The opening phase of the U18 Academy League drew to a close this weekend with a fantastic set of Round 2 games to send us into the hiatus before Round 3 begins in early January.
With games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there was action right across the weekend to keep us all entertained, and indeed to whet the appetite for the schools rugby season, which begins in earnest this week.
Harlequins and Newcastle Falcons both played their first games of the campaign after byes last week, while Midlands West and Exeter Chiefs had the byes this week.
Three sides head into the break with two wins from two, Bath in the Southern Conference and a formidable looking Northampton Saints outfit in the Northern Conference along with Midlands Central. Harlequins and Exeter Chiefs have also got perfect records but have only played once each so far.
When possible an unofficial table will soon be made, however with little information forthcoming about the U18 Academy League this year there is some work to do regarding the accumulation of bonus points.
Round 2 Results & Teams
North
Leicester Tigers 40-26 Sale Sharks
After a tough first outing against Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers bounced back magnificently on Friday afternoon at Welford Road. As part of a double header with the senior side, who were playing Nottingham straight after, the young Leicester Tigers were in flying form against a Sale Sharks side that was backed with top players, including three England U18 internationals. Sale gave it their all but could not quite build on last week’s draw with Midlands West, such was the Tigers performance.
Leicester Tigers:
15 Ethan Blackmore, 14 Yaw Afirifah-Mensah, 13 Harvey Nkrumah, 12 Oliver Docherty, 11 Tobias Spencer, 10 James Egerton, 9 Jack Dickens, 1 Bronson Mellows, 2 Finlay Hayward, 3 Ben Beere, 4 Tate Skinner, 5 Joshua Brahoua, 6 Ralphie Willott (c), 7 Lawrence Adediran, 8 George Marsh.
Replacements: 16 Fergus Hanna, 17 Euan Fern, 18 Max Oliver, 19 Sam Byrd, 20 Archie Greenhalgh, 21 Jonty Nickols, 22 Freddie Snary, 23 Joe Masunda.
Sale Sharks:
15 Billy Birkett, 14 Sebi Krippner, 13 Ben Firth, 12 Dan Rabbette, 11 Fraser Rossiter, 10 Rhys Hulse, 9 Dom Hanson, 1 Ben Lilley, 2 Tom Davis, 3 Leon Tahana, 4 Josh Gibbons, 5 Jos Gilmore, 6 Will Bennett, 7 Seb Kelly (c), 8 Jack Lightbown.
Replacements: 16 H Kent-Mannion, 17 Noah Lawton, 18 Cian Jackson, 19 Ben Hartigan, 20 Ruben Reed, 21 Will Holmes, 22 Ollie Davies, 23 Sam Lewtas.
Northampton Saints 40-21 Yorkshire Academy
Northampton Saints have marked themselves out early as the side to watch in this year’s U18 Academy League with strongback to back victories to start the campaign. Having been sensational against Leicester Tigers last time out, on Friday they were given a tougher test by a strong Yorkshire Academy side with returning England U18 stars and yet still Saints played free and scored plenty of trys in a superb 40-21 victory.
Northampton Saints:
15 Edoardo Todaro, 14 Louis Burns, 13 Ben Agbenu, 12 Billy Pasco (c), 11 Rafe Witheat, 10 Louis Haley, 9 Jonathan Weimann, 1 Tom Dye, 2 Robert Gaffan, 3 Sonny Tonga’uhia, 4 Thomas Ross, 5 James Barrett, 6 Rhys Harries, 7 Harry Price, 8 Alfie Hoyles.
Replacements: 16 Kahnoa Lilo, 17 Norbert Zastawnik, 18 Archie Appleby, 19 Oscar Lile, 20 Ben Currie, 21 Will Tinley, 22 Preston McFarlane.
