The 2023 Schools Rugby Season really is the season that keeps on giving as we were once again treated to a weekend full of epic contests and shock results.
The conclusion has to start being that this season, perhaps more so than any other, the playing field is incredibly level. On any given weekend almost anything can happen, and as we head towards the final couple of weeks of the season that sets us up for an absolutely thrilling climax.
Ten to Watch
Our Ten to Watch followed the aforementioned pattern, with some absolutely fantastic game of rugby, including our two Live games, and plenty of twists and turns.
The result of the weekend though was surely from Seaford College, who travelled down to Millfield and returned with a brilliant 21-0 victory. It was a stunning result, on many levels, not least that Millfield always score at home. Indeed the last time that they did not score at home in the regular season was in 2006 when Filton College were at the peak of their powers. Forget the history though, this was a performance about the here and now – arguably the biggest result in Seaford’s rugby history, and one of their greatest performances too. It has been coming, two weeks ago they ended RGS High Wycombe’s unbeaten run and there have been strong performances elsewhere, but on Saturday it all clicked, and what a place for it to happen.
We are at that time in the year where eyes start turning towards what the season looks like overall, and for a handful of the best around that is about completing the dream unbeaten season. Brighton College remain on course for that, St Joseph’s Festival aside, but they had to work oh so hard for it against the hosts of that Festival on Saturday, St Joseph’s College. With 15 minutes left on the clock they were nine points down, they chipped away at that to go a point clear at 29-28 with four left to play before a score in the final play gave the result a little bit more of a comfortable feel, finishing 36-28. It was a remarkable show of spirit and determination, St Joseph’s will be gutted having come so close, but for Brighton College this outstanding season keeps on rolling.
So too does Harrow’s. They have been utterly sensational this year, unbeaten and top of the NextGenXV Schools Rugby Table, the Daily Mail Trophy Table, and in the quarter finals of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup. Saturday saw them keep that going, against the side that knocked them out of the Cup last year, Trinity. Harrow were superb, as they have been consistently, winning 52-17 and edging a step closer to perfection for the season.
Harrow’s next game sees them take on Mill Hill, their final game bar that Cup quarter final. Mill Hill have been outstanding this season, only Oakham in a shortened game had beaten them, but they faced a crunch encounter on Saturday. with a fellow side packed with Saracens talent, St Albans. Like Mill Hill, St Albans had only lost once, last week in an epic at Felsted (which you can read about here: Felsted 23-20 St Albans), and the hype for this one was therefore huge. The game justified it, hanging in the balance throughout it was an absolute classic. Either side could have taken the game, but it was the hosts that edged it, 23-20, and that Harrow v Mill Hill fixture on Saturday now looms large.
Eton College are also having a wonder season, they are unbeaten and playing wonderful rugby. On Saturday they hosted a confident Dulwich College side, who beat Tonbridge last time out, but the Eton machine marched on for an excellent 36-15 victory. They now have two games remaining, and must be thinking that the dream unbeaten season is now getting very close to reality.
There were two live games here on NextGenXV this Saturday, the first of which was the morning kick off at Northampton School for Boys as they welcomed Whitgift for a game that promised plenty given their respective performances this season – close felt like the order of the day. Close it was, it could have gone either way but Whitgift always managed to find away just to stay manageably ahead. NSB were chipping away with penalties but every time they closed the gap to within a score, Whitgift would find a way to extend it again as they secured a 25-33 victory (see below) that should send them into the final couple of weeks with real confidence.
Once that game was over it was a short hop over to Rugby School as they hosted Warwick School in the latest game celebrating 200 years of Rugby Football. In the buildup it felt like it could be a classic, both sides arriving in good form after back to back victories for Rugby and for Warwick a draw vs Sedbergh and victory over NSB. What few could have predicted though was that it would be quite as brilliant as it was, a game for the ages that saw Warwick take the victory, 28-27 (see below). The tension was ramped up in the final stages as Rugby closed the gap to a point, but in the end time ran out on the comeback as Warwick showed great maturity to close out after what had been a sensational game of rugby.
There was another classic down in Kent as Tonbridge welcomed Radley College. Earlier in the season Tonbridge had travelled to Radley and returned with a 31-5 victory, so expectation was that they would start as favourites. However it quickly became clear that this was not that sort of game and that instead we would be treated to another schools rugby classic as Radley got their revenge for that game early in October, but in the tightest of circumstances, winning 24-22.
Two English schools travelled across the Irish Sea this weekend, with Kirkham Grammar School the first in action as they took on Ballymena Academy on Friday afternoon. It was a fantastic game of rugby, and a great experience for all, but also one where Kirkham Grammar School showed all the qualities that took them to the St Joseph’s Festival title as they claimed a hard-fought 27-12 victory.
Clifton College were then in action on the Saturday, facing one of the most well-known names in all of schools rugby, Blackrock College. Clifton gave it everything, but this Blackrock side is utterly formidable this year, having already scored fifty against Sedbergh and had some terrific results on home soil. They were equally excellent on Saturday, highlighting the strength of Irish schools rugby with a 44-22 victory. The off-field was as good as the on-field as well, with tales of a superb weekend filtering through from all corners, the spirit of rugby was well and truly alive after this one.
