This schools rugby season has begun with a real bang, each weekend news of sublime games of rugby has flown into the inbox, and this weekend was no different.
With a number of schools having exeat/leave weekends, Friday was a huge night, with a number of big games including our live streaming of the Oxford derby, Teddies Oxford v Magdalen College (see below). Saturday was not lacking either though, and as the news rolled in, so the jaw dropped ever further.
It was a fantastic few days, and with the season now three weeks old the patterns of which sides are looking strong have started to emerge.
Ten to Watch
Our Ten to Watch gave us some extraordinary games of rugby and performances, beginning with our live Friday night game as St Edward’s Oxford and Magdalen College met at Oxford University’s Iffley Road. It was an brilliant game in one of the great schools rugby atmospheres as thousands packed into the famous old ground. Teddies took a 21-19 lead into half time but, inspired by the vociferous crowd, they stormed through the second half in style, scoring three further tries for a 38-19 lead before a late MCS score narrowed the final tally to 38-24. Truly one of the great schools rugby occasions.
There were two other games on Friday night in our Ten to Watch, one was the Border Shield at Ledbury RFC as Wales’ Monmouth took on England’s Malvern College. Always a passionate affair with a strong crowd, this one was no different but it was Monmouth that made the biggest impact as they took a strong 33-7 victory that will have many sitting up and taking notice.
Meanwhile at Leicester Forest RFC Ipswich confirmed what many had begun to think after their outstanding live streamed performance against Northampton School for Boys; that they are one of the very best in the country. They were utterly superb again, taking an outstanding 27-0 victory over Denstone College. Their game against Sedbergh this Saturday, whom Denstone had a decent performance against, now looks monumental.
On Saturday Northampton School for Boys bounced back brilliantly from that Ipswich game as they took on one of last year’s top performing sides, King’s Macclesfield, and took a tight and exciting 21-17 victory – an absolutely fantastic contest.
A side that has plenty of buzz around them in these early stages are RGS High Wycombe. They were in action against Hampton on Saturday, a game that in recent times they have found pretty tricky, but on Saturday they were simply excellent – as they have been throughout these early stages of the season. Hampton gave it a good go, playing some great stuff and scoring plenty of tries, but RGS are flying right now and will have so much confidence after a superb 43-29 victory.
Saturday really was packed with outstanding games, and perhaps nowhere more so than in Yorkshire, where St Peter’s and QEGS Wakefield went head to head. It was a brilliant game, the two sides barely separable as they backed up the early promise that they have shown so far. Someone was always going to come away happier though, and that was St Peter’s as they just edged an epic contest 34-32.
There were some crackers further south too, in Essex Felsted and Seaford College went head to head in a game that really could have gone either way. Both played some wonderful stuff, and both gave reason to be excited about what is to come but as in York, someone had to come out on top and that was Felsted, claimed the victory 30-27 – they are making a bit of a habit of winning the tight ones this season.
Harrow are making a bit of a habit of having high-scoring thrillers this season and they had another one on Saturday as they hosted Wellington College and the two sides put on a real show. Once again though, in an epic contest, Harrow emerged on top. Their 38-31 victory continuing a trend that has many feeling that they may just be one of the best in the country, if not the very best. Wellington College have impressed too, but Harrow a looking formidable.
Also starting to crack up into the formidable category are Kirkham Grammar School, they hosted a Lancaster RGS side that has performed superbly to this point. On Saturday Kirkham Grammar were bang on the money though, playing some lovely stuff to earn a strong 31-8 victory.
One of the most impressive performances of the weekend though came from John Fisher, who have had a tricky old start to the season with games being moved or cancelled, but on Saturday they were finally able to kick off at home, welcoming Wimbledon College, and they put in a performance to be truly proud of in a stunning 55-7 victory.
Ten to Watch Results
Denstone College 0-27 Ipswich – at Leicester Forest RFC (Friday)
Felsted 30-27 Seaford College
Harrow 38-31 Wellington College
John Fisher 55-7 Wimbledon College
King’s Macclesfield 17-21 Northampton School for Boys
Kirkham GS 31-8 Lancaster RGS
Monmouth 33-7 Malvern College – Border Shield, at Ledbury RFC (Friday)
RGS High Wycombe 43-29 Hampton
St Edward’s Oxford 38-24 Magdalen College – Live on NextGenXV, at Iffley Road (Friday)
St Peter’s, York 34-32 QEGS Wakefield
Around the Grounds
Friday 22nd September
Along with the three fixtures in our Ten to Watch, Friday had a number of other fantastic games. Darlington Mowden Park played host to Barnard Castle v Dame Allan’s, and Barnard Castle put in a fantastic display to secure a 37-12 victory over their North Eastern rivals.
Sedbergh were also in action on Friday, in a bit on an Anglo-Scots thriller with visitors Dollar Academy. Dollar gave a really strong account of themselves, but Sedbergh showed their quality with some glorious rugby at times as they took a 38-21 victory that should send them into Saturday’s massive head to head with Ipswich full of confidence.
