This weekend was another superb one for schools rugby, with much of last week’s unpredictability carrying through.
It was a slightly shorter fixture list than on average, however it was a fixture list that packed a punch and delivered some absolutely spectacular games of rugby.
Ten to Watch
Our Ten to Watch delivered in plenty of ways, with some thrilling games, some upsets, and some absolutely outstanding games of rugby. It all began on Friday night at Bury St Edmunds RFC with our live game, Ipswich v Stowe (see below). It was a fantastic game in Suffolk, which swung this way and that and at times saw Stowe looking like they had a window to seal the game, but time and time again Ipswich clawed their way back before a late Tom Dye try gave them enough breaking space to be comfortable in an exciting 31-25 victory.
Also on Friday night was one of the great derbies in the North East, the Metcalfe Cup between RGS Newcastle and Durham at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park. Durham had not won the Cup since 2015 but on Friday they bounced back from their sole defeat of the season last week for a 24-13 victory, a well deserved result after a fantastic game of rugby and a brilliant occasion.
On Saturday Brighton College demonstrated once again that they are one of the greatest sides in the country this year with a fantastic 31-0 victory over Epsom College. Few can do much about Brighton this year, they have been fantastic.
Arguably the result of the day though was in South East London, where Dulwich College had their result of the season with a tight and tense 8-7 victory over Tonbridge. Tonbridge have been superb at times this season, but Dulwich stepped up with a gritty performance that out to put real fire in the belly as the final few games of the season draw near.
There were plenty of big performances from sides bouncing back from tough outings. Hurstpierpoint College had a tough day on Thursday against Harrow in the Cup but despite a fast turnaround they bounced back in style on Saturday against Trinity for a 25-10 victory.
Likewise Stamford, who had suffered back to back defeats but ended that run in a statement style with an outstanding 60-19 performance at home to Bedford. Whitgift were also bouncing back for a hard midweek when they had gone down to Campion. They had to dig deep but they more than did so for a tight and hard-earned 16-14 victory over St Paul’s on Saturday.
Haileybury also put in a big bounceback performance. They had lost a thriller last weekend but on Saturday they travelled to Berkhamsted and put in a strong display, in what has become a big Hertfordshire derby, for a 27-14 victory.
Warwick’s draw with Sedbergh last week has injected them with a real sense of energy and purpose heading into this final stage of the season and on Saturday that was very much in evidence in an excellent 33-19 victory over Northampton School for Boys.
Churcher’s College meanwhile continue to sweep aside all before them. On Saturday they hosted a Hallifordside that has been thoroughly impressive all season, but again Churcher’s were simply outstanding as they secured a superb 40-0 victory.
Berkhamsted 14-27 Haileybury
Brighton College 31-0 Epsom College
Churcher’s College 40-0 Halliford
Dulwich College 8-7 Tonbridge
Ipswich 31-25 Stowe – LIVE on NextGenXV – Friday
RGS Newcastle 13-24 Durham (Metcalfe Cup) – Friday
Stamford 60-19 Bedford
Trinity 10-25 Hurstpierpoint College
Warwick 33-19 Northampton School for Boys
Whitgift 16-14 St Paul’s
Weekend Roundup
Friday
Friday was a superb day and evening of schools rugby, with some outstanding performances, not least at Havant RFC where Seaford College put in another superb display for a 36-12 victory over Canford.
St Albans continue to surge through the season. Friday saw Bishop’s Stortford High School become the latest to try and better them but once again St Albans triumphed, a quite outstanding 49-10 performance.
Staying in the South East, at Dartford Valley Hayes and Sevenoaks had a hugely entertaining game, with Hayes coming out on top 39-22. Meanwhile at Westcliff RFC New Hall won an excellent game againstWestcliff High, 38-21.
Bristol Grammar put in a hugely impressive performance on Friday, taking on a King’s Gloucester side that have been incredibly strong this year and emerging with a 22-14 victory. Meanwhile at Penrith RUFC, Dame Allan’s won a cracker against Giggleswick, 29-22.
