October’s weekend school rugby began with a bang with some absolutely superb games of rugby right across the country over Friday and Saturday.
Unfortunately, heavy weather in Scotland forced all games to be cancelled, and a few in the North of England fell foul of the same problem, almost an impossible scenario to wrap your head around if you were in the South of England, where temperatures felt closer to early August than early September.
Despite that loss of fixtures though the spirit of the weekend remained high elsewhere as a weekend of glorious rugby unfolded, including over four LIVE games here on NextGenXV where there were some excellent performances.
Ten to Watch
Our roundup begins, as ever, with our Ten to Watch, and what a ten to watch it was. It all began on Friday when Kirkham Grammar School continued their unbeaten start to the season with a well earned 27-12 victory over Finborough, who put in a good shift themselves, at Leicester Forest RFC. Kirkham are coming to the boil nicely ahead of the St Joseph’s Festival in a fortnight’s time.
Yorkshire also saw action on Friday night, with Yarnbury RFC hosting a thrilling game between rising stars Harrogate Grammar and the ever-impressive Woodhouse Grove. The two sides certainly put on a show worth of Friday night billing, scoring tries aplenty and playing some brilliant rugby. Both impressed at times but it was Woodhouse Grove that came out smiling in the end with a strong 47-28 victory that will leave them feeling excited about Wednesday’s Cup clash with Lancaster RGS.
Moving through to Saturday and perhaps the most exciting game of our Ten to Watch as Millfield hosted Wellington College. These two always seem to produce thrills and that was in evidence on Saturday as three time Millfield came from behind to seal a 26-22 victory in front of a packed of crowd at the Sir Gareth Edwards pitch. You can watch the game again below, where Wellington College took a 12-0 lead into half time, with some impressive scores straight from the set piece, before Millfield came back in one of the great second halves of schools rugby.
Staying in the South West, Clifton College welcomed a new opponent in the form of Seaford College for a really special day of rugby, with all Seaford sides travelling to Clifton and playing staggered kick offs, allowing the junior sides to then line the touchlines to watch the 1st XVs. They were treated to something special in that 1st XV game, Seaford put in a brilliant performance to really test the hosts but, as we have seen previously this season, Clifton College were clinical, taking their chances and sealing a 24-7 victory that they really had to dig deep for. A fantastic game, but an equally fantastic day for schools rugby.
Across the way in Wales, Bromsgrove also maintain their unbeaten start. They were at Monmouth, who have been playing good rugby, and had to dig as deep as they have all season to get past the hosts. It was a fantastic game of schools rugby, one that could have swung either way, but Bromsgrove just keep finding a way this season and are building such fantastic momentum as they secured a tight 22-17 victory.
There was an astonishing live game in Hertfordshire as Haileybury welcomed Oundle in a game that felt near impossible to predict. What was certain was that both sides had played some impressive stuff this year and could score some outrageous tries and we saw that in abundance on Saturday as both gave it everything. a staggering 72 points were scored in the sunshine as the two sides put on a show for the live stream. Haileybury took the victory in the end, 40-32, to set up for a huge Continental Tyres Schools Cup tie with Stamford on Tuesday that will also be LIVE here on NextGenXV.
Marlborough College were the hosts of another of Saturday’s live games as they welcomed Eton College on a special day for the school as they hosted their annual Festival of Sport, which sees old boys and girls return to the school and play matches of their own as well. Our live coverage actually began with one of those old boys games at 1pm on Hammersley before the 1st XVs took over at 3pm. The challenge was a big one for the hosts, Eton College are unbeaten and riding a real wave of confidence having claimed victory in three away games on the bounce. They were at it again on Saturday, claiming a 29-10 victory to leave them one away from an unbeaten half term, but Marlborough will take heart having pushed them all the way – no easy feat against this Eton side.
Also maintaining an unbeaten start are Brighton College, who in doing so ended an unbeaten start from Hurstpierpoint College. On reflection though, both will take great heart from the weekend. Brighton were the strongest side that Hurstpierpoint have faced this season, and yet they gave Brighton the stiffest test they have had all season, they can take away plenty from that. So too Brighton though, who came through that test for a 27-14 victory and must now be looking at RGS High Wycombe this weekend coming and the St Joseph’s Festival the weekend after and thinking that they could be in for a very special first half of term.
Speaking of special, Sedbergh were very special on Saturday. A week on from that defeat to Ipswich that was a seismic moment in schools rugby, they hosted a St Peter’s York side that arrived unbeaten and playing good rugby. Perhaps Sedbergh had a point to prove, perhaps they just clicked, but either way they put in a performance of real quality, pace, precision, and endeavour that few can match. St Peter’s gave it everything but when Sedbergh are firing there is almost nothing that anyone can do and that proved the case as they secured a stunning 52-14 victory that sets them up very nicely for a huge game at home against Blackrock College on Saturday.
