Ashville Harrogate, 14-5, while Birkdale were on song at home to Fallibroome Academy, 36-17. QES Barnet were 50-0 victors over Robert Clack, while in the South West Mount Kelly won 24-12 at home to Plymouth College and St Peter’s Gloucester won a good one against Wycliffe College 24-5.
Outside of the knockouts there was loads of action too, Hill House were on fire against Hymers College, 70-12, while KES Morpeth put in a top performance against RGS Newcastle’s 2nd XV, 47-5. Similarly Scarborough College were in try-scoring form, beating Tranby 61-14.
Over in the North West Wirral Grammar had a sensational day, beating Stockport Grammar 41-17, while there were two really tight games. Cheadle Hulme, who face Wirral Grammar this weekend, edged out St Ambrose College 25-21, while The Grange clinched a tight one at Bishop Heber, 28-25.
Moving further South, Christ College crossed over from Wales once more to take on Ellesmere College this time, winning 29-12, while KES Camp Hill won a close one at Princethorpe College, 14-5.
Towards the South West, Katharine Lady Berkeley’s and St Edward’s Cheltenham put on a show but it was the latter that clinched it, 36-29, meanwhile Stover won 22-0 at Shebbear College in Devon. In Taunton, King’s College were on fire against Devonians Torquay Boys Grammar. Hartpury College’s non-ACE side were meanwhile up against a superb Samuel Whitbread Academy side, who won 29-5.
Moving towards London, Farnborough 6th form College enjoyed a 19-8 victory at QMC Basingstoke, while Lord Wandsworth College won a close one at Ryde, 24-17.
There were plenty of close games, Akeley Wood edging Royal Latin away from home 12-10, and Reading winning 7-0 at The Forest, while John Fisher’s 2nd XV won by the same margin at Riddlesdown Collegiate.
Whitgift were on song against Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar, winning 36-9, while their 3rd XV beat The Cedars 33-7. Windsor Boys’ enjoyed their trip to St James’, winning 28-0, while Sir Joseph Williamson’s beat Simon Langton grammar 21-0 and Leighton Park took a 32-0 victory at Burnham Grammar.
Hayes put in a stunning performance at home to St Olave’s Grammar, that included some truly sensational scores en route to a 67-0 victory. Gordon’s non-ACE side were similarly impressive against Saint Cecilia’s, winning 53-3. Harrodian enjoyed themselves at Ibstock Place, winning 31-12, while Claires Court were outstanding against Halliford, winning 51-17.
Thursday
Downside 14-22 Monkton Combe
Milton Abbey 50-0 Leweston
QEGS Wakefield 12-5 Grammar School at Leeds (Schools Plate)
Strathallan 28-10 Dollar Academy
Thursday was a quieter day, but it did see the opening game of the Schools Plate competition as QEGS Wakefield booked their place in the North A regional final thanks to a 12-5 victory over Grammar School at Leeds. There will meet either Lancaster RGS or Barnard Castle in that final.
Elsewhere, Monkton Combe won a good game at Downside 22-14, while Milton Abbey were absolutely flying against Leweston, winning 50-0. Up in Scotland, Strathallan look absolutely set for the St Joseph’s Festival, beating Dollar Academy 28-10.
Still to Come:
Beaumont v Bishop’s Stortford College (Schools Bowl)
Bolton v Liverpool College (Schools Vase)
Coleg Llandrillo v Llandovery College
Cotswold v Burford
Farlingaye v Woodbridge (Schools Bowl)
Haberdashers’ Adams v Shrewsbury (Schools Bowl)
Kelvinside Academy v St Aloysius’ College
Kirkbie Kendal v Lancaster RGS 2nd XV
Oakwood Park Grammar v Wilmington Grammar
QEH v Bristol Grammar (Schools Vase)
Yarm v Newcastle School for Boys