Friday Results
Bristol GS 22-14 King’s Gloucester
Dame Allan’s 29-22 Giggleswick – at Penrith RUFC – Friday
Hayes 39-22 Sevenoaks – Dartford Valley RFC
New Hall 38-21 Westcliff HS – Westcliff RFC
Seaford College 36-12 Canford – at Havant RFC
St Albans 49-10 Bishop’s Stortford HS
Saturday
Saturday was another day of superb rugby, and in the North West St Ambrose College continue to look quite simply outstanding. Their exact score against Merchant Taylors is yet to be confirmed, but a sublime victory was the outcome, they have been magnificent. Meanwhile Manchester Grammar were very good in a 19-14 victory over a Cheadle Hulme side that has seriously impressed, while The Grange beat Altrincham Grammar 17-10 and AKS Lytham travelled to Bolton and returned 28-10 victors.
In Yorkshire there was some fantastic rugby. Woodhouse Grove backed up last week’s impressive victory over Durham with a hard-earned 20-15 victory over QEGS Wakefield, who put in a really impressive display. Not too far away Bradford Grammar School hosted Crossley Heath and earned a 26-12 victory, while Barnard Castle came down from the North East to Pocklington and were utterly superb as they secured a 58-7 victory.
Grammar School at Leeds continue to quietly impress, this time in an excellent 31-17 victory at home to St Peter’s York, while near Sheffield Mount St Mary’s College enjoyed a strong 33-12 performance at home to Ampleforth College.
Down the M1 Nottingham High School were excellent in a 35-5 victory over King Henry VII Coventry, while in Coventry KES Birmingham were on song in a 41-7 victory at Bablake. Not too far away Loughborough Grammar were in fine form at Princethorpe College for a 31-3 victory.
The West Midlands played host to arguably the most impressive result of the day. Thursday had seen Denstone College draw with one of the best sides in the country, Clifton College, but on Saturday Solihull showed their class to edge a fantastic game 19-18 at home. Meanwhile King’s Worcester were 26-12 victors at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar.
Over in Worcestershire Bromsgrove continued their unbeaten season, and moved into the Top 10 in the NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table in the process, with a 21-0 victory over Bloxham, meanwhile RGS Worcester won a brilliant game with KES Stratford 17-15.
Gloucestershire saw Monmouth travel from Wales to take on Dean Close, and return with a 24-15 victory, while over in Wales Christ College won 19-10 at Cathedral School Llandaff. Back in Gloucestershire The Crypt were 38-21 victory over Pate’s Grammar, while in Bristol QEH won a super game against King’s College Taunton 28-20.
In King’s College’s Somerset there were some great games, including a brilliant performance from Downsidein a 31-17 victory over Wycliffe College. Kingswood keep up their outstanding season with an 18-12 victory in a fantastic contest with KES Bath. Collegiate were superb on the road at Prior Park, winning 26-0, likewise Monkton Combe at King’s Bruton as they secured a 27-0 victory.
Meanwhile in Devon Exeter School continue their strong recent run with a 24-20 classic against Wellington School, while Mount Kelly were on song in a 29-5 victory over West Buckland. Back towards the East, Clayesmore won 36-10 in Dorset against Dauntsey’s 2nd XV, while in Hampshire Lord Wandsworth College were again outstanding in a 36-0 victory over Henley’s Shiplake College.
Not too far away from Henley, in Reading, Bishop Wordsworth’s were at Pangbourne College and picked up a 21-8 victory, while in Oxford Magdalen College welcomed Hampshire’s KES Southampton and secured a 36-6 victory.
RGS High Wycombe were back to winning ways in Buckinghamshire with a tight 19-14 display against a strong Old Swinford Hospital side, while along the road Aylesbury Grammar won 15-6 over Latymer Upper. In Northamptonshire there was a classic, Oundle holding off Bedford Modern for a thrilling 24-21 victory.
Hertfordshire saw Richard Hale seal a 15-7 victory over Merchant Taylors’, continuing their fine run, while in Cambridgeshire Ratcliffe College won 30-5 at Wisbech Grammar.
Norfolk saw an epic display from Norwich in a game that was expected to be close against Felsted, winning 31-5, while along the road Langley won 26-19 against King’s Ely and in Suffolk Framlingham College were 38-0 winners over Royal Hospital School.
In Essex, meanwhile, Brentwood won impressive against London’s UCS, 28-7, while in the east of the capital itself Campion carried on the fine form they showed in midweek with a 46-5 victory over Dartford Grammar.
The Judd were in flying form in Kent, winning 47-19 against Langley Park, likewise Chislehurst & Sidcup who were superb in a 49-12 victory over Eltham College. King’s Canterbury were also superb, 30-17 victors over Sir Joseph Williamson’s while Maidstoen Grammar won 29-0 at home to St Olave’s.