Our final live game of the weekend came at Rugby School as they welcomed latest visitors in this bicentenary year, Stowe. Unfortunately for Rugby, a wave of illness on Thursday and Friday saw them forced into a series of changes and Stowe needed no second invitation to try and capitalise. Having had a weekend off the week previously, the Buckinghamshire side arrived with a spring in their step and duly delivered with an impressive 35-10 victory in front of the live cameras and a buoyant travelling support.
Ten to Watch Results
Brighton College 27-14 Hurstpierpoint College
Clifton College 24-7 Seaford College
Finborough 12-27 Kirkham GS – at Leicester Forest RFC (Friday)
Haileybury 40-32 Oundle – LIVE on NextGenXV
Harrogate GS 28-47 Woodhouse Grove – at Yarnbury RFC (Friday)
Marlborough College 10-29 Eton College – LIVE on NextGenXV
Millfield 26-22 Wellington College – LIVE on NextGenXV
Monmouth 17-22 Bromsgrove
Rugby 10-35 Stowe – LIVE on NextGenXV
Sedbergh 52-14 St Peter’s, York
Around the Grounds
Friday
Friday was a busy day on the schools rugby front, and a day that had some great games as well. Perhaps nowhere more so than at Plymouth Albion RFC, where Plymouth College and Mount Kelly put on an absolute show, sharing 67 points in an epic that was won by Plymouth College 36-31.
Things were tight in Reading to as St Joseph’s College Reading hosted Dunottar. The two could barely be separated but Dunottar won out, 24-21. Travelling from Reading were Reading Blue Coat, they travelled to Petersfield RFC to take on Churcher’s College, who put on an excellent display for a 36-17 victory.
There was also Continental Tyres Schools Bowl action on Friday as King’s Ely beat Impington College 20-14, meanwhile fellow Cambridgeshire side The Perse, travelled to Bishop’s Stortford RFC to take on Bishop’s Stortford High School and came home with a 24-10 victory.
In the North West Sandbach were in great form away at Altrincham Grammar, winning 37-5, while in the South West there was an incredibly impressive outing from the Clifton College 3rd XV, who faced Sidcot 1stXV at Winscombe RFC and claimed a brilliant 41-12 victory.
Friday Results
Altrincham GS 5-37 Sandbach
Bishop’s Stortford HS 10-24 The Perse – at Bishop’s Stortford RFC
Churcher’s College 36-17 Reading Blue Coat – at Petersfield RFC
King’s Ely 20-14 Impington College (Bowl Round 1)
Plymouth College 36-31 Mount Kelly – at Plymouth Albion RFC
Sidcot 12-41 Clifton College 3rd XV – at Winscombe RFC
St Joseph’s College, Reading 21-24 Dunottar
Saturday
Saturday was a great day for schools rugby, so many sides impressed and so many game provided plenty of drama. Maintaining their unbeaten start with another excellent display were RGS High Wycombe, who travelled to Abingdon and claimed a 29-16 victory. Harrow also remain unbeaten and still look like one of the very best around, a much changed side still put in a brilliant performance again Warwick for a 54-12 victory.
Also remaining unbeaten, and looking utterly formidable, are St Albans. They took on Campion, who, remember, gave Ipswich a good game in the Cup last week, and secured a stunning 49-7 victory. They look unstoppable in present form. So too nearish rivals Mill Hill, who are also unbeaten and extended that run on Saturday despite a good Merchant Taylors’ performance, winning 27-16.
In the South West Kingswood have swept all before them and they continued their unbeaten run on Saturday with a stunning 61-5 victory at Malvern College, the fourth time they have passed fifty in a row.
Durham have also been flying this year and continued their unbeaten run with another stunning victory, 57-7 over Ampleforth College, the last time Durham failed to score fifty was in their season opener. Not too far away, at Silcoates, the annual Tom Burrow Cup was taking place and for the third year in a row it was Dame Allan’s that went home with the silverware after an impressive day’s work.
The impressive games and performances just kept on coming in. Uppingham claimed a first victory of the season, they were on the road at Bedford Modern, who have been playing well, and claimed a 27-22 victory.
In Wiltshire the impressive run from Dauntsey’s goes on, they beat Pangbourne College 46-12. Meanwhile in Dorset there was a cracker of a game as Canford just about held off Bishop Wordsworth’s for a 29-22 victory. Things were not less exciting in Somerset where Taunton School and Sherborne put on a points-fest, Taunton running out winners in an extraordinary game, 43-31.
Things were tight in Gloucestershire as well, where Sir Thomas Rich’s continue to impress after a tight 24-18 victory over Dean Close. Travelling from Gloucestershire were Cheltenham College, who were also involved in a brilliant game in Devon against Blundell’s. It was one that could have gone either way but in the end Blundell’s just edged it 26-22.
