It has been a busy few days of schools rugby action, with fixtures across Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
The first round of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup was tidied up, along with plenty of Vase and Bowl fixtures, and a huge number of non-knockout games including two fantastic LIVE games here on NextGenXV.
Monday
The action began on Monday, where Blundell’s booked their place in the Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup second round with a 35-19 victory over King’s College, Taunton. They will take on their opponent’s great rivals Taunton School in the next round.
Elsewhere, the Vase had two games, Torquay Boys’ progressing thanks to a 27-17 victory at Truro, while Haberdashers’ Elstree were in flying form at home to reach the next round, winning 66-7 against St Clement Danes.
Monday Results
Blundell’s 35-19 King’s College Taunton (Cup Round 1)
Haberdashers’ Elstree 66-7 St Clement Danes (Vase Round 2)
Truro 17-27 Torquay Boys’ GS (Vase Round 2)
Tuesday
Tuesday saw a huge news story in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup as reigning champions Oakham were knocked out 23-10 by Stamford. A result that now means the most recent former champions left in the competition after the opening round is Bromsgrove, who last won the title in 2016. Stamford will now meet Haileybury in Round 2, a game that will be LIVE here on NextGenXV.
There was a LIVE game on Tuesday as the Bicentenary games continued at Rugby School, they welcomed unbeaten Eton College and an absolute cracker of a game unfolded. Rugby took an early lead in a game that was tight right the way through, but Eton clawed their way back for a 22-17 victory, preserving this remarkable unbeaten start to the season – you can see it all again below.
In the Vase, RGS Colchester won 39-19 at Langley, but surely the performance of the day was Felsted, who beat Bishop’s Stortford High 65-10. Over in the Bowl Ashford won 14-10 at Herne Bay and Maidstone Grammar were flying, beating St Lawrence College 62-10.
There was also a great derby game under the lights at Bournemouth RFC as Bryanston and Canford went head to head in an epic. It could have gone either way as Canford came oh so close to taking it, but it was Bryanston that edged it in thrilling fashion for a memorable 23-22 victory.
Tuesday Results
Bryanston 23-22 Canford – at Bournemouth RFC
Culford 20-31 King’s Ely
Felsted 65-10 Bishop’s Stortford HS (Vase Round 2)
Herne Bay 10-14 Ashford (Bowl Round 1)
Langley 19-39 RGS Colchester (Vase Round 2)
Oakham 10-23 Stamford (Cup Round 1)
Maidstone GS 62-10 St Lawrence College (Bowl Round 1)
Rugby 17-22 Eton College – LIVE on NextGenXV
Wednesday
Wednesday was, as always, a hugely busy day, and it was a day that finished in spectacular style as Berkhamsted hosted Denstone College at Saracens’ StoneX Stadium, LIVE here on NextGenXV (see below). It was an extraordinary game, Berkhamsted led through 24-7 at the break, only for Denstone College to claw their way back and land a last minute penalty for a 36-34 lead. Then came the real drama, Berkhamsted won a penalty and then camped on the Denstone College line. They eventually broke through with the clock deep in the red only for the try to be disallowed due to no clear grounding. The drama didn’t stop there, the touch judge came in and said there was a grounding, but not being an independent AR the referee had to ignore him. However just as all options looked done, the photographer, Gerry McManus, said he had a photo of the grounding. Putting protocol aside for the good of the correct outcome, wisely, the referee looked at the photo and awarded the try for perhaps the most dramatic ending to a school game this writer has seen, sparking huge Berkhamsted celebrations as they clutched a 39-36 victory from the jaws of defeat.
There were some big game in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup too, Ipswich travelled to former champions Campion, who put up a really strong fight against the side that defeated Sedbergh last week. Ipswich came through though for a 33-19 victory that will see them host another former champion next time out, Dulwich College.
Radley College meanwhile travelled to former Plate winner Bloxham in a second round game after both had had byes/walkovers in the first round. Radley came out on top in a good game, 35-19, and will now travel to either Stowe or Berkhamsted in the Midlands A Regional Final.
Over in the Vase, Chislehurst & Sidcup won a great game against Reigate Grammar, 37-21, while there were big wins for Mill Hill, 61-7 over Cardinal Vaughan, and Runshaw College, 67-10 over The Grange.
The Bowl had plenty going on throughout Wednesday. Ampleforth were flying, 47-17 v KES Morpeth, while fellow Yorkshiremen Bradford Grammar won 34-0 at Rishworth. Further South Loughborough Grammar won by an impressive 61-0 margin at St Joseph’s, Stoke, while Princethorpe College won a good game 20-14 against KES Aston, meanwhile Hereford Cathedral were brilliant, winning 48-12 against KES Camp Hill. Towards London Royal Latin progressed with a 31-14 victory over Robert Smyth, while Saint Cecilia’s won 19-5 at QES Barnet to progress, and Colfe’s were impressive 53-10 victors at The Cedars.
There was also plenty of non-knockout action, particularly in a busy Yorkshire, where Grammar School at Leeds won a great game at home to Prince Henry’s, 33-24. Ashville Harrogate were also victorious, 41-14 v Watch Academy, so too Scarborough College, who beat Ripon Grammar 29-22. There were notable away wins, Hill House winning 80-0 at Bishop Burton’s 3rd XV, while Merchant Taylors’ took a 73-3 victory at Ripley St Thomas. Trent College meanwhile enjoyed a good 38-5 victory at Hymers College.