Yorkshire Academy:
15 George Brown (Barnard Castle), 14 Finaly Green (Harrogate Grammar), 13 Jack Wilson (Harrogate Grammar), 12 Isaac Firth (Birkdale), 11 Thomas Rowe (Woodhouse Grove), 10 Louie Platt (Mount St Mary’s College), 9 Gabriel Horberry (Harrogate Grammar), 1 Lucas Oxley (St Peter’s, York), 2 Seb Easterby-Gray (Queen Ethelburga’s, captain), 3 Will Farr (Bishop Burton College), 4 Callum Russell (Bishop Burton College), 5 Anthony McCormack (Bishop Burton College), 6 Alfie Longstaff (Woodhouse Grove), 7 Archie Hurford (Woodhouse Grove), 8 Oliver Spencer (Grammar School at Leeds).
Replacements: 16 Harry Tunningley (Hill House), 17 Luca Foster (Bishop Burton College), 18 Sam Bland (Bishop Burton College), 19 Joshua Oke (Ampleforth College), 20 Oliver Owuor (Lady Lumley’s), 21 Rylie Bonsall (Mount St Mary’s College), 22 Lloyd McEwan-Peters (Wellington College), 23 Callum Hyland-Dugbo (Woodhouse Grove).
Midlands Central 45-14 Newcastle Falcons
It’s back to back victories for Midlands Central too, who won a narrow thriller at Yorkshire Academy in Round 1, and in their first home game on Saturday they put on a real show against Newcastle Falcons, who were playing their first game of the campaign. Led by tighthead Sam Scott, Midlands Central were utterly sensational en route to a 45-14 victory that has certainly turned plenty of heads.
Midlands Central:
15 Darcy Bunce, 14 George Pearson, 13 Charlie Morgan-Stephens, 12 Elis Thomas, 11 Emosi Nabakeke, 10 Will Baildon, 9 Kieran Edwards, 1 George Alexander, 2 Oskar Parker, 3 Sam Scott (c), 4 Jacob Griffin, 5 Ethan Surrey, 6 Harvey Bewley, 7 Matt Bridge, 8 Jake Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Michael Onobhayedo, 17 Gruff Williams, 18 Lasha Asatiani-Kalandadze, 19 Dan O’Reilly, 20 John Baldwin, 21 Drew Delaney, 22 Oscar Talbot, 23 Thomas Cunningham
Newcastle Falcons:
15 Ben O’Halloran (Gosforth Academy), 14 Lucas Jessop (RGS Newcastle), 13 Osea Navuso (Richmond 6thform), 12 Josh Farley (Gosforth Academy, captain), 11 Sam Wardle (RGS Newcastle), 10 Junior Newton (Sedbergh), 9 Reuben Dyer (Gosforth Academy), 1 Harvey Headlam (Hartlepool 6th form), 2 Ryan Shaw (Gosforth Academy), 3 Sam Graham (Durham), 4 Harry Wildridge (Yarm), 5 Patrick Hogg (Durham), 6 Charlie Brewer (Dame Allan’s), 7 Charlie Turnbull (Sedbergh), 8 Jacob Butterill (Sedbergh).
Replacements: 16 Ollie Forster (Dame Allan’s), 17 Aidan Stewart (Sedbergh), 18 Chris Kelly (RGS Newcastle), 19 Lauchlan Hill (Gosforth Academy), 20 Dan Toole (Durham), 21 Joe Davis (Barnard Castle), 22 Rory Linkleter (Gosforth Academy), 23 James Bent (Gosforth Academy).
South
Bristol Bears 49-12 Gloucester
A tight derby defeat on the opening weekend was not going to set Bristol Bears back for long as the stormed to victory on Sunday against another local rival, Gloucester. Having only narrowly missed out to the reigning champions London South Central last time out, Gloucester would have had every reason to feel confident, but they came up against a Bristol Bears side that was just in utterly rampant form and that will be wishing that Round 3 was not quite so far away after such a superb 49-12 display.
