When the story of the season is written, the weekend of the 11th November will feature highly for it was the weekend that saw a huge shake up in the perceived pecking order.
Surprise results were the order of the weekend, even when the final outcome was as expected it still seemed that games were far closer than might have been expected. It was a stunning weekend.
There were also three live games, all three an absolute treat. If we were worried that the closing in of the weather and the light might have an impact on the field, those worries are gone now.
Ten to Watch
Our Ten to Watch reflected that incredible nature of the weekend perfectly, perhaps nowhere more than at Cheltenham College where they recorded one of their most important results of the last few years with a 27-24 defeat of Millfield. It required every last drop of effort, Millfield crossed the line with the clock in the red but Cheltenham managed to get underneath it and hold it up for a most famous of victories. Their LIVE game against Sir Thomas Rich’s at Kingsholm this Thursday night (see below) just got even bigger!
Just as seismic was the toppling of unbeaten RGS High Wycombe by Seaford College. All season long Seaford have been showing that they are a very strong side, just in a few games the scoreboard has got away from them. On Saturday they made a statement in a close and hard-fought 16-11 victory over RGS High Wycombe, who have been outstanding this season – not least in reaching the St Joseph’s Festival.
As if that was not enough, Warwick, off the back of a midweek Cup defeat to Uppingham that had followed two other defeats, travelled up to Buskhome to take on one of the biggest names in the school game, Sedbergh. Sedbergh were on the back of a frustrating run too, but expectation was that this would only double their determination. What unfolded was extraordinary, a thrilling and tense 24-24 draw, and extraordinary game and result.
Woodhouse Grove were also breaking hearts, they travelled to a Durham side that hadn’t lost a 70 minute game all season. Woodhouse Grove had only lost one, in fairness, but travelled to the North East the scale of the challenge was clear. The Yorkshire side were equal to it though, returning home with an outstanding 22-13 victory.
In our live games we were treated to some thrillers, beginning on Friday Night when Merchant Taylors’ turned around a 14-0 deficit to secure a 25-17 victory over Reading Blue Coat (see below). They had lost to the same opponent in the final play the last two years in a row, so when they scored late on to take them beyond 7 points the explosion of joy and relief was enormous. It was an incredibly special atmosphere throughout, the culmination of a week celebrating rugby at the school and raising money for the Phab charity. One of the great evenings of schools rugby.
In Berkshire Wellington College hosted Clifton College, a game that looked close beforehand and proved so on the field too. Clifton College arrived with their tails up after the previous week’s victory over Sedbergh, but Wellington were in seriously determined spirit after a frustrating St Joseph’s Festival campaign when they were shorn of a number of frontline players. That translated into a tight but compelling first half that ended 0-0, but what has stood out was the way that Wellington had found some set piece dominance. That helped them to a penalty try before Tom Bowen almost immediately responded for Clifton, but a late Tyler Offiah score on the left hand side gave them the lead that was extended by an Inigo Langford penalty for a 15-10 victory (see below). It was a brilliant game, with the two fly halves, Fin Fielder and Ben Smyth, displaying some outstanding moments alongside countless others. Wellington’s victory undoubtedly shakes up the perceived pecking order, showing just how close the game is at the top end of schools rugby.
As if to demonstrate that point, the number one side in the country at the moment, Harrow, who have won tight games against Wellington and Clifton, found themselves in a really tight and high-scoring (as seems to be the way with tight Harrow games this season) game at Tonbridge. In the preview to the weekend we had speculated that this might be unbeaten Harrow’s biggest test of this second half of term and it certainly seemed to be so as Tonbridge ran their visitors close but Harrow came through for a 38-32 victory. They stay top of the standings, but it shows just how close the margins are.
Our third live game of the weekend was the latest game celebrating 200 years of Rugby Football, and it was another outstanding game. Bromsgrove arrived unbeaten and with serious confidence, while Rugby were looking to find some momentum for this second half of the season. What unfolded was an incredibly close game of rugby (see below). Bromsgrove held onto that unbeaten record but Rugby will come away with a huge amount of confidence after running one of the best sides in the country incredibly close, with the final score ending 22-17 in Bromsgrove’s favour. An absolutely fantastic advert for schools rugby.
