Another outstanding weekend of school rugby saw many play their last games before the half term break, and created some outstanding memories.
It was a weekend that saw the very best of the international game and also some of the very best of the school game. Indeed the whole first half of this term has been like that, with some of the rugby produced being of the very highest order.
There is still rugby left before the half term break though for some, a busy midweek schedule and then the pivotal St Joseph’s Festival, plus a handful of games over the weekend, but for many this was the last stand before the break.
Ten to Watch
As ever, our roundup of the weekend’s action begins with our Ten to Watch, and among those ten a side that has been utterly superb this season, Harrow. They hosted Berkhamsted, who have had some strong performances of their own this season, but Harrow put in perhaps the most dominant display of the year for a 58-19 victory. It sends them into half term unbeaten, winning seven from seven, and the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s champions must be eyeing up more of the same after the break – they have been utterly superb.
So too have Bromsgrove, who sealed a 24-10 victory over Stowe on Saturday that leaves them unbeaten as well. They have one more game before the break, a tricky Cup tie at Northampton School for Boys on Wednesday, but they have been absolutely formidable. Stowe are a strong side, but as Bromsgrove have done time and time again this year, they dug in for a good victory.
One of the biggest stars of the season, and most rapidly rising of stars too, are Kingswood. On Tuesday they lost their unbeaten record, exiting the Cup at the hands of Malvern College. On Saturday they bounced back when many sides might have taken a hit to the confidence, beating a good Blundell’s side 24-12.
Like Kingswood, Clifton College have only dropped one game this season and that was an epic on the first day of the season at the aforementioned Harrow. On Saturday they made it five victories on the trot since then as they hosted Hartpury College Bulls and sealed an impressive 35-14 victory to take with them into half term. When they return they have another huge game, hosting Sedbergh.
Clifton will have taken real note of Sedbergh’s weekend, and not just because of that fixture. Sedbergh were playing Blackrock College, who Clifton face in late November, and Clifton will have seen something to make them gulp. Blackrock were utterly outstanding at Sedbergh on Saturday, sealing a 52-20 victory, an almost unheard of margin on Buskhome, that confirmed everything that we all believe we know about Irish rugby. The national side might have lost a heartbreaker on Saturday, but their most prestigious school side delivered a message that Irish rugby is going to be operating at the highest level for a long time.
Saturday’s LIVE game was at Oundle, where they hosted St Edward’s Oxford for the first time in 15 years. The game lived up to the occasion, Oundle building a lead only for Teddies to come storming back to set up the most tense of conclusions. The game could have gone either way but in the end the hosts held out for a tight 12-10 victory (see below). Oundle now take on King’s Grantham in midweek in the Vase, victory there will set up a rematch with Teddies after half term – a game that could be very special indeed now.
Also on Saturday, Wellington College bounced back from defeat at Millfield last time out for a 38-19 victory at Hampton. They had been epic in defeat in Somerset, and on Saturday they demonstrated that quality of play again in some style. They will head to the St Joseph’s Festival full of confidence now.
Also bouncing back on Saturday were St Peter’s York, they had a tough outing a Sedbergh last time out but were otherwise unbeaten and they showed that quality on Saturday against a Lancaster RGS side that has been playing some outstanding rugby as well, winning 28-7 to head into a huge game on Friday with Durham with a real spring in their step.
Saturday also saw to Festivals. At the inaugural Eltham College Festival, Mill Hill claimed their spoils, winning four from four to complete an unbeaten first half of term and finish it with silverware. They have been truly outstanding all term and were so again on Saturday, conceding just 7 points all tournament. Keep an eye on them in the second half of term.
The other Festival was the annual Merchiston Castle Festival. A sixteen team celebration of schools rugby and an epic two days of action. Nine schools from England travelled North to Scotland, but it was the Scottish sides that came out on top, Glasgow District reaching the final, and the hosts, Merchiston Castle winning it, and in doing so lifting the Trophy at their Festival for the first time. You can read about it in more detail here: Merchiston Festival Review.