Full of confidence too should St Joseph’s College be after they met a really strong Woodhouse Grove side and put in a top class display to earn a brilliant 33-19 victory that will have plenty taking note and perhaps raise hopes of a strong display at the St Joseph’s Festival next month.
In London one of the top sides of the last two years hit peak form. Trinity haven’t had the start they wanted, but on Friday they got well and truly underway as they sealed a fantastic 50-6 victory at Langley Park. Meanwhile in Reading, Bishop Wordsworth’s won a really tight contest at Reading Blue Coat, a game that required huge levels of concentration and commitment as the visitors sealed a 10-3 victory.
Friday Results
Barnard Castle 37-12 Dame Allan’s – at Darlington Mowden Park
Langley Park 6-50 Trinity
Reading Blue Coat 3-10 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Sedbergh 38-21 Dollar Academy
St Joseph’s College 33-19 Woodhouse Grove
Saturday 23rd September
Saturday was an epic day with some unbelievably tight games and fantastic performances. Arguably the most notable of the lot came from Hurstpierpoint College, who travelled to Whitgift and pulled out one of their most significant results in their recent history as they defeated the schools rugby giants 14-10 in a fantastic contest. A huge statement performance from Hurstpierpoint.
That was far from the only tight game, in fact there were a couple of draws over the weekend as Mount St Mary’s College headed to Bloxham and held the hosts to a 21-21 draw, while in North London QES Barnet and UCS were tied at 19-19.
Close games felt like the order of the day and one of the most significant was at Berkhamsted, where Bromsgrove, who have started this season superbly, edged the tightest of games 18-17. All over the country these sort of results were coming in, Canford winning by a point at KES Bath, 13-12, Wallington County Grammar by 2 at Emanuel, 21-19, and Bablake just edging out visitors Princethorpe College 22-20. It was a day were fingernails across the country were all but gone, not least in Taunton School, where they edged out visitors QEH by the most slender of margins, 21-20.
In our Ten to Watch we heard of one thriller in Yorkshire, but it was far from the only one. Grammar School at Leeds and RGS Newcastle put on an absolute show for those in attendance. Point came by the bucketload, drama was there in abundance in a game that really could have gone either way, but it was the hosts, GSAL, that took the most incredible of victories, 38-36.
If readers thought that was good, Scotland had something even better lined up at George Heriot’s as they welcomed Dundee High School for what would turn out to be one of the great games. Both sides threw everything at it and that one had to lose seemed almost unfair, but such is sport and it was Dundee High that were all smiles in the end after the most extraordinary 39-38 away victory.
In London there were some crackers, RGS Guildford winning a thrilling contest at KCS Wimbledon 31-27, another of those absolutely outstanding games, while Tonbridge travelled to St Paul’s and edged a tight contest 19-15. Meanwhile on the South Coast Churcher’s College just pipped hosts Portsmouth Grammar, 22-19, and in the North West Stonyhurst were 19-15 victors at Scarisbrick Hall.
Of course not every game can be a tight one, sometimes a performance is simply too good to handle and at the moment that seems to be a familiar theme for anyone facing St Albans, such has been their outstanding level this year. One Saturday they were sensational again, winning 62-12 at home to St Benedict’s.
Durham School were in the same form, as they have been so far this season, with a quite brilliant 67-12 home victory over Newcastle School for Boys. Slightly further south Bradford Grammar had a real confident boosting performance as they travelled to Pocklington and returned with a 54-19 victory. On the other side of the Pennines AKS Lytham had a day to remember as well, defeating Giggleswick 40-7.
Brighton College have started the season really well. They were unbeaten as they welcomed Dulwich College and put in arguably their most complete display so far with a stunning 47-3 victory. Keep an eye on Brighton College.
East Anglia had some great performances, not least from Finborough who headed to RGS Colchester and returned with a truly excellent 66-10 victory. Gresham’s continued their outstanding start with a 40-15 victory at Framlingham College, while Norfolk rivals Norwich were loving life at home against The Perse, winning 53-7.
The South West saw some real magic, perhaps most notably from a Kingswood side that looks as though it is going to be one of the stories of the season as they sealed a 57-0 victory over Prior Park College. Blundell’swere in similar form as they hosted Exeter School, showing real quality for a 50-5 victory, while in Gloucestershire Sir Thomas Rich’s were sensational. They hosted King’s Worcester and absolutely nailed their performance, winning 57-7.
Worcester’s other big side, RGS Worcester, had the shoe on the other foot as they put in a brilliant display for a 55-0 victory over Haberdashers’ Adams, while Solihull were also in stunning away form, winning 65-0 at Leicester Grammar. Loughborough Grammar were another Midlands side enjoying themselves away from home, they travelled to Bishop Vesey’s a sealed a superb 52-0 victory. Meanwhile in Henley Shiplake College were in top form. After a tricky start to the season they hit peak form as they sealed a stunning 60-0 victory over visitors Windsor Boys’.