Over in the North West there was County Cup action, Calday Grammar winning the Wirral derby against Wirral Grammar, 28-26, while St Anselm’s also won a thriller, 37-33 at Cheadle Hulme. Outside of the counties, Stockport Grammar showed their quality with a 27-7 victory at Sandbach, and Lancaster RGS 2ndXV impressed with a 31-21 victory at Kirkbie Kendal.
Further South King’s Worcester won a really tight one with St Peter’s Gloucester, 12-7, while in Gloucestershire there was an epic 17-17 draw between Pate’s Grammar and Cokethorpe.
Buckinghamshire saw Holyport win 24-5 at Burnham, while Watford Grammar won 24-8 at Dr Challoner’s Grammar. Towards London Reading won 30-7 at home to Salesian, while Sir William Borlase’s were on song, 26-10 at home to Rickmansworth.
Hertfordshire saw Haberdashers’ Elstree win 31-12 over St Edmund’s College, while in London Hayes won an epic at the death against Gordon’s, 13-12. UCS meanwhile won 36-14 at Gunnersbury.
Kent saw Beth’s and Simon Langton draw, while in Surrey Wallington County Grammar were excellent, winning 27-19 over Langley Park, Reigate College won a tight one at Ewell Castle, 24-22, while heading from Surrey were Godalming College, who were defeated by hosts Farnborough 6th form College, 17-14. Berkshire saw a brilliant game as Leighton Park won 33-31 at Reddam House, while in the south of the country Lord Wandsworth College impressively won a high scoring encounter 50-30 at Ryde.
Wednesday Results
Ampleforth College 47-17 KES Morpeth (Bowl Round 1)
Ashville Harrogate 41-14 Wath Academy
Berkhamsted 39-36 Denstone College – LIVE on NextGenXV from StoneX Stadium
Beth’s GS 0-0 Simon Langton GS
Bishop Burton College 3rd XV 0-80 Hill House
Bloxham 19-35 Radley College (Cup Round 2)
Burnham GS 5-24 Holyport
Calday Grange GS 28-26 Wirral GS (County Cup)
Campion 19-33 Ipswich (Cup Round 1)
Cheadle Hulme 33-37 St Anselm’s College (County Cup)
Chislehurst & Sidcup 37-21 Reigate GS (Vase Round 2)
Dr Challoner’s GS 8-24 Watford GS
Ewell Castle 22-24 Reigate College
Farnborough 6th form College 17-14 Godalming College
Grammar School at Leeds 33-24 Prince Henry’s GS
Gunnersbury 14-36 UCS
Haberdashers’ Elstree 31-12 St Edmund’s College
Hayes 13-12 Gordon’s
Hereford Cathedral 48-12 KES Camp Hill (Bowl Round 1)
Hymers College 5-38 Trent College
King’s Worcester 12-7 St Peter’s, Gloucester
Kirkbie Kendal 21-31 Lancaster RGS 2nd XV
Mill Hill 61-7 Cardinal Vaughan (Vase Round 2)
Pate’s GS 17-17 Cokethorpe
Princethorpe College 20-14 KES Aston (Bowl Round 1)
QES Barnet 5-19 Saint Cecilia’s (Bowl Round 2)
Reading 30-7 Salesian
Reddam House 31-33 Leighton Park
Ripley St Thomas 3-73 Merchant Taylors’, Crosby
Rishworth 0-34 Bradford GS (Bowl Round 2)
Royal Latin 31-14 Robert Smyth Academy (Bowl Round 1)
Runshaw College 67-10 The Grange (Vase Round 2)
Ryde 30-50 Lord Wandsworth College
Sandbach 7-27 Stockport GS
Scarborough College 29-22 Ripon GS
Sir William Borlase’s GS 26-10 Rickmansworth
St Joseph’s College, Stoke 0-61 Loughborough GS (Bowl Round 1)
The Cedars 10-53 Colfe’s (Bowl Round 1)
Wallington CGS 27-19 Langley Park
Thursday
Thursday was a quieter day but still had some great games of rugby. The Vase saw a bit of action, King’s Gloucester continue to impress as they progressed with a 38-5 victory at Downside, while Glyn won 29-14 at home to Wimbledon College to progress. Over in the Bowl Grey Court go through after a 21-12 victory at home to Orleans Park.
Outside of the knockouts Bedford Modern continue to impress, they were at Samuel Whitbread Academy and won a fantastic game 31-25. One of the games of the week. Ratcliffe College meanwhile won a good one at home to Birkdale, 26-17, and in the South West King’s Bruton were in brilliant form, winning 31-0.
Over in Wales there was a very special game as Cathedral School Llandaff hosted Southern Cape from South Africa. Sometimes these games can be special off the field but a bit mis-matched on field, not so this time as it was a fantastic encounter, with the two barely separable, the hosts just winning out, 15-14.
Thursday Results
Cathedral School, Llandaff 15-14 Southern Cape, South Africa
Downside 5-38 King’s Gloucester (Vase Round 2)
Glyn 29-14 Wimbledon College (Vase Round 2)
Grey Court 21-12 Orleans Park (Bowl Round 1)
Milton Abbey 0-31 King’s Bruton
Ratcliffe College 26-17 Birkdale
Samuel Whitbread 25-31 Bedford Modern