In the South West of the country two of this years biggest risers, compared with last year, went head to head, Dauntsey’s and Kingswood. A brilliant game unfolded, with both sides demonstrating their undoubted quality. It was Kingswood that had the edge though, inflicting just the second defeat of the season on their hosts ahead of a game on Saturday against the other side to have done it, KES Bath.
The final game our Ten to Watch was the Abingdon derby as Radley College hosted Abingdon. Radley have been in the greater form this year and so it proved on Saturday as they pulled away to an impressive 31-7 victory ahead of another derby this come Thursday when they host St Edward’s Oxford.
Ten to Watch Results:
Cheltenham College 27-24 Millfield
Dauntsey’s 20-38 Kingswood
Durham 13-22 Woodhouse Grove
Merchant Taylors’ 25-17 Reading Blue Coat (Friday) – LIVE on NextGenXV
Radley College 31-7 Abingdon
Rugby 17-22 Bromsgrove – LIVE on NextGenXV
Seaford College 16-11 RGS High Wycombe
Sedbergh 24-24 Warwick
Tonbridge 32-38 Harrow
Wellington College 15-10 Clifton College – LIVE on NextGenXV
Weekend Roundup
Friday
A few results from Friday are still to come in, but from the two that did there were contrasting games. In Northamptonshire Wellingborough and Princethorpe College played out a cracking game that could have gone either way, hosts Wellingborough coming out on top 17-12.
In Norfolk, meanwhile, Gresham’s demonstrated once again that they are an outstanding side this year in a stunning 51-7 victory over Langley. They now face Felsted in the Vase on Tuesday, the only side to have beaten them this season, and they are going to arrive with serious confidence and determination for that.
Friday Results
Langley 7-51 Gresham’s
Wellingborough 17-12 Princethorpe College
Saturday
On Saturday the extraordinary games and brilliant performances just kept on coming. One of the most impressive was actually in defeat as Cheadle Hulme gave unbeaten St Joseph’s Festival champions Kirkham Grammar School a real fright. Kirkham held on for victory though, 29-25, as they now turn their attention towards their massive Cup tie against King’s Macclesfield.
King’s Macclesfield head into that off the back a similar game at Ellesmere College, however in their case they could not quite cling on for victory as Ellesmere sprung a surprise and claimed an excellent 32-27 victory, arguably their best of the season.
St Ambrose College have also been tearing up trees in the North West and continued to do so on Saturday with another outstanding performance, 56-7 over Sandbach. Birkenhead were in similar form with a 52-19 victory at Wilmslow High School. Things were tighter at Bolton though, they held on for a 19-17 victory over Stockport Grammar, while Manchester Grammar had a close one over Altrincham Grammar, 5-0. Scarisbrick Hall meanwhile won 21-3 over Hutton Grammar.
In the North East there were some crackers too, Dame Allan’s won a really tight battle with RGS Newcastle, 15-13, while Newcastle School for Boys claimed the Hadrian Cup over Austin Friars, though the exact score is yet to be recorded.
Scotland meanwhile was in Cup quarter finals week. Reigning champions Merchiston Castle booked their semi final spot with a 27-13 victory over Loretto, while the side they beat in that final, Edinburgh Academy, are also through after a 24-12 victory at Bell Baxter. Stewart’s Melville join them, they beat Fettes College 34-5. The final semi finalists are George Watson’s College, who faced the only opponent to have prevented them from winning this season, Strathallan, and faced another tough battle from them but emerged through with a close 21-17 victory. Their 2nd XV, meanwhile, beat Hutchesons’ Grammar 29-7.
In the Shield Kelvinside Academy are through to the quarters after a 42-19 victory over George Heriot’s, Dollar Academy join them after a similarly impressive 50-19 victory at North Berwick (their 2nd XV were also in action, losing 42-19 at Glasgow Aademy). St Aloysius’ are also through, they beat Glasgow High 20-5, but the most tense of the lost was Marr College v Dundee High, with Dundee just progressing via the tightest of margins, 25-24.
