As Merchant Taylors’ once again enjoy ‘Phab Week’, their school charity partner, they round off with a massive game under the lights on Friday night, and once more Reading Blue Coat are the visitors.
As last year, NextGenXV will be live streaming the 7pm kick off in front of what is expected to be a packed crowd and a very special atmosphere. You will be able to watch the game on our YouTube channel, on TikTok, and through the embedded link below.
Last year’s game was an epic, as tight as tight can be and won at the death by Reading Blue Coat, 15-14. In a sign of just what a brilliant occasion the night is though, Merchant Taylors’ weren’t going to let that spoil the party and the noise from the touchlines was as strong after the whistle as it had been throughout. It is always an incredibly special occasion and you can check out the highlights of last year’s game below.
That was actually a first victory for Reading Blue Coat against Merchant Taylors’ at 1st XV level since 2015 and Merchant Taylors’ will be hoping for a return to that pattern this year. They have reason to be confident too, with three wins from their five games and all three being pressurised tight affairs, 14-11 at Watford Grammar, 8-5 at home to London Oratory, and 15-13 at home to Magdalen College last time out.
Reading Blue Coat though are in sensational form, with six victories from their eight games, and one three occasions they have not even conceded. Their only defeats have been to schools rugby heavyweights Cranleigh and St Paul’s, and they are currently on a four game winning streak.
Merchant Taylors will therefore have to be at their best to overcome this top class Reading Blue Coat side, however with a huge crowd and at the end of such a special week, they will be inspired.
In previous encounter between the two sets of players of the field as younger players, Merchant Taylors’ current U6th edged Reading Blue Coat’s U6th as U15s 10-8 back in 2019, and as U14s they won 22-17, for the current L6th as U14s though, it went Reading Blue Coat’s way, 19-12.
So one way or another, it looks as though we are in for a brilliant Friday night – electric off the field, and by the looks of things close and exciting on the field too.
Phab brings together disabled and non-disabled people of all ages to make more life together – with exciting and challenging holiday projects for disabled and disadvantaged children and young adults, wheelchair accessible holiday homes, and 140 Phab Clubs across England and Wales with 8,000 members. Thank you for supporting Phab and Phabkids – with your help we can make a real and lasting difference to the lives of so many more children, young people and adults with disabilities, to their families and to local communities.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/phab-merchant-taylors-and-st-helens
