A fantastic weekend of schools rugby broke out to kick off the second half of the season, despite the best attempts of Storm Ciaran to get in the way.
Some fixtures were lost to the weather, of course, but across Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there were some truly incredible games of rugby – with a huge number decided by a score or less, it was that sort of weekend.
These first games of the second half of term are often so vital, either for arresting difficult momentum from before half term or for continuing positive momentum from before. For those on the sorts of seasons that could end in the schools rugby nirvana of an unbeaten season, these first games after the break can so often be the crucial ones.
So it proved over the weekend with some magnificent games, and some truly outstanding performances.
Ten to Watch
Ten was reduced to nine as a result of the cancellation of St Paul’s v Sherborne, but the nine remaining more than made up for the one absentee.
Among those in action were unbeaten Harrow, the pace setters in the first half of the season and they showed that again on Saturday’s trip to Radley College. In another display of their brilliance this season they claimed a 43-12 victory. They claimed the Daily Mail Trophy in 2022, 2023 is moving within sight.
It is within sight for Brighton College too. Like Harrow they are undefeated and, like Harrow, they started off this second half of term with a bang. One of their most impressive displays up front as they hosted Cranleigh and secured a superb 32-5 victory that keeps them riding high in third place.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Clifton College are in that conversation for the best around as well. Only Harrow have got the better of them and on a rare Sunday game this week they toppled one of school’s rugby’s giants, Sedbergh, in what was a first ever competitive outing between the two. Big challenges still remain, but Clifton are once again looking like an utterly incredible side.
So too are Millfield, whose only loss was that epic late 43-41 defeat to Clifton College – the game of the season. On Saturday they put in another stunning display, travelling to Wales to take on a Llandovery College side that has been tearing up trees, and returning with a superb 35-5 victory, earning the annual Moffat Shield in the process.
In that same bracket this year are RGS High Wycombe, who travelled to Whitgift on Saturday with an unbeaten record and a run to the St Joseph’s Festival final all in the back pocket. An epic game broke out, RGS’ toughest test of the season to date but the Buckinghamshire side came through it for a brilliant and thrilling 29-24 victory. They will be looking ahead to Wednesday’s Cup tie at Marlborough College, and at their four remaining non-knockout games this term, and thinking that something very special is in view.
Similar statements could be made of Dauntsey’s, who have not lost since an opening day defeat to KES Bath, but on Saturday faced their biggest challenge since then as they welcomed Bishop Wordsworth’s. A fantastic game ensued, tight, tense, and full of endeavour, but it was Dauntsey’s that came out on top, showing that they have the guts to go alongside the skills that they showed before half term. Keep an eye on Dauntsey’s over the rest of the term.
Keep an eye on Stamford too, they went into half term unbeaten and flying high and they extended that unbeaten run on Saturday with an outstanding 15-5 victory over Berkhamsted. They have one of the busiest second half of term schedules around, 7 fixtures, but must be thinking that the possibility of something very special is very much there for them, such has been the quality and determination of their play.
Speaking of determination, Oakham had to show it in spades on Saturday. They travelled to Uppingham for the Rutland Derby and up to half time and beyond it looked as though the hosts would be in for a victory that would have meant everything. Looking at a tricky scoreboard in tough conditions though, Oakham did not wilt, far from it, clawing their way back for an epic, and dramatic, 22-20 victory. Uppingham ought to be proud, one of their best outings of the year despite defeat, but for Oakham it will be elation.
In Scotland the oldest continuous schools rugby fixture did not let us down, yielding an absolute schoolboy classic between Edinburgh Academy and Merchiston Castle. It was a game that really could have gone either way, but it was Merchiston that edged it 22-17. Only George Watson’s have defeated them, and with a rerun of that game in a couple of weeks the excitement is already palpable.
Ten to Watch Results
Brighton College 32-5 Cranleigh
Clifton College 17-7 Sedbergh (Sunday)
Dauntsey’s 16-10 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Edinburgh Academy 17-22 Merchiston Castle
Llandovery College 5-35 Millfield
Radley College 12-43 Harrow
Stamford 15-5 Berkhamsted
St Paul’s v Sherborne – Cancelled
Uppingham 20-22 Oakham
Whitgift 24-29 RGS High Wycombe
Around the Grounds
Friday
There was not a huge amount of rugby on Friday, but there was some great rugby. A fantastic game between London Oratory and Bristol Grammar School in London, and it was the visitors that went home the happiest, winning a tight game 17-12. Meanwhile in Hertfordshire St George’s Harpenden were celebrating after a stunning 40-7 victory over Aylesbury Grammar, a top performance.
Friday Results
London Oratory 12-17 Bristol GS
St George’s, Harpenden 40-7 Aylesbury GS
Saturday
Saturday saw some epic games of rugby, perhaps nowhere more so than at Stowe, were they high flying side had a classic against St Edward’s Oxford, high scoring and as tight as you like with the hosts just edging it 31-27.
