It was just the second weekend of the 2024/25 schools rugby season and already it is looking like a season to remember after a second thrilling weekend of action.
With two weekends gone a sense starts to build of which sides are really shining, and there are plenty. It is also clear that there is real competition between sides – games have been incredibly close. You only need to look at our Ten to Watch to see that, half of them were decided by a converted try or less, and one was a spectacular draw.
That same pattern was seen all over the country, and where it was not we saw teams that already at this early stage look as though they are going to prove to be exceptional throughout the season.
Ten to Watch
Our Ten to Watch provided some stunning entertainment, not least with two absolutely fantastic live games. The first of those came on Friday night when St Edward’s Oxford hosted Merchant Taylors’ at Oxford University’s Iffley Road ground. It was a stunning atmosphere at the ground, with the stands packed, and the rugby matched it. Some of the touches were of the highest quality, including one spectacular piece of handling to set up a Merchant Taylors’ try. That would be one of three for the North London side and, though Teddies did score late on, it was enough to seal a 20-8 victory. You can catch all the best bits in the highlights below!
Friday also saw another fantastic event as Brighton College hosted Hampton in a poignant fixture, the annual Peter Bellenger Memorial game. Bellenger was a teacher at Brighton before sadly passing away from Motor Neurone Disease and the evening saw funds being raised for the My Name5 Doddie Foundation. Over 300 people were there for it and the on field matched the off field with a quite excellent Brighton College performance as they bounced back from a tight defeat last week to win 33-6 against Hampton.
Friday also saw a spectacular game in Aberavon as Wales’ best team last year, Llandovery College, hosted one of England’s best last year, Clifton College. Clifton arrived confident, having beaten Harrow last weekend, while Llandovery had played well but just missed out to Millfield. It quickly became apparent just how much quality these two have as they launched into a stunning game of rugby with 67 points scored across the game. Clifton College took it, 38-29, but both displayed that they are right at the very top end of the school game once again. They will need to be, the challenges early on this season for both are immense, Llandovery kick off the defence of the Welsh Schools and Colleges League on Wednesday, Clifton meanwhile take on Sedbergh on Thursday. Having already beaten Harrow and now Llandovery though, Clifton will be looking at that game and thinking that victory would make this one of the most impressive starts to the season by any school.
Sedbergh themselves though are looking in mightily good form. On Saturday they travelled to a strong Denstone College side and both had plenty of confidence in advance of it, Denstone have really challenged Sedbergh in recent years and kicked off following a brilliant pre-season and an excellent performance at Uppingham last week. Sedbergh had meanwhile beaten Whitgift in their opener and were relishing the trip. It was, as so often Sedbergh games can be, a tale of progress through the game as a strong contest gave way to some sweeping Sedbergh rugby in the second half as they accelerated out to a stunning 45-12 victory. It whets the appetite for Thursday’s game against Clifton, already these once again look like two of the best around. Denstone will take solace from that, they are a strong side, they just came up against a giant.
Two other giants went head to head in our second live game of the weekend, Whitgift and Wellington College in the annual Seb Adeniran-Olule Memorial game. The game was all about Seb’s Foundation, but once it kicked off the action took over. Wellington College raced to a 21-0 lead and there were fears that they might just take off from there. This Whitgift side is made of stern stuff though and clawed a try back just before half time and then took control in the second half to secure a 26-21 lead. This game always seems to bring drama though, and there was more left in that tank as Wellington scored in the final play of the day to make it a stunning 26-26 draw. It was befitting of a brilliant contest, and also of the spirit of camaraderie throughout the day. Seeing the Seb Adeniran-Olule Memorial Trophy shared between the two captains was befitting of his memory and of the spirit of the occasion. Check out the highlights below of what was a stunning afternoon of schools rugby.