In the Plate Gordonstoun won a tight one over Haddington RFC, 11-7, while Morrison’s Academy also faced a club side, Linlithgow RFC, and secured a 57-19 victory.
Back in England, Yorkshire had some great games – not least an epic between St Peter’s York and Barnard Castle that finished 38-28 in Barnard Castle’s favour. The big Catholic derby was also a good game, with Stonyhurst winning 22-14 at Ampleforth College.
QEGS Wakefield were in good form, winning 24-7 at Bradford Grammar, while Grammar School at Leeds were outstanding in a 41-5 victory at Hymers College. Pocklington travelled to Lincolnshire to face Worksop College and won a spectacular game 53-29.
Slightly further South in Rutland where were some spectacular occasion. Oakham hosted a late triangular with Bedford and Mill Hill, each won one game and lost another, Bedford winning 8-5 v Oakham, Mill Hill 14-0 against Bedford, while Oakham ended Mill Hill’s unbeaten season with a 14-5 victory. Uppingham also saw a spectacular afternoon as they mounted an epic comeback against Stowe that finished up in a thrilling 31-31 draw. There was a draw along the road in Leicester too as Ratcliffe College and Bablake finished up at 19-19.
In neighbouring Northamptonshire was another of the weekend’s real statement results as Oundle ended Stamford’s unbeaten season. Oundle have impressed this year, but Stamford have been one of the best around, the home side were not about to let that phase them though as they sealed a 21-17 victory. Along the road in Northampton itself, Northampton School for Boys secured a brilliant 32-19 victory over Berkhamsted, one of their best of the season.
From the East Midlands to the West Midlands, Old Swinford Hospital and Bloxham played out an epic, with Old Swinford coming out on top, 49-31. Along the road Solihull were in spectacular form, winning 50-14 over Nottingham High. KES Birmingham meanwhile won 17-7 over Loughborough Grammar, while there was a superb victory for Wrekin College at Haberdashers’ Adams, 40-13, one of their finest performances of the season.
Down the M40 to Oxford, where there was perhaps the most spectacular game of the day as St Edward’s Oxford and Haileybury went head to head in a game for the ages. It could have gone any way as the sides shared 71 points, but it was Teddies that came out on top, 37-34. A stunning game. Magdalen College meanwhile continued a very handy run of form with a 28-0 victory over KES Stratford. Towards Reading, Lord Wandsworth College had travelled up to Pangbourne College and returned home with a very handy 41-7 victory.
Hertfordshire had some exciting action, St Albans continue to look incredibly strong as they defeated St George’s Harpenden 34-17, meanwhile both Bishop’s Stortford sides enjoyed victorious Saturday’s, Bishop’s Stortford College winning 24-17 over Framlingham College while Bishop’s Stortford High School won 21-17 over Brentwood.
The Cambridge derby was as competitive as expected as The Perse and The Leys played out a tense one. It was The Leys that came away with the spoils though, winning 18-15. Things were tight in Norfolk too asIpswich School travelled up to Norwich School. It was a game of fine margins, but Ipswich came out on top, 24-21. Back in Ipswich Felsted were sensational at Royal Hospital School, winning 59-5, while in Bury St Edmunds RGS Colchester enjoyed a fine 42-10 victory over Culford.
Into London, one of last year’s strongest sides, Trinity, hit their straps against familiar opposition. They had faced, and lost narrowly to, Hampton twice at the St Joseph’s Festival but they hit peak form on Saturday in a brilliant 34-7 victory. Their Croydon rivals Whitgift also had a Saturday to remember as they travelled to Dulwich College and sealed an excellent 31-3 victory. John Fisher couldn’t quite make it a clean sweep for Croydon though, they hosted Campion in a fantastic game of rugby, with Campion emerging victorious, 22-11.
Elsewhere in the capital, St Benedict’s won a classic against Shiplake College 32-28, while Sir Joseph Williamson’s won 18-5 against Langley Park and Watford Grammar won 28-17 over UCS. Halliford were also victorious, 17-13 against Wallington County Grammar, while Coopers’ Coborn had an impressive 27-7 victory at Eltham College.