Bristol Bears:
15 Tom Bowen, 14 Louis Nancekivell, 13 Geth O’Callaghan, 12 Jamie Howick, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Fin Fielder, 9 Ted Phillips, 1 Will Pearce, 2 Charlie Manship, 3 Jack Parkinson, 4 Rowan Curry, 5 Joachim Hullah, 6 Joe Lloyd, 7 Kieran Hill, 8 Sonny Davis (c).
Replacements: 16 Spokes, 17 Leyland, 18 Russell, 19 Mills, 20 Burton, 21 Green, 22 Worsnip, 23 Randall.
Gloucester:
15 Louis Callow (Hartpury College), 14 Raph Campbell (King’s Gloucester), 13 Ollie Rendell (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 12 Harry Tovey (Hartpury College), 11 Barty Hunt (Hartpury College), 10 Taite Fortey (St Peter’s, Gloucester), 9 James Lilwall (Sir Thomas Rich’s), 1 Tom Phillips (Hartpury College), 2 Leo Mullis (King’s Gloucester), 3 Ellis Allen (Hartpury College), 4 Finn Watkins (Hartpury College), 5 Evan Rees (Hartpury College), 6 Keelan Freeman-Price (John Kyrle), 7 Caio James (Hartpury College), 8 Solomon Shand (Hartpury College, captain).
Replacements: 16 Ethan Jones (Cheltenham College), 17 Tom Ring (King’s Gloucester), 18 Ollie Workman (The Crypt), 19 Harry Fernandez-Ford (Monmouth), 20 Olly Allport (Dean Close), 21 Rio Ebanks (St Peter’s, Gloucester), 22 Jack Hopson (Dean Close), 23 Woody Walker (Radley College).
Harlequins 35-25 South Central London
A first game of the campaign for Harlequins, and one that will leave them feeling very happy with where they are, having defeated reigning champions London South central 35-25. With co-captains Rory Minton and Isaac Buck leading them, Quins met a strong London South Central side, who had Harrow’s Reggie Hammick leading the charge, but stuck to task and came away with the victory to get their campaign off to a great start.
Harlequins:
15 Elliott Southworth (Hartpury College), 14 Izaak Manuel (Eton College), 13 Henry Williams (Brighton College), 12 Rory Minton (Seaford College, co-captain), 11 Max Farrell (Trinity), 10 Ben Webb (Gordon’s), 9 Fergus Callington (Whitgift), 1 Jamie Miller (Whitgift), 2 Isaac Buck (Newman College, co-captain), 3 Connor Van Lille (Newman College), 4 James Davies (Brighton College), 5 Elliot Williams (Gordon’s), 6 Quinn Singh (Trinity), 7 Sam Worne (Whitgift), 8 Ronan Daniell (Hurstpierpoint College).
Replacements: 16 N/A, 17 Ethan Manzi (Gordon’s), 18 Ollie Streeter (Gordon’s), 19 Fin Healey (Gordon’s), 20 Ashton Graham (Gordon’s), 21 Sam Cowman (Hartpury College), 22 Felix Bateman-Champain (Worth), 23 Zuko Robb (Gordon’s).
London South Central:
15 Freddy Rossigneux, 14 Sam Winters, 13 Charlie Griffin, 12 Filip Edstrom, 11 Tyler Offiah (vc), 10 Finn Keylock, 9 George Harris, 1 Otto Bennett, 2 Kepueli Tuipulotu, 3 Hunter Dean-Johns, 4 Rory McKnight (vc), 5 Oliver Agar, 6 John Edwards, 7 Reggie Hammick (c), 8 Edward Bachelor.
Replacements: 16 Martin Chalmers, 17 Charlie Hoyler, 18 Isaac Sprenger, 19 Will May, 20 Henry Dargan, 21 Aidan Pugh, 22 Ben Littlefair, 23 Maximus Winter.