That was far from the only stunner on Saturday, on what was a glorious day to play rugby. Tonbridge had kicked off their season with a tight away win at Brighton College, and now at home they found themselves in another nail-biter, this time against local rivals The Judd. Local to each other yes, but for many years a rivalry dominated by Tonbridge, however recently it has become a seriously competitive contest – encapsulated by The Judd’s victory a couple of years ago. They came within a whisker of doing so again, with Tonbridge just edging the game 22-19. It was a sign that once again The Judd are punching magnificently well above their weight, but also that this Tonbridge side is made of steely stuff. Twice in a row now they have been locked in a tense game, and twice they have emerged victorious. It is an impressive and valuable quality to have.
It is a trait that Epsom College would appear to have too. Their opening two games had seen them at their swashbuckling best, but on Saturday they hosted a Radley College side that was playing their first game of the season and who were not going to let Epsom have an easy ride at all. A real epic unfolded, with these two great names giving nothing away as they put on a tense and engaging game of rugby. Epsom won out, making it an impressive three from three, but did so 20-17 to show a different side to their game than had been seen in the opening two. For Radley, holding Epsom so close should give them real encouragement for the challenges to come because early season from suggests their hosts are an outstanding side.
There was an equally tight contest in the north east as Barnard Castle hosted Woodhouse Grove, two absolute giants of the school game. Both had started the season with a bang, with two victories from two games. Barnard Castle had been in stunning for in the Cup against RGS Newcastle, Woodhouse Grove had also had a superb Cup performance, but it was last week’s tight victory over ACE side Bishop Burton College that will have had them feeling particularly positive. This was to prove another tight one, and it was Woodhouse Grove that, for the second time this season, proved victorious in a close contest. There was barley anything in it, but the visitors took it 21-18 to make it three from three. Both side look as though they are going to have a big say in the overall shape of the season.
Seaford College are also looking like they might have a big say, not least they are competing at two of the biggest tournaments of the season in the Merchiston Festival and St Joseph’s Festival, as well as hosting their annual Southern 10s in January. They started well last week with victory over St Joseph’s but on Saturday hosted a confident local rival in Hurstpierpoint College, who were coming off the back of one of their best ever seasons and two victories from two to start this. It proved to be a great contest, both side showing moments of real quality, but it was Seaford that were just about on top en route to a 28-22 victory that sees them start to build some real momentum now ahead of a game next week against a Cranleigh side that has got tongues wagging with their quality.
Haileybury made out Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend last week with a stunning victory over Felsted. So it says something for the quality of Stamford that they made it three from three on Saturday with a magnificent 36-5 defeat of Haileybury on Saturday. Stamford had impressed in a tight victory over Stowe and then against in the Cup in midweek, but Saturday’s result really has the momentum flowing now ahead of a derby against Uppingham next weekend.
Ten to Watch Results
Barnard Castle 18-21 Woodhouse Grove
Brighton College 33-6 Hampton (Peter Bellenger Memorial)
Denstone College 12-45 Sedbergh
Epsom College 20-17 Radley College
Llandovery College 29-38 Clifton College
Seaford College 28-22 Hurstpierpoint College
Stamford 36-5 Haileybury
St Edward’s, Oxford 8-20 Merchant Taylors’ – LIVE
Tonbridge 22-19 The Judd
Whitgift 26-26 Wellington College (Seb Adeniran-Olule Memorial) – LIVE
Around the Grounds
Friday 13th September:
A number of Friday’s results are yet to come in, but those that did were headline grabbing. Merchiston Castle have started the season in utterly sensational fashion and that continued on Friday night with a stunning 64-12 defeat of Fettes College. A Fettes side, remember, that had crossed the border to England last week and returned with a fifty point victory. Merchiston are absolutely flying at the moment.
Northampton School for Boys will feel as though they are flying right now too. A year ago Ipswich put fifty past them, but on Friday night they avenged that with a dogged display, littered with real quality to beat the Suffolk side, that has been so good in recent times, 29-19. It was a performance to be proud of, and one that NSB will feel is a real statement about what they can do. Hugely impressive.
Friday Results
Merchiston Castle 64-12 Fettes College
Northampton School for Boys 29-19 Ipswich
Saturday 14th September
The fantastic rugby just kept on coming on Saturday, and we were treated to some absolutely stunning games. The Midlands and the West were hotbeds of those close games, with RGS Worcester and King’s Gloucesterplaying out a classic that saw RGS just take it, 27-26. Local rivals King’s Worcester also won a close one, 27-22 at Bloxham, while further East The Leys were impressive away at Gresham’s to win 28-26.