In South West London Eton College continued their superb unbeaten record but they were pushed by hosts St Paul’s all the way. Eton did what they have all season though, and played well for a 21-13 victory. Not too far away Latymer Upper won a tight one against Fulham Boys, 24-21, while Isleworth & Syon won 22-15 at Cardinal Vaughan.
Kent was as busy as every, and perhaps the pick of the games was Ravens Wood’s 39-31 victory over Chislehurst & Sidcup, a real treat for those on the touchlines. King’s Rochester also won a brilliant game, they were at Colfe’s and secured a 29-24 victory. Cranbrook meanwhile travelled to Dartford Grammar, who beat the visitors 27-10.
There were a couple of big performances in the areas, Duke of York’s Royal Military School winning 63-0 over St Lawrence College, while Gravesend Grammar won 41-0 against St Olave’s Grammar.
Sevenoaks were impressive on the road at King’s Canterbury, winning 28-10, meanwhile Skinners’ were on song at home against Sutton Valence, winning 37-8.
Sussex saw Hurstpierpoint College continue this most impressive of season’s that they are having, winning 43-3 against KCS Wimbledon, they will head into their Cup game with Harrow this week with real confidence. Eastbourne College have also been outstanding this season and they secured another good result, winning 27-8 against Worth.
There was some fantastic rugby in Surrey this weekend, perhaps nowhere more so that at Epsom College, where Cranleigh won the most tight and tense of games 15-14 – a really strong result for Cranleigh. Along the road at St John’s Leatherhead, Brighton College continued their superb unbeaten season with yet another stunning performance, winning 46-10, they face Epsom next in what is going to be a blockbuster game.
Gordon’s also impressed on Saturday, winning 40-15 at Reigate Grammar, meanwhile RGS Guildford were also in fine form in a 23-9 victory at Reed’s. St George’s Weybridge had a tight 14-10 victory over Caterham, while Cedars were impressive on the road at Claremont, winning 24-15.
Making waves in Hampshire have been Churcher’s College, and they were sensational again on Saturday in a stunning 53-7 victory over KES Southampton. There were some great performances in Dorset too, not least a 50-27 victory for King’s Bruton at Clayesmore.
Along the road Sherborne had perhaps their best performance of the season in a really tight and tense 17-11 victory over Marlborough College that should leave them full of confidence. Things were even tighter at Canford, where visitors Taunton School won the most outstanding of games by the slimmest of margins, 27-26. It was tight at Bryanston too as they won 10-7 over visitors Portsmouth Grammar.
Somerset saw a tight one too as Wellington School won 8-7 at Monkton Combe, meanwhile KES Bath continue to impress as they sealed a 28-7 victory over Beechen Cliff’s non-ACE side. The most impressive of the lot though was surely Devonian visitors Exeter School’s 31-12 victory at King’s College Taunton, an outstanding effort. Meanwhile in Devon Mount Kelly won 55-0 against Blundell’s 2nd XV.
There was Plate action in Bristol as Collegiate won 20-7 at Bristol Grammar to set up a Regional Final with King’s Taunton. Over in Gloucestershire Sir Thomas Rich’s are in flying form ahead of Thursday night’s LIVE encounter at Kingsholm, winning 41-0 against Pate’s Grammar. The Crypt also had a good day, winning 12-3 against QEH, while Prior Park College were 19-12 victors at Wycliffe College.
Travelling from Gloucestershire were Dean Close, they enjoyed a good 27-7 victory at Malvern College, while King’s Gloucester were against sensational at Hereford Cathedral School, winning 48-12. Over the border in Wales Monmouth continue to impress, beating King’s Worcester 33-5.