Saracens 26-34 Bath (Saturday 2nd September, 2pm)
Ahead of Saturday’s contest between these two much of the talk was of Saracens’ four returning England U18 internationals and how that would likely help them kick on from their opening round defeat to Exeter Chiefs. To an extent it did, however such is the potency with which Bath have started this campaign that it just wasn’t enough. Bath were outstanding en route to their 34-26 victory, the only away victory of the round, and it leaves them with a perfect record having defeated their nearest rivals Bristol Bears as well.
Saracens:
15 Finn Newton, 14 Ben Morrow, 13 Jack Bracken, 12 Angus Hall, 11 Rafa Varona Blakstad, 10 Alex Nagele, 9 Will Howard, 1 Josh Twigg, 2 Lewis Young, 3 Finn Bloomer, 4 Charlie Barker, 5 Tayo Adegbemile, 6 Gabriel Nott (c), 7 Eddie Alliott, 8 Finn White.
Replacements: 16 Frank Kitchen, 17 Owen Gillett, 18 Rohan Burke, 19 Lewis Golding, 20 Jack Marshall, 21 Freddie Bracken-Smith, 22 Fraser Rawlins, 23 Asa Stewart-Harris.
Bath:
15 Owen Erasmus (Millfield), 14 Wyatt McLoughlin (Beechen Cliff), 13 Henry Bartlett (Beechen Cliff), 12 George Yarwood (Beechen Cliff), 11 Toby Lock (Beechen Cliff), 10 James Linegar (Kingswood), 9 Sam Gane (Beechen Cliff), 1 Theo Malik (Dauntsey’s), 2 Evan Gallagher (Kingswood), 3 Leo Palmer (Kingswood), 4 Alex Deering (Millfield), 5 James Maloney (Marlborough College), 6 Charlie Ward (Kingswood), 7 Arthur Moore (Clayesmore), 8 Connor Treacey (Beechen Cliff, captain).
Replacements: 16 Henry Bonetti (Millfield), 17 Sam Janaway (Canford), 18 Codi Purnell (Millfield), 19 Alfie Blackett (Beechen Cliff), 20 Ed Elliott (Marlborough College), 21 Ellis James (Millfield), 22 Julian Nunn (Beechen Cliff), 23 Oliver Manchip (Beechen Cliff).
Further Rounds
Round 3 (Weekend of 6th January)
North
Midlands Central v Midlands West
Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks v Northampton Saints
South
Bath v Exeter Chiefs
Gloucester v Harlequins
Saracens v South Central London
Round 4 (Weekend of 13th January)
North
Leicester Tigers v Yorkshire Academy
Midlands West v Northampton Saints
Sale Sharks v Newcastle Falcons
South
Bath v South Central London
Bristol Bears v Saracens
Exeter Chiefs v Harlequins
Round 5 (Weekend of 20th January)
North
Midlands Central v Northampton Saints
Newcastle Falcons v Midlands West
Yorkshire Academy v Sale Sharks Academy
South
Exeter Chiefs v Gloucester
Harlequins v Bath
South Central London v Bristol Bears
Round 6 (Weekend of 3rd February)
North
Midlands West v Leicester Tigers
Newcastle Falcons v Yorkshire Academy
Sale Sharks v Midlands Central
South
Gloucester v Saracens
Harlequins v Bristol Bears
South Central London v Exeter Chiefs
Round 7 (Weekend of 10th February)
North
Leicester Tigers v Midlands Central
Northampton Saints v Newcastle Falcons
Yorkshire Academy v Midlands West
South
Bristol Bears v Exeter Chiefs
Gloucester v Bath
Saracens v Harlequins
Final Day: 18th February 2024
Round 1 Results
North
Midlands West 22-22 Sale Sharks
Northampton Saints 75-7 Leicester Tigers
Yorkshire Academy 31-33 Midlands Central
South
Bath 29-27 Bristol Bears
Exeter Chiefs 44-27 Saracens
South Central London 36-33 Gloucester