There was some key action in and around Oxford, Radley College v Tonbridge is one of the oldest and biggest fixtures around. Radley had started the year brilliantly, and Tonbridge had responded superbly to an early setback against Brighton College, and that response continued in style on Saturday as the Kent side sealed a quite outstanding 31-5 victory. Meanwhile in Oxford itself, Magdalen College hosted Bloxham in one of the games of the day. So finely in the balance, the hosts just won out 31-28. Meanwhile in Reading The Oratory hosted Oxford’s St Edward’s, and the two could hardly be separated in a low-scoring affair, The Oratory winning 14-7
London was treated to some great games too, including at Hampton, where they and Epsom College pushed each other all the way, Epsom just winning out 24-17. Dulwich College earned a memorable result against Bedford, and it was a fantastic game as well, the South East London side winning 31-22.
Emanuel also had a day to remember, beating a Caterham side that has been playing superbly 24-13. Things were incredibly tight in Barnes, where St Paul’s just edged out visitors RGS Guidford in a really tight game of rugby, 12-8. Just outside of London, Cranleigh were sensational, as they responded to a couple of defeats with a superb 51-22 performance against KCS Wimbledon.
In the North West Lancaster RGS continue to look good, their latest top performance coming against Barnard Castle, as the hosts sealed a 25-14 victory. These previews and reviews keep talking of the exciting potential at Stockport Grammar, on Saturday we saw it in a quite outstanding 57-5 defeat of Lymm High.
The north end of the country did see a few cancellations, but plenty still went away, with St Ambrose College winning at St Anselm’s College, 12-26, and St Mary’s College putting in a great performance at home to Birkenhead, 41-19. Cheadle Hulme were even more impressive at home, beating Wirral Grammar 52-15, while Kirkham Grammar’s 2nd XV were brilliant, winning 43-14 over Manchester Grammar.
Merchant Taylors’ also had a home win, 27-14 over Hutton Grammar, while Bolton won 19-14 at Liverpool College. Over in Yorkshire Bradford Grammar hit form with a 28-19 victory over Giggleswick, and further South there was an impressive 49-19 home victory for Nottingham High over Worksop College, and Loughborough Grammar were in rampant form for a 61-7 victory over Wellingborough.
On the Western side of the Midlands, The Crypt won 34-10 at KES Stratford, while there were impressive home performances from Ellesmere College, 56-5 v Haberdashers’ Adams, and Solihull, who played well to keep beat Old Swinford Hospital 43-26. Stamford meanwhile saw their 2nd XV beat King Henry VIII’s 48-19, while their 3rd XV went down 31-19 at Bablake, while on the Welsh border Oswestry beat visiting Welsh side St David’s 29-12.
Travelling South into Gloucestershire, Monkton Combe impressed at Wycliffe College in a 26-7 victory, while Sir Thomas Rich’s 3rd XV were excellent at St Edward’s, winning 58-10.
Heading from Gloucestershire were Pate’s Grammar, who met an excellent Bristol Grammar side and the hosts secured a 22-0 victory. Clifton High meanwhile beat Rendcomb College 55-20, while QEH held off Prior Park College for a 19-5 victory.
In Somerset Collegiate travelled to KES Bath and secured a well-fought 26-19 victory, similarly Downside were victors on the road, an impressive 38-5 result at Wells Cathedral. Travelling from Somerset were King’s College Taunton, they were in Dorset to face Bryanston but the hosts came out on top, 18-8. Not too far away Clayesmore were in action, hosting a good Warminster side, but the hosts won a good game, 24-12.
Along the South Coast, KES Southampton welcomed Surrey’s Gordon’s and the visitors won a tight wone 17-12. Meanwhile in Surrey St George’s Weybridge were impressive for a 26-14 victory over Reigate Grammar. Sussex meanwhile saw Worth put in a top display at home to Kent’s King’s Canterbury, winning 36-12.
In Kent itself, Eastbourne College were outstanding, winning 40-0 at Sevenoaks, a truly impressive outing. Meanwhile on home turf, Skinners’ were equally impressive as they won 50-10 over Dartford Grammar, and Cranbrook were sensational too, winning 60-8 over St Lawrence College. St Olave’s Grammar also enjoyed victory at home, 28-12 v King’s Rochester, while Maidstone Grammar won a tight game away at Sir Joseph Williamson’s, 20-17.
There were three Croydon sides in action in Kent, John Fisher won an incredibly tight game at Langley Park, 17-14, while Whitgift won a bit of a cracker at Chislehurst and Sidcup, 38-29, there 2nd XV though met a rampant Sutton Valence, who claimed a 43-0 victory.
