Another year and another Millfield victory at St Joseph’s festival in 2022. However, as the competition came to a close the feeling around the hallowed pitches in Suffolk was opposite to the inevitability another Red Stripe success posed. There were upsets, near misses, high scoring games and low scoring games. You truly could never call what would happen next, be it the weather flitting in between sun and wind, or place kicks clipping the posts when looking so set to go over.  NextGen is here to cover all bases on Day 2, right down to the last Millfield kick on Pitch 1 in the final.

The Bowl competition kicked Sunday off and proved to be fantastic entertainment throughout the day, culminating in a final involving two of the fiercest rivals we had in Suffolk in Brighton College and Hurstpierpoint. Both had to endure stiff competition throughout the day. Brighton were pushed hard by QEGS and then locked horns with the always challenging Dulwich College in the semi-finals, a game they managed so well to succeed 8-0. Hurstpierpoint saw off Whitchurch, and then had to confront the famed St Joseph’s home atmosphere, quelling a bevy of drums, singing and emotion to win 10-0, not an easy ask at all. Brighton would have gone in confident after a handy victory over the local rivals last weekend, however St Josephs is a different game and atmosphere. The final was one of the most intense events of the whole weekend, a lone Hursts penalty in the first half the difference come full time. Brighton really grew as the tournament went on, having gone in with huge injury issues. They are really a team to watch out for this season as they lick their wounds and move on. For now however, Hurstpierpoint hold the bragging rights, bouncing back after last weekend’s loss, with the Bowl to show for it.

Moving onto the Shield, it was good to see Welsh outfit Whitchurch come out with something to show for their excellent effort over the weekend. After defeat against Hursts in the Bowl, they saw off Strathallan in a battle of the two non-English sides in the competition. This match was tight, with the Scottish side showing no let-up in their pursuit to find an equalling try to Whitchurch’s early foray across the whitewash, and the Welsh boys did well to hold on for the final. QEGS meanwhile managed to edge out day one entertainers Marlborough, showcasing just how good they are despite a tough Saturday. However, the final perhaps displayed just how taxing two days of rugby against quality opposition can be as Whitchurch just showed too much power, overcoming the Wakefield outfit 25-10 to bring the Shield back to Wales.

Our plate saw some of the strongest sides in the competition battle it out. One could mistake the Kirkham-Wellington final being a battle for the De La Salle rather than the plate, and you could see how much it meant to the Wellington boys upon getting over the line. Following a gutting loss in a physical game against Denstone in the Trophy quarters, Kirkham had to pick themselves up and face a spirited RGS High Wycombe side in the Plate semis.  RGS led up into the final moments, until a five minute Kirkham barrage in their 5 metre area finished with an outstretched Kirkham hand over the whitewash to get the winning score. Perhaps that mental toll of playing Denstone and then such a good RGS side was reflected in the final, with the outstanding Wellington showing great game management to run out winners thirteen points to five, claiming such an exciting Plate competition as their own.

And so finally onto the Trophy. Eight sides arose on Saturday with dreams of holding up the famous De La Salle, and this was evident with some hugely entertaining quarter finals played at such a high level. It swung from the physicality of Denstone and Kirkham to the majestic nature of Trinity’s Conor Byrne in full flow condemning Wellington to a loss with a magic score in the corner. The four teams left in the semi-finals had huge expectations to live up to, and many people still had little idea as to who our champion would be. Denstone and Millfield played out a stormer, our game of the day, played with a vivacious style and pace seeing the try of the tournament scored by George Cotterill in the corner, beating defenders to dot down his own delicate grubber in behind. Eventually Millfield succeeded with the final kick of the game, and Denstone’s heroes who performed so valiantly over the two days were sent out. Trinity and their player of the tournament Josh Bellamy proved to be too much for Hampton in the other semi, a combination of clever kicks and excellent hands conjuring up a 15-0 victory to set up a mouth-watering final. As our 4.20 kick off rolled around and all eyes became placed firmly upon Pitch 1, Millfield once again showed why they have a record-breaking history in this competition. They quelled the fantastic Bellamy and his brilliant backline unlike anyone else in the competition had, controlled territory, and eventually saw monumental back rower George Timmons throw an offload to send try of the tournament winner Cotterill over in the corner for the winning score.

Knockout Results:

2022 St Joseph’s Festival Champions: Millfield School

De La Salle Trophy Final – Millfield School vs Trinity School

Trophy Semi Finals – Denstone College vs Millfield School, Trinity School vs Hampton School

Plate Final – Wellington College vs Kirkham School

Plate Semi Finals – Kirkham School vs RGS High Wycombe, Wellington College vs RGS Newcastle

Trophy Quarter Finals – Denstone College vs Kirkham School, Millfield School vs RGS High Wycombe, Trinity School vs Wellington College, Hampton School vs RGS Newcastle

Bowl Final – Hurstpierpoint School vs Brighton College

Bowl Semi Finals – Hurstpierpoint School vs St Josephs College, Dulwich College vs Brighton College

Shield Final – Whitchurch School vs QEGS Wakefield

Shield Semi Finals – Whitchurch School vs Strathallan School

Bowl Quarter Finals – Hurstpierpoint School vs Whitchurch School, Strathallan School vs St Josephs College, Marlborough College vs Dulwich College, QEGS Wakefield vs Brighton College

Group Stage Final Standings:

1 Millfield School

2 Trinity School

3 Denstone College

4 Hampton School

5 Wellington College

6 Kirkham School

7 RGS High Wycombe

8 RGS Newcastle

9 Hurstpierpoint School

10 Brighton College

11 St Josephs College

12 Dulwich College

13 Whitchurch School

14 QEGS Wakefield

15 Strathallan School

16 Marlborough College