It has been an incredible week of school rugby, a week which seemed to follow on from the weekend’s action in the sense of its unpredictability.
With three live games, plus fixtures in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup and Plate Regional Finals, but the Vase and Bowl semi finals, along with dozens of non-knockout games, the action has been non-stop this week!
Schools Rugby Midweek Roundup
Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup/Plate/Vase/Bowl Results
Continental Tyres Schools Cup
North A Woodhouse Grove v St Peter’s, York (Wednesday 22nd)
North B King’s Macclesfield 10-38 Kirkham Grammar
Midlands A Stowe 27-28 Radley College
Midlands B Bromsgrove 18-12 Stamford
London & South East A Ipswich 20-20 Epsom College
London & South East B Harrow 46-5 Hurstpierpoint College
South West A Blundell’s 26-35 Monmouth
South West B Marlborough College 17-30 RGS High Wycombe
Wednesday saw 2022 finalists Kirkham Grammar School book their place in the quarter finals thanks to an excellent 28-10 victory over King’s Macclesfield. 2015 and 2016 champions Bromsgrove joined them after the unbeaten side had to dig deep at home for a victory over Stamford. Also on Wednesday, Monmouth booked their place in the quarters after an excellent game at last year’s semi finalists Blundell’s, winning 35-26. Thursday then saw Harrow put in the sort of display that has them among the favourites this year, winning 46-5 against a Hurstpierpoint College side that has impressed everyone this year.
With RGS High Wycombe, Ipswich, and Radley College already through, there is just one Regional Final left, in North A where Woodhouse Grove host St Peter’s York on Wednesday.
Continental Tyres Schools Plate
North A Cheadle Hulme 35-34 Stonyhurst
North B Stockport GS 20-24 Grammar School at Leeds
Midlands A Uppingham 33-22 Warwick
Midlands B Solihull 29-28 Oakham
London & South East A Campion 19-13 Whitgift (Wednesday 15th)
London & South East B KCS Wimbledon v Newman College (TBC)
South West A King’s College Taunton v Collegiate (TBC)
South West B Caterham 26-19 Abingdon (Wednesday 15th)
The Plate saw one of the big shocks of the season as Campion, Cup champions in the early 2000s defeated 2010, 2011, and 2019 champions Whitgift 19-13 to progress to the quarter finals. Caterham will be joining them after a 26-19 defeat of Abingdon in South West B.
Solihull, Uppingham, Grammar School at Leeds, and Cheadle Hulme are already through, so too Newman College, though their score is as yet unconfirmed, while King’s Taunton and Collegiate are yet to meet.
Continental Tyres Schools Vase Regional Final Fixtures
North A
St Ambrose College v St Anselm’s College 32
North B
Trent College v Durham
Midlands A
King’s Worcester v King’s Grantham
Midlands B
Felsted v St Albans
London & South East A
Mill Hill v Coopers’ Coborn
London & South East B
Eastbourne College v Ravens Wood
South West A
Ivybridge v Dauntsey’s
South West B
Lord Wandsworth College/The Oratory (Weds 22nd) v St John’s Leatherhead
Felsted booked their Regional Final place on Tuesday with a 26-25 victory over Gresham’s, setting up a huge game against St Albans, and at the same time Coopers’ Coborn won 18-12 over Tiffin to set up their Regional Final at Mill Hill.
On Wednesday Eastbourne College, who are looking strong, won 31-12 at Simon Langton and will now host Ravens Wood. Meanwhile St John’s Leatherhead won a thriller at St George’s Weybridge, 17-15 and will meet with Lord Wandsworth College or The Oratory, who meet next week in the final Regional semi final
Continental Tyres Schools Bowl Fixtures
North A
Loughborough GS v Calday Grange
North B
Nottingham High v Prince Henry’s GS/Pocklington
Midlands A
KES Five Ways v Royal Latin
Midlands B
King’s Ely v Richard Hale/Sir John Lawes
London & South East A
London Oratory v Brentwood
London & South East B
Sutton Valence v Hayes
South West A
Richard Huish v The Crypt
South West B
Portsmouth GS v Grey Court/City of London Freemen’s
Nottingham High School won an epic against Bolton 29-27 to progress to the Regional Finals on Wednesday, meanwhile King’s Ely won 39-29 at Wymondham College in Midlands B to progress as well. Over in London & South East A Brentwood were sensational in a 53-0 victory at home to Ewell Castle to progress, while The Crypt won equally impressively, 55-7 at St Brendan’s.
Around the Grounds
Wednesday
Outside of the knockouts, Wednesday was a sensational day of school rugby. In our two live games we were treated to some spectacular rugby, not least on The Close, where Rugby School put in their performance of the season for a sensational 46-15 victory over Marlborough College (see below).
At Grasshoppers RFC the was a full block of action between The Oratory and London Oratory. London Oratory got the better of four of the five games but in an epic 1st XV contest (see below along with the U16s and 2nd XVs) it was The Oratory that came out on top, 33-19 in freezing conditions on a memorable evening for schools rugby where the occasion and the rugby came up trumps.
Elsewhere, Gordon’s were on form in a 36-7 victory over Saint Cecilia’s, while Wallington County Grammar were absolutely flying in a 47-17 victory over Glyn. Reigate College were in a tight game at home with Riddlesdown but triumphed 22-17.
In London Halliford won a thriller 25-22 over Reddam House, while Ibstock Place were 29-19 victors over Harrodian, Watford Grammar meanwhile won 23-14 over Hitchin Boys, while in deeper Hertfordshire Haberdashers’ Elstree were defeated by visitors Dr Challoner’s Grammar, 35-16.