Ten to Watch Results
Ballymena Academy 12-27 Kirkham GS – Friday
Blackrock College 44-22 Clifton College
Brighton College 36-28 St Joseph’s College
Eton College 36-15 Dulwich College
Harrow 52-17 Trinity
Millfield 0-21 Seaford College
Mill Hill 23-20 St Albans
Northampton School for Boys 25-33 Whitgift – LIVE on NextGenXV
Rugby 27-28 Warwick – LIVE on NextGenXV
Tonbridge 22-24 Radley College
Around the Grounds
Friday
On Friday Durham and Barnard Castle met in a real classic as these two giants of school rugby gave everyone a tension ridden treat. For the second Friday in a row though it was Durham that came out on top in a big Friday night encounter, winning 10-5 to continue what has been a remarkable season for them. Also in action on Friday night were UCS who put in a terrific display for a 22-3 victory over Latymer Upper, one for the memory banks.
Friday Results
Barnard Castle 5-10 Durham
Latymer Upper 3-22 UCS
Saturday
Saturday saw many of the morning kick offs cancelled or postponed due to frozen pitches, particularly in Scotland where even the George Watson’s v Edinburgh Academy Cup semi final had to be postponed. However one Scottish Schools Cup semi final could go ahead and what an epic it was as Stewart’s Melville knocked out reigning champions Merchiston Castle 41-29, a sensational result. There was also a game in the Plate, where Queen Victoria booked their place in the final with a 29-19 victory over Gordonstoun.
The North West of England saw some great action too, not least in King’s Macclesfield, where Sedbergh were the visitors. An absolutely epic game unfolded, with Sedbergh keen to bounce back after a tricky patch. King’s Macc made them work for it but Charlie Turnbull did some real captain’s work for Sedbergh, digging deep to help them to a tight but exciting 24-20 victory.
Exciting games in Cheshire were a theme, Manchester Grammar won by a slim 19-14 margin at Wilmslow High School, while there were just seven points in it at Sandbach as Ellesmere College did superbly to win 20-13 on the road. In dominant form though were Lancaster RGS, who travelled to Cheadle Hulme and returned with a magnificent 35-0 victory, they really have been excellent at times this year.
On the Wirral the home sides enjoyed themselves, Birkenhead beating Bolton 41-7 and St Anselm’s College winning 23-5 against Stonyhurst. Over in Lancashire Kirkham Grammar School showed the depth of their strength as their 2nd XV defeated Merchant Taylors’ 62-5, meanwhile Scarisbrick Hall won 26-14 over St Mary’s College.
In Yorkshire, QEGS Wakefield welcomed the travelling RGS Newcastle for a schools rugby classic fixture, and it was QEGS that came out on top with an excellent performance for a 27-17 victory. Bradford Grammarmeanwhile won a tight one over Harrogate Grammar, 19-12, while Grammar School at Leeds enjoyed their trip to Pocklington, winning 41-15.
Further South, Worksop College hosted Wisbech Grammar and came out on top, 27-12, while Nottingham High School won 49-17 against Ratcliffe College and Loughborough Grammar were sensational at home to Bablake, winning 50-7.
Rutland saw two great games, not least at Oakham were they earned arguably their result of the season with an excellent and -hard-earned 17-13 victory over Stamford, who have been riding high. Along the road at Uppingham there was another good one as St Edward’s Oxford were on song, earning a 20-12 victory. Over in Northamptonshire, Wellingborough welcomed KES Stratford and the visitors took back a superb 19-6 victory.
From East Midlands to West Midlands, where KES Birmingham were on song in a 48-7 victory over Princethorpe College, meanwhile further West Hereford Cathrdral School were sensational, winning 57-0 over Oswestry. Worcestershire meanwhile saw a classic at King’s Worcester where Old Swinford Hospital were the visitors and earned a thrilling 38-26 victory. Solihull meanwhile continued their impressive recent form, winning 31-7 at RGS Worcester.
In Oxford RGS Guildford were outstanding as they took on Abingdon, winning 44-10 in a display that really impressed. If that was impressive, then St Paul’s performance in Reading must have been sensational, winning 43-0 against Reading Blue Coat.
North of London Haberdashers’ Elstree won 25-5 against St Columba’s College, while in Norfolk Norwich continued their impressive form with a 40-28 victory over The Leys of Cambridge. In Cambridge itself there was arguably the game of the weekend as The Perse hosted Samuel Whitbread. It was an absolute epic, with 75 points shared and only three points between them as Samuel Whitbread just edged it, 39-36.
Essex also saw a classic as Dunottar won 43-27 over Brentwood, and there was not shortage of good games in Kent either. The Judd won a classic at Sir Joseph Williamson’s, 36-22, while things were really tight at Sevenoaks as they just held off Cranbrook 32-27, meanwhile Maidstone Grammar won 33-10 atDartford Grammar. Duke of York’s Royal Military meanwhile travelled from Kent to Sussex to face Christ’s Hospital and were in great form, winning 39-5.