Saturday Results
Ampleforth College 14-22 Stonyhurst
Bell Baxter 12-24 Edinburgh Academy
Bishop’s Stortford College 24-17 Framlingham College
Bishop’s Stortford HS 21-17 Brentwood
Bolton 19-17 Stockport GS
Bradford GS 7-24 QEGS Wakefield
Bristol GS 7-20 Collegiate (Plate)
Bryanston 10-7 Portsmouth GS
Canford 26-27 Taunton
Cardinal Vaughan 15-22 Isleworth & Syon
Cheadle Hulme 25-29 Kirkham GS
Churcher’s College 53-7 KES Southampton
Claremont 15-24 Cedars
Clayesmore 27-50 King’s Bruton
Colfe’s 24-29 King’s Rochester
Culford 10-42 RGS Colchester
Dame Allan’s 15-13 RGS Newcastle
Dartford GS 27-10 Cranbrook
Duke of York’s RMS 63-0 St Lawrence College
Dulwich College 13-31 Whitgift
Eastbourne College 27-8 Worth
Ellesmere College 32-27 King’s Macclesfield
Eltham College 7-27 Coopers’ Coborn
Epsom College 14-15 Cranleigh
George Watson’s College 21-17 Strathallan
George Watson’s College 2nd XV 29-7 Hutchesons’ GS
Glasgow Academy 42-19 Dollar Academy
Gordonstoun 11-7 Haddington RFC
Gravesend GS 41-0 St Olave’s GS
Haberdashers’ Adams 13-40 Wrekin College
Halliford 17-13 Wallington CGS
Hampton 7-34 Trinity
Hereford Cathedral 12-48 King’s Gloucester
Hurstpierpoint College 43-3 KCS Wimbledon
Hymers College 5-41 Grammar School at Leeds
John Fisher 11-22 Campion
Kelvinside Academy 42-19 George Heriot’s
KES Bath 28-7 Beechen Cliff 2nd XV
KES Birmingham 17-7 Loughborough GS
King’s Canterbury 10-28 Sevenoaks
King’s College, Taunton 12-31 Exeter School
Latymer Upper 24-21 Fulham Boys
Magdalen College 28-0 KES Stratford
Malvern College 7-27 Dean Close
Manchester GS 5-0 Altrincham GS
Marr College 24-25 Dundee HS
Merchiston Castle 27-13 Loretto
Monkton Combe 7-8 Wellington
Monmouth 33-5 King’s Worcester
Morrison’s Academy 57-19 Linlithgow RFC
Mount Kelly 55-0 Blundell’s 2nd XV
Northampton School for Boys 32-19 Berkhamsted
North Berwick 19-52 Dollar Academy
Norwich 21-24 Ipswich
Oakham Triangular: Mill Hill 14-0 Bedford, Oakham 5-8 Bedford, Oakham 14-5 Mill Hill
Old Swinford Hospital 49-31 Bloxham
Oundle 21-17 Stamford
Pangbourne College 7-41 Lord Wandsworth College
Ratcliffe College 19-19 Bablake
Ravens Wood 39-31 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS
Reed’s 9-23 RGS Guildford
Reigate GS 15-40 Gordon’s
Royal Hospital School 5-59 Felsted
Scarisbrick Hall 21-3 Hutton GS
Sherborne 17-11 Marlborough College
Sir Joseph Williamson’s 18-5 Langley Park
Sir Thomas Rich’s 41-0 Pate’s GS
Skinners’ 37-8 Sutton Valence
Solihull 50-14 Nottingham HS
St Aloysius’ College 20-5 Glasgow HS
St Ambrose College 56-7 Sandbach
St Benedict’s 32-28 Shiplake College
St Edward’s Oxford 37-34 Haileybury
St George’s Harpenden 17-34 St Albans
St George’s Weybridge 14-10 Caterham
St John’s Leatherhead 10-46 Brighton College
St Paul’s 13-21 Eton College
St Peter’s, York 28-38 Barnard Castle
Stewart’s Melville 34-5 Fettes College
The Crypt 12-3 QEH
The Perse 15-18 The Leys
Uppingham 31-31 Stowe
Watford GS 28-17 UCS
Wilmslow HS 19-52 Birkenhead
Worksop College 29-53 Pocklington
Wycliffe College 12-19 Prior Park College
Still to Come:
AKS Lytham v St Mary’s College
Austin Friars v Newcastle School for Boys – Hadrian Cup (NSB Win)
Giggleswick v Lancaster RGS
Glenalmond College v Robert Gordon’s College
Jonny Wilkinson Cup
QES Barnet v Richard Hale
Tor RFC v Wells Cathedral
Wimbledon College v London Oratory
Windsor Boys’ v Royal Alexandra & Albert
Wymondham College v Wisbech GS