One of the exciting aspects of this season so far is the number of triangulars that there have been, and on Saturday there were two more. The Judd hosted a really special one as they welcomed Ravens Wood and, on the day that England took on Chile in the World Cup, The Grange, from Chile. Unlike in France, it was the Chileans that came out on top, securing victories over both The Judd and Ravens Wood in a memorable day. On the other side of the country Mount Kelly hosted a triangular with Truro School and Wellington School, with Wellington School coming out on top in a superb day of schools rugby.
Elsewhere in the South West Millfield welcomed Christ College from Wales and, after that heartbreaking defeat to Clifton College on Thursday night, bounced back with an excellent 26-5 victory. Going the other way were Bristol Grammar, who travelled to Cathedral School Llandaff and won 31-12. Back in the South West of England Pate’s Grammar defeated Hereford Cathrdal School 27-15.
From the South West to the North West, where there was a fantastic game at Stockport Grammar. St Ambrose College were the visitors, and these two showed exactly why people are excited about them in a fantastic game that was won in the end by the visitors, 27-20. Along the road Manchester Grammar were brilliant at Bolton, winning 28-0, while St Anselm’s College were also in stunning away form, taking a 45-19 victory at Wirral Grammar.
In the Midlands Stamford continued their unbeaten start with another strong performance, this time with a 22-8 victory over a Bedford Modern side that has turned come than a few heads. There was a great contest at KES Stratford as King Henry VIII edged a nail-biter 11-6, meanwhile Pangbourne College had a fantastic day, winning a fun game against Aylesbury Grammar 47-22.
East Anglia saw Langley and Culford put on a show, Langley winning 34-24, while King’s Ely were 39-15 victors at home to Bishop’s Stortford College. Essex meanwhile saw Richard Hale continue to impress as they won 39-20 at Coopers’ Coborn.
North London saw Mill Hill continue their impressive start to the season with a 15-7 victory over St George’s Harpenden, while Watford Grammar won 16-10 at Haberdashers’ Elstree. East London saw a thriller between Campion and Sir Joseph Williamson’s, with Campion edging it 29-21. Meanwhile in South East London Tiffin won 20-10 against Halliford, an impressive result.
Surrey saw another good St John’s Leatherhead performance as they defeated Reigate Grammar 28-0, while over in Kent there was a great game at Skinners’, who edged out visitors Gravesened Grammar 25-18.Maidstone Grammar won 27-12 at home to Eltham College, and there was an excellent away performance from Caterham, who returned home from King’s Canterbury with a 31-8 victory.
Saturday Results
AKS Lytham 40-7 Giggleswick
Bablake 22-20 Princethorpe College
Berkhamsted 17-18 Bromsgrove
Bishop Vesey’s GS 0-52 Loughborough GS
Bloxham 21-21 Mount St Mary’s College
Blundell’s 50-5 Exeter School
Brighton College 47-3 Dulwich College
Bolton 0-28 Manchester GS
Campion 29-21 Sir Joseph Williamson’s
Cathedral School, Llandaff 12-31 Bristol GS
Coopers’ Coborn 20-39 Richard Hale
Durham 67-12 Newcastle School for Boys
Emanuel 19-21 Wallington CGS
Framlingham 15-40 Gresham’s
George Heriot’s 38-39 Dundee HS
Grammar School at Leeds 38-36 RGS Newcastle
Haberdashers’ Adams 0-55 RGS Worcester
Haberdashers’ Elstree 10-16 Watford GS
KCS Wimbledon 27-31 RGS Guildford
KES Bath 12-13 Canford
KES Stratford 6-11 King Henry VIII
King’s Canterbury 8-31 Caterham
King’s Ely 39-15 Bishop’s Stortford College
Kingswood 57-0 Prior Park College
Langley 34-24 Culford
Leicester GS 0-65 Solihull
Maidstone GS 27-12 Eltham College
Mill Hill 15-7 St George’s, Harpenden
Millfield 26-5 Christ College
Mount Kelly Triangular: Wellington School
Norwich 53-7 The Perse
Pangbourne College 47-22 Aylesbury GS
Pate’s GS 27-15 Hereford Cathedral School
Pocklington 19-54 Bradford GS
Portsmouth GS 19-22 Churcher’s College
QES Barnet 19-19 UCS
RGS Colchester 10-66 Finborough
Scarisbrick Hall 15-19 Stonyhurst
Shiplake College 60-0 Windsor Boys’
Sir Thomas Rich’s 57-7 King’s Worcester
Skinners’ 25-18 Gravesend GS
St Albans 62-12 St Benedict’s
St John’s, Leatherhead 28-0 Reigate GS
St Paul’s 15-19 Tonbridge
Stamford 22-8 Bedford Modern
Stockport GS 20-27 St Ambrose College
Taunton 21-20 QEH
The Judd Triangular: The Grange, Chile
Tiffin 20-10 Halliford
Whitgift 10-14 Hurstpierpoint College
Wirral GS 19-45 St Anselm’s College
Still to Come:
Ashville Harrogate v Woodhouse Grove 2nd XV
Clayesmore v Embley
Dartford GS v Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Morrison’s Academy v Bell Baxter
Sandbach v Cheadle Hulme
St George’s, Weybridge v Lord Wandsworth College
Wilmslow HS v Lymm HS