Back to the West, Malvern College and Collegiate put on a show, they could barely be separated but Malvern just edged it 30-29, while across in Wales Monmouth and Cheltenham College were in a game that had everything. Points were flying around but it was Monmouth in control for an impressive 43-24 victory. Christ College Brecon meanwhile fell to Clifton College, who had a 2nd XV out for the school’s second away game in Wales in 24 hours and returned home with a second victory, 22-20. Highly impressive.
Back across in England, Wellington School and West Buckland were in a game that could’ve gone either was, Wellington winning 19-17, while Bryanston just managed to hold off Bishop Wordsworth’s, 14-10. Meanwhile Marlborough College and Sherborne had a good game, with Sherborne earning an impressive away victory that should fill them with confidence, 27-19. One of the most end-to-end games of the weekend saw Warminster beat Wells Cathedral 45-35, a brilliant game to watch.
One of the very best was in West London, where St Benedict’s and St George’s Weybridge met and could only be separated by two points, St Benedict’s winning 31-29. Things were even close in South West London, where Tiffin and Windsor Boys’ simply could not be separated. Further south again, KES Southampton are in a really rich early season vein of form and won a good contest against Canford 26-14.
The Midlands was packed with classic head to heads, and some great games too. Not least a 31-24 victory for Berkhamsted over Warwick, a game that has received rave reviews. Elsewhere, Uppingham got one up at old rivals Oundle, earning an impressive 26-15 victory to keep their momentum up.
Meanwhile Stowe were in exceptional form with a 33-15 victory over Oakham, and Bedford were equally good, beating a good Rugby School side 33-5. Keep an eye on both Stowe and Bedford in the weeks to come.
Further North the top fixtures kept on coming, Pocklington and Ampleforth College had a wonderful contest that just saw hosts Pocklington edge the result 26-24, impressive displays though from both. Likewise further west at Stonyhurst, were St Peter’s York emerged victorious in a game where both showed real signs of what they can do, winning 45-29. Another fixture between two great names saw QEGS Wakefield earn an impressive 19-5 victory at King’s Macclesfield.
There was also a little bit of knockout rugby on Saturday, where in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup Kingswood beat Bristol Grammar 38-12 away from home to make it through to Round 2 in South West A, where they will host either Collegiate or Downside. Over in the Vase, St Columba’s College progress in Midlands B after an excellent 30-5 victory over St Edmund’s College, they now travel to either Beaumont or Sir John Lawes.
Saturday also saw some of the sides expected to be right at the very top of the game this year flex their muscles. One side flexing hard early on is Cranleigh, who have started the season quite brilliantly and that continued on Saturday with a superb 63-7 defeat of Trinity. The season may be young, but Cranleigh look very very good. Not too far away, RGS Guildford were also in impressive form, winning a bit of a madcap game against Wimbledon College 56-26. Across in Kent, Worth were sensational at Sevenoaks, winning 67-7.
Harrow lost narrowly to Clifton in their opener, but were quickly back to winning ways in the Cup in midweek and on Saturday they hit their straps against Dulwich College in an excellent 46-17 victory that should see them heading to Wellington College next week with real confidence. Mill Hill meanwhile travelled to Essex and were sensational at Felsted as they earned a 50-10 victory. To the West, St Paul’s bounced back with an outstanding performance at Eton College, winning 47-12. Meanwhile RGS High Wycombe have started this season looking very impressive indeed. They sealed victory over St John’s Leatherhead in a high-scoring game, 95 points were scored, RGS scoring the bulk though to win 62-33.
The South West had some stunning performances, perhaps now more so than from Millfield, who had a side in midweek go down at Taunton in the Cup. It might have been a much changed side, but defeat still prompted a reaction and what a reaction they got as they travelled down to Blundell’s, so often so good, and returned with a stunning 60-6 victory. Some statement.