Ten to Watch Results
Bromsgrove 24-10 Stowe
Clifton College 35-14 Hartpury College Bulls
Eltham College Festival – Mill Hill Champions
Hampton 19-38 Wellington College
Harrow 58-19 Berkhamsted
Kingswood 24-12 Blundell’s
Lancaster RGS 7-28 St Peter’s, York
Merchiston Castle Festival – Merchiston Castle Champions
Oundle 12-10 St Edward’s, Oxford – LIVE on NextGenXVT
Sedbergh 20-52 Blackrock College
Around the Grounds
Friday
Friday was a cracking day of rugby and in the South West there were some great derbies, King’s Gloucester winning 26-12 against The Crypt at Old Cryptians, while St Peter’s Gloucester won a tense one at Pate’s Grammar, 14-12.
There was a huge derby in Coventry, and a huge performance from King Henry VIII, who beat a Bablake side that has being ticking along well 26-7, one of their finest performances of the season. Further North Bishop Heber won 33-17 at Altrincham Grammar, an impressive result, while there was a stunning performance from Loughborough Grammar at Nottingham High as they sealed a stunning 53-0 victory.
In the East Midlands, Bedford Modern showed their quality once more with an outstanding 40-19 victory over The Perse at Bedford Athletic, while in Essex at Colchester RFC, New Hall won 21-15 over Suffolk’s Royal Hospital School. There was also knockout rugby on Friday, Sir William Borlase’s winning 25-19 against Parmiter’s in the Bowl.
Friday Results
Altrincham GS 17-33 Bishop Heber HS
Bablake 7-26 King Henry VIII – at Coventry RFC
Bedford Modern 40-19 The Perse – at Bedford Athletic
Nottingham HS 0-53 Loughborough GS
New Hall 21-15 Royal Hospital School – at Colchester RFC
Parmiter’s 19-25 Sir William Borlase’s (Bowl)
Pate’s GS 12-14 St Peter’s, Gloucester
The Crypt 12-26 King’s Gloucester – at Old Cryptians RFC
Saturday
Saturday was another brilliant day. Some were already on half term and so, especially with many others on Festival duty, there was slightly less action than usual, but the quality remained as it has been all season – outstanding.
In the South West it was a day of stunning performances. Dauntsey’s have been a joy all season and were so again on Saturday when they travelled to Bath to take on Prior Park College and secured a stunning 53-7 victory. That was far from the only top performance in Somerset, Monmouth had toppled Kingswood in the Cup in midweek and carried that confidence through to Taunton School on Saturday in a 40-7 victory. Meanwhile at Wellington School came the most astonishing game as the hosts put on sixty points but conceded thirty. Open rugby to the end. It all finished up with the hosts defeating visitors Downside 61-30.
Over in Gloucestershire they was a stunning performance from Dean Close, who beat visitors KES Bath 47-0, while in Bristol, Bristol Grammar were on song, winning 26-12 at QEH. In Devon Exeter School won a points fest too, beating Mount Kelly 45-24.
Across in Dorset and Wiltshire there were some strong performances, not least at home from Canford who defeated KES Southampton 47-7. Elsewhere it was the visitors that came away happy, Whitgift were at Bishop Wordsworth’s and secured a 24-5 victory on an excellent day of rugby, while there was a cracker at Clayesmore, where Monkton Combe came away with a tight 27-22 victory.
Further East to Surrey, where RGS Guildford enjoyed a victory that they will remember for a long time, taking down the previously unbeaten Epsom College 24-15. St John’s Leatherhead meanwhile were on form, beating a good Caterham side 32-16.
Across in Sussex Eastbourne College and King’s Canterbury had points flying around but Eastbourne College secured the majority in a brilliantly fun 50-38 performance. Meanwhile in Kent The Judd were on form again, they really do look strong, beating Chislehurst & Sidcup 43-14. Tonbridge were also on song, backing up last week’s performance at Radley College with an excellent 32-17 victory on the road at Skinners’.
In Essex there was an absolute thriller as Bishop’s Stortford High won 40-38 at Coopers’ Coborn, a stunning game of rugby. Over in Cambridgeshire, Northampton School for Boys and The Leys played out a really tight on in the cold, NSB just taking it 12-5. Across at Bedford there was a heavyweight clash as the former Champions Trophy winners welcomed the former Schools Cup winners, Warwick. A cracking game ensued, and it was the hosts the took it, 18-10.