Over in Surrey Skinners’ pulled off a fantastic victory at RGS Guildford, a real tight classic 16-13. Caterham were outstanding, earning a 28-7 victory over an Eastbourne College side that has been tearing up trees. Royal Alexandra & Albert meanwhile won a brilliant game at Dunottar 24-20, while Wimbledon College travelled out of London to Reed’s and returned 32-14 winners.
Also travelling from Wimbledon were KCS Wimbledon who were at Tiffin, but it was the hosts that claimed victory, 20-12. Meanwhile in Clapham Emanuel won 43-5 over Reigate Grammar, and out towards Twickenham Cardinal Vaughan were outstanding, beating Fulham Boys 55-7.
Scotland meanwhile had some great games, not least at Dollar Academy were Stewart’s Melville won a thriller 33-26. It was a day of impressive away performances, Dundee High School won 50-26 at St Leonards, while Bell Baxter won 33-10 at Glenalmond College, Marr College won 27-0 at Hutcheson’s Grammar, and Kelvinside Academy secured a 32-10 victory at Glasgow Academy. Bucking the trend through were Glasgow High, they sealed a dominant 50-5 victory over Balfron High, while Morrison’s Academy won a good game at home to North Berwick 22-16.
Saturday Results
Aylesbury GS 15-6 Latymer Upper
Bablake 7-41 KES Birmingham
Bishop Vesey’s GS 12-26 King’s Worcester
Bolton 10-28 AKS Lytham
Bradford GS 26-12 Crossley Heath
Brentwood 38-7 UCS
Bromsgrove 21-0 Bloxham
Campion 46-5 Dartford GS
Cardinal Vaughan 55-7 Fulham Boys
Caterham 28-7 Eastbourne College
Cathedral School, Llandaff 10-19 Christ College
Cheadle Hulme 14-19 Manchester GS
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 49-12 Eltham College
Clayesmore 36-10 Dauntsey’s 2nd XV
Dean Close 15-24 Monmouth
Dollar Academy 26-33 Stewart’s Melville
Downside 31-17 Wycliffe College
Dunottar 20-24 Royal Alexandra & Albert
Emanuel 43-5 Reigate GS
Exeter 24-20 Wellington
Framlingham College 38-0 Royal Hospital School
Glasgow Academy 10-32 Kelvinside Academy
Glasgow HS 50-5 Balfron HS
Glenalmond College 10-33 Bell Baxter
Grammar School at Leeds 31-17 St Peter’s, York
Hutchesons’ GS 0-27 Marr College
King’s Bruton 0-27 Monkton Combe
King’s Canterbury 30-17 Sir Joseph Williamson’s
Kingswood 18-12 KES Bath
Langley 26-19 King’s Ely
Lord Wandsworth College 36-0 Shiplake College
Magdalen College 36-6 KES Southampton
Maidstone GS 29-0 St Olave’s GS
Morrison’s Academy 22-16 North Berwick
Mount Kelly 29-5 West Buckland
Mount St Mary’s 33-12 Ampleforth College
Norwich 31-5 Felsted
Nottingham HS 35-5 King Henry VIII
Oundle 24-21 Bedford Modern
Pangbourne College 8-21 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Pocklington 7-58 Barnard Castle
Princethorpe College 3-31 Loughborough GS
Prior Park College 0-26 Collegiate
QEH 28-20 King’s College, Taunton
Reed’s 14-32 Wimbledon College
RGS Guildford 13-16 Skinners’
RGS High Wycombe 19-14 Old Swinford Hospital
RGS Worcester 17-15 KES Stratford
Richard Hale 15-7 Merchant Taylors’
Solihull 19-18 Denstone College
St Ambrose College 50-0 Merchant Taylors’* FT Result TBC
St Leonards 26-50 Dundee HS
The Crypt 38-21 Pate’s GS
The Grange 17-10 Altrincham GS
The Judd 47-19 Langley Park
Tiffin 20-12 KCS Wimbledon
Wisbech GS 5-30 Ratcliffe College
Woodhouse Grove 20-15 QEGS Wakefield
Still to Come:
Camp Hill RFC v KES Camp Hill – Friday
John Fisher v The Cedars
Lomond v St Aloysius’ College
Robert Gordon’s College v George Heriot’s
Worth v St George’s, Weybridge