They were far from the only ones in the area on song, KES Bath made last week’s Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend and surely won’t be far off again this weekend after a stunning 50-7 victory away at Dauntsey’s. KES are absolutely flying at the moment. Wycliffe College were also enjoying themselves on Saturday, winning 40-5 at home to Downside.
In the Midlands, Bromsgrove are looking impressive. A tight victory over Warwick last week, and this week a different type of performance altogether as they defeated Sir Thomas Rich’s 59-5. Bromsgrove are looking very good. Further East, Wellingborough were also excellent in a 46-5 defeat of Ratcliffe College.
Meanwhile in Nottingham, Trent College were flying, a 52-15 victory over Loughborough Grammar, and in Cheshire it was a similar story for Lymm High School, who travelled to The Grange and returned with a 67-0 victory that will have local rivals sitting up and taking real notice.
Scotland had some top games of rugby, perhaps nowhere more so that a brilliant 24-24 draw between St Aloysius’ College and Glasgow Academy, meanwhile Glasgow High won 21-12 at home to Hutcheson’s Grammar. George Watson’s College meanwhile continue to impress with each passing game, on Saturday they saw off a good Stewart’s Melville side 33-21.
Back in England, RGS Newcastle regained some momentum after a tough start with a good 26-5 victory over Lancaster RGS. Meanwhile Mount St Mary’s impressed to their travels at Dame Allan’s, winning 26-12.
Across in the North West St Anselm’s College won their derby with Birkenhead in a bit of a thriller, 42-27 to claim the bragging rights, while Manchester Grammar won at Merchant Taylors’, 15-0. Kirkham Grammar School showed their depth again, their 2nd XV earning a tight 12-10 victory away to a good St Ambrose College side.
South of there, KES Birmingham looked impressive away at KES Stratford in a 32-18 victory and, in fact, it was a good zone of the country for away sides as Old Swinford Hospital won 31-14 at Princethorpe College and Nottingham High School won 22-10 at Bablake, and, perhaps most impressive of all, Abingdon earned a 26-17 victory at Solihull.
Continuing South and West, Dean Close were impressive. They sealed a 27-7 victory at King’s College Taunton, while Leweston were also impressive away winners, 19-0 at Milton Abbey. Likewise Rendcomb College, 21-10 at Stonar.
Home victories arrived for Monkton Combe, a tight 13-5 effort over Prior Park College, and rather impressively for the Cheltenham College 4th XV against Westonbirt, 28-0. Meanwhile in Devon Exeter School were 31-3 victors over QEH.
Sweeping east, Ryde had a tight game at home to Embley but emerged victorious 15-10. Pangbourne College meanwhile welcome south coast visitors Portsmouth Grammar and earned a strong 33-5 victory. Hampshire meanwhile saw Churcher’s College travel to Lord Wandsworth College for a fantastic game of rugby that saw them earn a 26-18 victory.
Surrey meanwhile saw Gordon’s put out a side to host Christ’s Hospital, and the hosts were on song for a 38-13 victory. Meanwhile in Sussex Eastbourne College’s 125 years of rugby celebrations were in full flow with an excellent 27-5 victory over Sutton Valence.
Kent had some great games, and one of the best contests saw Duke of York’s Royal Military School win 25-17 at King’s Rochester. It was a similar game to that at Gravesend Grammar, where visitors Maidstone Grammar earned a 27-15 victory. King’s Canterbury were also away victors, an impressive 35-7 results over at Cranbrook. Tonbridge’s 3rd XV were on song for the home column though, with a 20-13 victory over St Lawrence College’s 1st XV.
In London the huge clash between John Fisher and Skinners’ went the way of the visitors Skinners’, 27-14, a highlight impressive result. Even more impressive were Reigate Grammar, who travelled to Wallington County Grammar and returned 40-10 to the good. Dunottar were also on song away from home, winning a thriller at Claremont 33-22. It was similar in North London, where Aylesbury Grammar won 12-7 at UCS.
Hertfordshire saw St Albans continue their fine start with a good 29-18 victory over Reading Blue Coat, while further to the East Bishop’s Stortford College were excellent against Brentwood, 26-0. Their local rivals Bishop’s Stortford High meanwhile went down 43-12 away to New Hall, who have started the season outstandingly well.