In London Caterham were sensational in the South East, winning 63-5 at Colfe’s, not the first time that Caterham have really clicked this year. Bedford Modern meanwhile edged an epic contest at Campion, 24-22 at one of the hardest places to visit. In the North West of the capital Merchant Taylors’ hosted a Reed’s side that was really on song as they earned a 35-18 victory, while in the West St Benedict’s put in a really strong performance to hold off John Fisher, 22-14. South West London, and in particular Wimbledon, saw two games as KCS Wimbledon enjoyed a strong 35-5 victory over Emanuel, but it was bad news for Wimbledon College, who met a Wallington County Grammar side that was in brilliant form, winning 42-19.
Surrey saw Cranleigh put in one of their very best displays of the year as they hosted Hampton. The hosts clicked supremely as they secured a truly brilliant 42-7 victory. Claremont also enjoyed a strong victory, 36-15 over City of London Freemen’s 2nd XV, while St George’s College Weybridge and Tiffin had a really tight encounter, one that could have gone either way, but the hosts, St George’s, held out for a 22-17 victory.
In Hampshire Gordon’s were really impressive against Churcher’s College, but this outstanding Churcher’s side found a way, as they have consistently, to get the job done and earned a 12-5 victory. Things were even tighter at Ryde, as they just edged out KES Southampton 14-12.
In Wiltshire Bromsgrove had put in the miles to visit Marlborough College, but it was well worth the trip for them as they extended this remarkable unbeaten season with another outstanding performance in a 43-14 victory. With just two games left, and a Cup run, they could be on for one of the greats. Bishop Wordsworth’s were also in good form in Wiltshire, winning 24-12 against a good Portsmouth Grammar School side.
Over in Bristol, Collegiate had to be very good en route to a 29-17 victory over an Exeter School side that has been in great form of late. Meanwhile Kingswood, who have been sensational all year, were sensational again away at QEH, winning 55-28. Somerset saw a truly stunning performance from Taunton School as they beat West Buckland 72-0, meanwhile Wellington School were excellent in what was a really entertaining game of rugby against Cathedral School Llandaff, winning 45-26. Down in Cornwall it was a Cornwall/Devon derby as Truro School hosted Mount Kelly. It played out like a derby too, tightly contested with little to choose between them, but it was the home side that won in the end, 19-14.
Saturday Results
Abingdon 10-44 RGS Guildford
Birkenhead 41-7 Bolton
Bishop Wordsworth’s 24-12 Portsmouth GS
Bradford GS 19-12 Harrogate GS
Brentwood 27-43 Dunottar
Campion 22-24 Bedford Modern
Cheadle Hulme 0-35 Lancaster RGS
Christ’s Hospital 5-39 Duke of York’s RMS
Churcher’s College 12-5 Gordon’s
Claremont 36-15 City of London Freemen’s 2nd XV
Colfe’s 5-63 Caterham
Collegiate 29-17 Exeter School
Cranleigh 42-7 Hampton
Dartford GS 10-33 Maidstone GS
Gordonstoun 19-29 Queen Victoria (Plate Semi)
Hereford Cathedral 57-0 Oswestry
KCS Wimbledon 35-5 Emanuel
KES Birmingham 48-7 Princethorpe College
King’s Macclesfield 20-24 Sedbergh
King’s Worcester 26-38 Old Swinford Hospital
Kirkham GS 2nd XV 62-5 Merchant Taylors’
Loughborough GS 50-7 Bablake
Marlborough College 14-43 Bromsgrove
Merchant Taylors’ 18-35 Reed’s
Norwich 40-28 The Leys
Nottingham HS 49-17 Ratcliffe College
Oakham 17-13 Stamford
Pocklington 15-41 Grammar School at Leeds
QEGS Wakefield 27-17 RGS Newcastle
QEH 28-55 Kingswood
Reading Blue Coat 0-43 St Paul’s
RGS Worcester 7-31 Solihull
Ryde 14-12 KES Southampton
Sandbach 13-20 Ellesmere College
Scarisbrick Hall 26-14 St Mary’s College
Sevenoaks 32-27 Cranbrook
Sir Joseph Williamson’s 22-36 The Judd
St Anselm’s College 23-5 Stonyhurst
St Benedict’s 22-14 John Fisher
St Columba’s College 5-25 Haberdashers’ Elstree
St George’s Weybridge 22-17 Tiffin
Stewart’s Melville 41-29 Merchiston Castle (Cup Semi)
Taunton 72-0 West Buckland
The Perse 36-39 Samuel Whitbread
Truro 19-14 Mount Kelly
Uppingham 12-20 St Edward’s, Oxford
Wellingborough 6-19 KES Stratford
Wellington 45-26 Cathedral School, Llandaff
Wimbledon College 19-42 Wallington CGS
Wilmslow HS 14-19 Manchester GS
Worksop College 27-12 Wisbech GS
Still to Come:
AKS Lytham v Hutton GS
Dame Allan’s v Newcastle School for Boys
Haberdashers’ Abraham Darby v King Henry VIII
Loretto v George Heriot’s
Luckley House v St Joseph’s College, Reading
Lymm HS v Calday Grange GS
RGS Colchester v Bancroft’s