Back in London and Croydon itself, Trinity won 39-12 against Ravens Wood, while not too far away Eltham College won a really tight on at Colfe’s, 17-14. West London saw Cardinal Vaughan play outstandingly well for a 50-3 victory over Wisbech Grammar, while Fulham Boys’ earned a 36-17 victory over Gunnersbury.
In North London, meanwhile, UCS held of a really strong Shiplake College performance to win 27-24, while Latymer Upper were on song, 54-12 against Harrodian. Travelling from North London to Hertfordshire were QES Barnet, they were at St Columba’s and claimed an excellent 43-17 victory. Also in Hertfordshire were The Leys, who enjoyed a stunning 65-0 victory at Bishop’s Stortford College.
East Anglia was no stranger to big performances this weekend, Norwich hitting peak for at home to Framlingham College. Not too far away Felsted travelled from Essex to take on a Gresham’s side that was full of confidence. A cracking game unfolded, but the way side claimed the victory, an impressive 29-20 outcome.
Back in Essex, RGS Colchester were flying against Royal Hospital School, 57-7, while Coopers’ Cobornwere almost as impressive at home to New Hall, 49-5. Brentwood also enjoyed a home victory, 21-16 over Gravesend Grammar, but Richard Hale did one for the away sides, winning a tight one at Bancroft’s 24-19.
Saturday Results
Abingdon 16-29 RGS High Wycombe
Bablake 31-19 Stamford 3rd XV
Bancroft’s 19-24 Richard Hale
Bedford Modern 22-27 Uppingham
Bishop’s Stortford College 0-65 The Leys
Blundell’s 26-22 Cheltenham College
Bradford GS 28-19 Giggleswick
Brentwood 21-16 Gravesend GS
Bristol GS 22-0 Pate’s GS
Bryanston 18-8 King’s College, Taunton
Campion 7-49 St Albans
Canford 29-22 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Cardinal Vaughan 50-3 Wisbech GS
Cheadle Hulme 52-15 Wirral GS
Chislehurrst & Sidcup GS 29-38 Whitgift
Clayesmore 24-12 Warminster
Clifton HS 55-20 Rendcomb College
Colfe’s 14-17 Eltham College
Coopers’ Coborn 49-5 New Hall
Cranbrook 60-8 St Lawrence College
Cranleigh 51-22 KCS Wimbledon
Dauntsey’s 46-12 Pangbourne College
Dulwich College 31-22 Bedford
Durham 57-7 Ampleforth College
Ellesmere College 56-5 Haberdashers’ Adams
Emanuel 24-13 Caterham
Gresham’s 20-29 Felsted
Gunnersbury 17-36 Fulham Boys
Hampton 17-24 Epsom College
Harrow 54-12 Warwick
KES Bath 19-26 Collegiate
KES Southampton 12-17 Gordon’s
KES Stratford 10-34 The Crypt
Kirkham GS 2nd XV 43-14 Manchester GS
Lancaster RGS 25-14 Barnard Castle
Langley Park 14-17 John Fisher
Latymer Upper 54-12 Harrodian
Liverpool College 14-19 Bolton
Loughborough GS 61-7 Wellingborough
Magdalen College 31-28 Bloxham
Malvern College 5-61 Kingswood
Merchant Taylors’ 27-14 Hutton GS
Mill Hill 27-16 Merchant Taylors’
Norwich 58-0 Framlingham College
Nottingham HS 49-19 Worksop College
Oswestry 29-12 St David’s College
QEH 19-5 Prior Park College
Radley College 5-31 Tonbridge
Reigate GS 14-26 St George’s, Weybridge
RGS Colchester 57-7 Royal Hospital School
Sevenoaks 0-40 Eastbourne College
Sir Joseph Williamson’s 17-20 Maidstone GS
Sir Thomas Rich’s 24-18 Dean Close
Skinners’ 50-10 Dartford GS
Solihull 43-26 Old Swinford Hospital
St Anselm’s College 12-26 St Ambrose College
St Columba’s College 17-43 QES Barnet
St Edward’s, Cheltenham 10-58 Sir Thomas Rich’s 3rd XV
St Mary’s College 41-19 Birkenhead
St Olave’s GS 28-12 King’s Rochester
St Paul’s 12-8 RGS Guildford
Stamford 2nd XV 48-19 King Henry VIII, Coventry
Stockport GS 57-5 Lymm HS
Sutton Valance 43-0 Whitgift 2nd XV
Taunton 43-31 Sherborne
The Oratory 14-7 St Edward’s, Oxford
Tom Burrow Cup – Dame Allan’s
Trinity 39-12 Ravens Wood
UCS 27-24 Shiplake College
Wells Cathedral 5-38 Downside
Worth 36-12 King’s Canterbury
Wycliffe College 7-26 Monkton Combe
Still to Come:
Duke of York’s RMS v Ashford
The Cedars v City of London Freemen’s
Windsor Boys’ v London Oratory