Meanwhile back down in London Dulwich College earned a second victory over John Fisher of the season in a good 24-13 victory in Croydon. South West London meanwhile saw a home victory for Halliford, 36-10 over Latymer Upper, likewise for Halliford, 19-5 v Gunnersbury, while Tiffin won 22-17 at London Oratory. In North London, meanwhile, St George’s Harpdenden won 24-15 over Watford Grammar, St George’s have looked particularly impressive this year.
Out West to Reading, The Oratory won a cracker against Lord Wandsworth College, 22-17, and Reading Blue Coat won an epic derby at Pangbourne College, 26-20. Meanwhile along in High Wycombe, RGS High Wycombe hosted Brighton College for a friendly game as both sides looked to use their squads ahead of the St Joseph’s Festival.
Henley meanwhile saw St George’s Weybridge travel to take on Shiplake College and they returned to Surrey with an epic 40-3 victory. Over in Banbury, meanwhile, Bloxham put in one of their best performances to hold off Sir Thomas Rich’s, no mean feat, 20-17.
Further West, there was a really tight game at King’s Worcester, who held off Mavern College in an epic, 22-21. Old rivals RGS Worcester also won a tight one, travelling to KES Birmingham for a 19-13 victory. Aylesbury Grammar won a good game at KES Stratford, 24-12, while at Old Swinford Hospital there were points galore as the hosts defeated Ellesmere College 49-27.
Further North the excitement kept on coming, a cracker at Wilmslow High saw Bolton just edge the game 27-26, while King’s Macclesfield remain unbeaten after another good performance saw them defeat Cheadle Hulme 27-13. Also flying are St Ambrose College, who won 33-0 at home to Wirral Grammar, while Stonyhurst also impressive, earning a 29-7 victory at home against AKS Lytham.
Across in Yorkshire Woodhouse Grove continue to impress, this time earning a 26-17 victory over Grammar School at Leeds. Not too far away Hymers College earned a good 33-12 victory at Bradford Grammar. Hill House, meanwhile, were flying, 49-6 at home to Crossley Heath, and Pocklington had a strong performance at home to Durham’s 2nd XV, winning 52-12. In the North East there was a big game as Newcastle School for Boys hosted Yorkshire’s Scarborough College, and it was the visitors that won a real try scoring fiesta, 46-24.
Saturday Results
Bedford 18-10 Warwick
Bishop Wordsworth’s 5-24 Whitgift
Bloxham 20-17 Sir Thomas Rich’s
Bradford GS 12-33 Hymers College
Canford 47-7 KES Southampton
Cardinal Vaughan 36-10 Latymer Upper
Cheadle Hulme 13-27 King’s Macclesfield
Clayesmore 22-27 Monkton Combe
Coopers’ Coborn 38-40 Bishop’s Stortford HS
Dean Close 47-0 KES Bath
Eastbourne College 50-38 King’s Canterbury
Exeter School 45-24 Mount Kelly
Halliford 19-5 Gunnersbury
Hill House 49-5 Crossley Heath
John Fisher 13-24 Dulwich College
KES Birmingham 13-19 RGS Worcester
KES Stratford 12-24 Aylesbury GS
King’s Worcester 22-21 Malvern College
London Oratory 17-22 Tiffin
Newcastle School for Boys 24-46 Scarborough College – at Billingham RFC
Old Swinford Hospital 49-27 Ellesmere College
Pangbourne College 20-26 Reading Blue Coat
Pocklington 52-14 Durham 2nd XV
Prior Park College 7-53 Dauntsey’s
QEH 12-26 Bristol GS
RGS Guildford 24-15 Epsom College
RGS High Wycombe v Brighton College – No Scores Kept
Shiplake College 3-40 St George’s, Weybridge
Skinners’ 17-32 Tonbridge
St Ambrose College 33-0 Wirral GS
St John’s Leatherhead 32-16 Caterham
Stonyhurst 29-7 AKS Lytham
Taunton 7-40 Monmouth
The Judd 43-14 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
The Leys 5-12 Northampton School for Boys
The Oratory 22-17 Lord Wandsworth College
Watford GS 15-24 St George’s, Harpenden
Wellington School 61-30 Downside
Wilmslow HS 26-27 Bolton
Woodhouse Grove 26-17 Grammar School at Leeds
Still to Come:
Ashford v King’s Rochester
Austin Friars v Giggleswick
Framlingham College v Felsted
Fulham Boys v Isleworth & Syon
Shebbear College v Plymouth College U17