There was a similar game at Wimbledon College, where visitors Dartford Grammar just got the better of a fantastic game of rugby, winning 32-29. In a similar high-scoring but tense vein, Taunton School just held off a strong performance from Millfield’s 2nd XV for a 24-21 victory.
Likewise in Surrey, Worth travelled to Gordon’s and a brilliant game broke out. Just a converted score separated the side, but it was Worth that were on the right side, winning 36-29. Scotland had similar games, Fettes College winning a tight one at home to Dollar Academy 22-17.
There were some low scoring and very close games as well, perhaps the most compelling of which was in East London were two state schools heavyweights went head to head, hosts Campion and visitors The Judd. Only a point separated them, but getting over the whitewash made the difference as Campion claimed victory 10-9.
Not too far away it was close at Chislehurst & Sidcup too, where Maidstone Grammar edged out their hosts 9-8. Likewise in Cambridge where in for King’s Grantham won a tight one against hosts The Perse 7-5. Meanwhile in Leicester Ratcliffe College edged victory over Worksop College by a point, 8-7.
Scotland had some incredibly close games too, Stewart’s Melville travelled to Strathallan and came away with an impressive and close 12-9 victory. Things were pretty tight for the seemingly unstoppable George Watson’s College too, who won 15-5 against Loretto. Meanwhile Howe of Fife won 22-7 at home to George Heriot’s and Glasgow High School won 22-13 in their derby game with Glasgow Academy. Dundee High School had an impressive 24-3 display at Morrison’s Academy.
In England some of the best sides around put in memorable displays, not least Eton College, whose incredible unbeaten season continues after a hugely impressive 29-3 victory at Abingdon on Saturday.
Mill Hill have also been near enough unstoppable, and on Saturday they showed that again in a thrilling game in Cambridge, defeating hosts Mill Hill 44-24. Another side that has been highly impressive, albeit quietly, is Churcher’s College. On Saturday they showed that again, heading to Marlborough College and returning with a 20-12 victory.
In the North West of the country St Anselm’s College’s County Cup run moves into the semi finals after a brilliant quarter final performance at The Grange, winning 55-12. Meanwhile along the road Scarisbrick Hall impressed in a 31-8 victory over Merchant Taylors’.
Oxford saw a good performance from Magdalen College earn a 26-14 victory over Merchant Taylors’, while in the South West of the country KES Bath were, as they have been through much of the season, outstanding, earning a 50-0 victory over QEH.
Along the South Coast, Portsmouth Grammar School were jaw-dropping. They were on fire in a 71-17 victory over Christ’s Hospital. Kent saw some similarly eye-popping displays. Ravens Wood were as good as they cane be in a 73-0 victory over Eltham College, while Sevenoaks won 55-7 over Bishop’s Stortford College, Skinners’ were 52-12 victors over Cranbrook, and Wallington County Grammar secured a 52-5 victory over St Olave’s.
South West London meanwhile saw a very impressive performance from visitors Reed’s at Emanuel, winning 37-7, while in North London UCS won 25-0 at home to Cardinal Vaughan. Further North into Hertfordshire Richard Hale continue to be impressive, earning a 34-0 victory over Bishop’s Stortford High, while St Albans’ 2nd XV won a cracker at QES Barnet, 38-20.
Saturday Results
Abingdon 3-29 Eton College
Campion 10-9 The Judd
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 8-9 Maidstone GS
Emanuel 7-37 Reed’s
Fettes College 22-17 Dollar Academy
George Watson’s College 15-5 Loretto
Glasgow HS 22-13 Glasgow Academy
Gordon’s 29-36 Worth
Howe of Fife 22-7 George Heriot’s
KES Bath 50-0 QEH
Magdalen College 26-14 Merchant Taylors’, Northwood
Marlborough College 12-20 Churcher’s College
Morrison’s Academy 3-24 Dundee HS
Portsmouth GS 71-17 Christ’s Hospital
QES Barnet 20-38 St Albans 2nd XV
Ratcliffe College 8-7 Worksop College
Ravens Wood 73-0 Eltham College
Richard Hale 34-0 Bishop’s Stortford HS
Scarisbrick Hall 31-8 Merchant Taylors’
Sevenoaks 55-7 Bishop’s Stortford College
Skinners’ 52-12 Cranbrook
Stowe 31-27 St Edward’s, Oxford
Strathallan 9-12 Stewart’s Melville
Taunton 24-21 Millfield 2nd XV
The Grange 12-55 St Anselm’s College (County Cup QF)
The Leys 24-44 Mill Hill
The Perse 5-7 King’s Grantham
UCS 25-0 Cardinal Vaughan
Wallington CGS 52-5 St Olave’s GS
Wimbledon College 29-32 Dartford GS
Still to Come:
Hutchesons’ GS v Lomond
North Berwick v Robert Gordon’s College
RGS Colchester v Wymondham College