Kent saw an impressive 41-15 victory for Canterbury Academy over Oakwood Park, while Beth’s Grammar won 24-0 over Wilmington Grammar. Meanwhile in Berkshire Claires Court won 29-8 at Leighton Park and in Buckinghamshire Great Marlow won 17-12 at Sir William Borlase’s. Windsor Boy’s meanwhile won a tight one over St Andrew’s, 20-17.
Further West, Cokethorpe were in a tight one at home to St Peter’s Gloucester but came through 24-22, while Ellesmere College won 23-13 at King Henry VIII, and Balcarras enjoyed a 26-5 home victory over Cheltenham Bournside.
Old Swinford Hospital won a bit of a classic against Hereford 6th form College, 36-36, while KES Birmingham won 45-16 at Moseley RFC, but their second XV suffered a 69-0 defeat to Queen Mary’s. Kingham Hill and KES Stratford’s 2nd XV meanwhile drew 24-24, while Shrewsbury and Shrewsbury 6thform College also drew, 7-7. Along the road Oswestry won 39-7 at home to Bedstone College.
In Devon Exeter School again showed their form with a brilliant 38-6 victory over Plymouth College, while in Wiltshire Bishop Wordsworth’s enjoyed a 35-5 victory over Wyvern St Edmunds.
Moving North, Sedbergh were back to winning ways but they were given a tough old test in Derbyshire by Mount St Mary’s College in a 12-5 victory. In Lincolnshire, meanwhile, Worksop College defeated Ashville Harrogate. In Ashville’s native Yorkshire, Scarborough College put in a fine display for a 17-3 victory over Hymers College, likewise Hill House at Ripon Grammar, 31-0.
Across the Pennines St Ambrose College once again showed their quality with a 28-11 defeat of Stockport Grammar in the County Cup, while Manchester Grammar enjoyed a 38-12 victory over The Grange.
Wednesday Fixtures
Balcarras 26-5 Cheltenham Bournside
Beth’s GS 24-0 Wilmington GS
Bishop Wordsworth’s 35-5 Wyvern St Edmunds
Canterbury Academy 41-15 Oakwood Park
Cokethorpe 24-22 St Peter’s Gloucester
Exeter School 38-6 Plymouth College
Gordon’s 36-7 Saint Cecilia’s
Haberdashers’ Elstree 16-35 Dr Challoner’s GS
Halliford 25-22 Reddam House
Ibstock Place 29-19 Harrodian
Kingham Hill 24-24 KES Stratford 2nd XV
King Henry VIII 13-23 Ellesmere College
Leighton Park 8-29 Claires Court
Manchester GS 38-12 The Grange
Moseley RFC 16-45 KES Birmingham
Mount St Mary’s College 5-12 Sedbergh
Old Swinford Hospital 36-26 Hereford 6th form College
Oswestry 39-7 Bedstone College
Queen Mary’s GS 69-0 KES Birmingham 2nd XV
Reigate College 22-17 Riddlesdown
Ripon GS 0-31 Hill House
Rugby 46-15 Marlborough – LIVE on NextGenXV
Scarborough College 17-3 Hymers College
Shrewsbury 7-7 Shrewsbury 6th form College
Sir William Borlase’s GS 12-17 Great Marlow
Stockport GS 11-28 St Ambrose College (County Cup)
The Oratory 33-19 London Oratory – LIVE on NextGen XV
Wallington CGS 47-17 Glyn
Watford GS 23-14 Hitchin Boys’
Windsor Boys’ 20-17 St Andrew’s
Worksop College 17-15 Ashville Harrogate
Thursday
Thursday saw some seriously high quality fixtures, not least in our LIVE game from Gloucester Kinghsolm Stadium, where Cheltenham College and Sir Thomas Rich’s went toe to toe. It was an epic occasion, with 2,500 packed into Kingsholm. Cheltenham started fast but a stunning performance from Sir Thomas Rich’s saw them claim an impressive 32-14 victory in what was one of their best performances of the season – you can relive the game below.
Talking of impressive games, Thursday evening saw to brilliant and high-level draws. Clifton College and Denstone College held each other 26-26 in a classic – and yet another result that really shows just how tight the margins are in schools rugby this year. Meanwhile Oakham and St Joseph’s College also drew, 22-22. It was an evening for schools rugby classics.
Elsewhere, Sherborne won a nailbiter against Bryanston, 12-10, ending their unbeaten run, while Clifton High won 37-12 over Sidcot, and Gordon’s beat Eton’s 2nd XV 20-7.
Radley College and St Edward’s Oxford met in their derby, with Radley coming out on top for back to back derby victories after weekend’s victory over Abingdon, winning 31-12. Meanwhile Finborough were impressive in a 38-5 defeat of Samuel Whitbread, and Merchiston Castle look to be in real form in Scotland as they won 38-18 at Fettes College.
Thursday Fixtures
Bryanston 10-12 Sherborne
Cheltenham College 14-32 Sir Thomas Rich’s – LIVE on NextGenXV
Clifton College 26-26 Denstone College
Clifton HS 37-12 Sidcot
Eton College 2nd XV 7-20 Gordon’s
Fettes College 18-38 Merchiston Castle
Finborough 38-5 Samuel Whitbread
Oakham 22-22 St Joseph’s College
Radley College 31-12 St Edward’s, Oxford
Still to Come:
Beaumont v Verulam
Bethany v Buckswood
Grey Court v City of London Freemen’s (Bowl)
Prince Henry’s GS v Sedbergh 3rd XV
Reading Blue Coat v Piggott (County Cup)
St Columba’s College v Roundwood Park
