As midweeks go it has been a thin one, fixtures wise, as teams gear up for the busiest weekend of the season so far.
That is not to say that the quality and excitement was not there though, far from it, as teams on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday put in some tremendous showings.
Monday
The week kicked off with a fantastic victory for Dundee High School in a rearranged game against St Aloysius’ College, the Dundee side claiming a 24-14 victory as they head towards the end of the season.
Monday Results
St Aloysius College 14-24 Dundee HS
Tuesday
There was more action in Scotland on Tuesday as George Watson’s College booked their place in next week’s Scottish Schools Cup final. They faced last year’s runners up, Edinburgh Academy, in a rearranged game after weather forced postponement and sealed an outstanding 36-7 victory to remain unbeaten across the board. They now face Stewart’s Melville, who defeated reigning champions Merchiston Castle.
There was knockout action in England on Tuesday too as King’s Ely hosted Richard Hale in one of the Bowl Regional Finals. Another terrific performance from Richard Hale saw them win 29-10 and they will now host Nottingham High School in the top quarter final of this year’s Continental Tyres Schools Bowl, meaning a home semi final too if they win.
Elsewhere Seaford College were looking to back up that stunning performance at Millfield on Saturday when they travelled to the superb Hurstpierpoint College on Tuesday. Unfortunately for Seaford though the quick turnaround and a few players absences did not make the task any easier as Hurstpierpoint College showed, once again, what an excellent side they are in a 32-10 victory – only Brighton College and Harrow have got the better of them this year.
Elsewhere Finborough took on a Rugby School Development XV on Tuesday and claimed a 55-15 victory, there was a strong victory for Lingfield College too, 56-0 at Bethany, while Milton Abbey beat Canford’s 2ndXV 10-5.
Tuesday Results
Bethany 0-56 Lingfield College
George Watson’s College 36-7 Edinburgh Academy (Cup Semi Final)
Hurstpierpoint College 32-10 Seaford College
King’s Ely 10-29 Richard Hale (Bowl Regional Final)
Milton Abbey 10-5 Canford 2nd XV
Rugby Development XV 15-55 Finborough
Wednesday
Wednesday saw three crucial Continental Schools Vase Regional Finals. Ravens Wood won an absolute classic at Eastbourne College, 23-22 in a game that went right down to the wire – both sides have been punching really high this year and it showed. Ravens Wood will now go on to host Mill Hill in Quarter Final 4.
Lord Wandsworth College are meanwhile through to Quarter Final three, where they will host Ivybridge Community College after a cracking game against St John’s Leatherhead, that just went in their favour, 34-24.
In the North section, St Ambrose College once again demonstrated their class with an outstanding 52-35 victory over St Anselm’s College to send them to the quarter finals, where they will be travelling to Felsted.
Over in the Bowl, Nottingham High School defeated Prince Henry’s Grammar 23-7 to book their place in the quarters, where the will meet, as mentioned, Richard Hale.
Outside of the knockouts, there was a tremendous game in Wales, where Wycliffe College travelled across to meet Cathedral School Llandaff in an epic encounter at the Arms Park. It was a brilliant game, with Wycliffe winning out 24-17. Also travelling to Wales were Shrewsbury’s 2nd XV, who took on St David’s College. It was the Welsh side that finished out on top, a gutsy performance earning a 10-7 victory.
Back across the border in Gloucestershire, King’s Gloucester again demonstrated their quality with a fantastic 44-14 defeat of Cokethorpe. Costwold were also in sizzling form, winning 40-19 over Balcarras.Meanwhile Pate’s Grammar were also enjoying themselves in a 38-3 victory at Cleeve. Over in Oxfordshire, things were tighter as Sibford claimed a 29-20 victory over visitors Rendcomb College.
Hampshire saw Farnborough 6th from College put in their performance of the season for a 70-0 defeat of Richard Collyer, while Salesian College were also on top form with a 28-0 victory over Holyport College.
There was an absolute classic in Surrey as Reed’s and Hayes battled it out in a magnificent game, won 31-22 by the hosts, meanwhile Ewell Castle were on song, winning 41-12 over The Cedars. Further North, in Hertfordshire, Sandringham and Sir John Lawes had a great encounter, Sandringham winning 26-22.
In the Midlands the game of the day was surely the absolutely epic encounter at Solihull, with Warwick the visitors. The two shared 67 points and shared them in style in a game that swung every which way. Warwick just got it over the line though, edging out their hosts 36-31.
Elesewhere in the area, KES Birmingham made it five in a row with another outstanding performance for a 27-17 victory over King Henry VIII, while KES Aston won a tight one against Queen Mary’s Grammar, 17-12. Hereford 6th form College were sensational at KES Camp Hill for a 43-5 victory, while Newcastle-Under-Lyme also won on the road, 33-10 at Haberdashers’ Adams.
Manchester saw a fantastic encounter as Manchester Grammar and Rishworth went head to head, Manchester Grammar just edging it 34-29. There were classics in Yorkshire too, an epic 22-22 draw between Silcoates and Pocklington, while Hill House had an outstanding 32-24 victory over a Woodhouse Grove XV. Harrogate Grammar meanwhile were in fine form against Dame Allan’s, winning 34-5. In Scotland, meanwhile, Morrison’s Academy hosted Argentina’s Cardinal Newman, and what a game it proved to be, going right down to the wire with the touring side just nicking it late on, 28-21.
Wednesday Results
Cathedral School, Llandaff 17-24 Wycliffe College
Cleeve 3-38 Pate’s GS
Cotswold 40-19 Balcarras
Eastbourne College 22-23 Ravens Wood (Vase Regional Final)
Ewell Castle 41-12 The Cedars
Farnborough 6th form College 70-0 College of Richard Collyer
Haberdashers’ Adams 10-33 Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Harrogate GS 34-5 Dame Allan’s
Hill House 32-24 Woodhouse Grove XV
KES Aston 17-12 Queen Mary’s GS
KES Birmingham 27-17 King Henry VIII
KES Camp Hill 5-43 Hereford 6th form College
King’s Gloucester 44-14 Cokethorpe
Lord Wandsworth College 34-24 St John’s Leatherhead (Vase Regional Final)
Manchester GS 34-29 Rishworth
Morrison’s Academy 21-28 Cardinal Newman, Argentina
Nottingham HS 23-7 Prince Henry’s GS (Bowl Regional Final)
Reed’s 31-22 Hayes
Salesian College 28-0 Holyport College
Sandringham 26-22 Sir John Lawes
Sibford 29-20 Rendcomb College
Silcoates 22-22 Pocklington
Solihull 31-36 Warwick
St Ambrose College 52-35 St Anselm’s College (Vase Regional Final)
St David’s College 10-7 Shrewsbury 2nd XV
Thursday
Thursday was a quiet day, frost forced a couple of cancellations, leaving just two games in the South West. Prior Park College and King’s Bruton had a really tight and gritty game, one that visitors King’s Bruton just got the better of for a 10-7 victory. Meanwhile KES Bath’s 2nd XV travelled to Wells Cathedral and put in an outstanding performance to claim a 31-12 victory.
Thursday Results
Prior Park College 7-10 King’s Bruton
Wells Cathedral 12-31 KES Bath 2nd XV
Still to Come (All Wednesday)
Bredon v Kingham Hill 2nd XV
KES Five Ways v Royal Latin (Bowl Regional Final)
King Alfred’s v Burford
London Oratory v Brentwood (Bowl Regional Final)
Samuel Whitbread v Newman College 2nd XV