Framlingham College were also in good form, winning 19-7 at home to RGS Colchester, while in Cambridge The Perse were brilliant in a 38-0 victory over Royal Hospital School. Wisbech Grammar meanwhile hosted King’s Ely in a great game, in which the visitors emerged victorious, 31-22.
Saturday Results
Bablake 10-22 Nottingham High
Bedford 33-5 Rugby
Berkhamsted 31-24 Warwick
Birkenhead 27-42 St Anselm’s College
Bishop’s Stortford College 26-0 Brentwood
Bloxham 22-27 King’s Worcester
Blundell’s 6-60 Millfield
Bristol Grammar 12-38 Kingswood (Cup Round 1)
Bromsgrove 59-5 Sir Thomas Rich’s
Bryanston 14-10 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Cheltenham College 4th XV 28-0 Westonbirt
Christ College 20-22 Clifton College 2nd XV
Claremont Fan Court 22-33 Dunottar
Cranbrook 7-35 King’s Canterbury
Cranleigh 63-7 Trinity
Dame Allan’s 12-26 Mount St Mary’s College
Dauntsey’s 7-50 KES Bath
Eastbourne College 27-5 Sutton Valence
Eton College 12-47 St Paul’s
Exeter 31-3 QEH
Felsted 10-50 Mill Hill
Framlingham College 19-7 RGS Colchester
George Watson’s College 33-21 Stewart’s Melville
Glasgow High 21-12 Hutcheson’s Grammar
Gordon’s XV 38-13 Christ’s Hospital
Gravesend Grammar 15-27 Maidstone Grammar
Gresham’s 26-28 The Leys
Harrow 46-17 Dulwich College
John Fisher 14-27 Skinners’
KES Southampton 26-14 Canford
KES Stratford 18-32 KES Birmingham
King’s College, Taunton 7-27 Dean Close
King’s Macclesfield 5-19 QEGS Wakefield
King’s Rochester 17-25 Duke of York’s Royal Military
Lord Wandsworth College 18-26 Churcher’s College
Malvern College 30-29 Collegiate
Marlborough College 19-27 Sherborne
Merchant Taylors’ 0-15 Manchester Grammar
Milton Abbey 0-19 Leweston
Monkton Combe 13-5 Prior Park College
Monmouth 43-24 Cheltenham College
New Hall 43-12 Bishop’s Stortford High
Oundle 15-26 Uppingham
Pangbourne College 33-5 Portsmouth Grammar
Pocklington 26-24 Ampleforth College
Princethorpe College 14-31 Old Swinford Hospital
RGS Guildford 56-26 Wimbledon College
RGS High Wycombe 62-33 St John’s Leatherhead
RGS Newcastle 26-5 Lancaster RGS
RGS Worcester 27-26 King’s Gloucester
Ryde 15-10 Embley
Sevenoaks 7-67 Worth
Solihull 17-26 Abingdon
St Albans 29-18 Reading Blue Coat
St Aloysius’ College 24-24 Glasgow Academy
St Ambrose College 10-12 Kirkham Grammar 2nd XV
St Benedict’s 31-29 St George’s Weybridge
St Columba’s College 30-5 St Edmund’s College (Vase Round 1)
Stonar 10-21 Rendcomb College
Stonyhurst 29-45 St Peter’s, York
Stowe 33-15 Oakham
The Grange 0-67 Lymm High
The Perse 38-0 Royal Hospital School
Tiffin 22-22 Windsor Boys’
Tonbridge 3rd XV 20-13 St Lawrence College
Trent College 52-15 Loughborough Grammar
UCS 7-12 Aylesbury Grammar
Wallington County Grammar 10-40 Reigate Grammar
Warminster 45-35 Wells Cathedral
Wellingborough 46-5 Ratcliffe College
Wellington School 19-17 West Buckland
Wisbech Grammar 22-31 King’s Ely
Wycliffe College 40-5 Downside
Still to Come:
Friday
Caterham v KCS Wimbledon
Cokethorpe v King Alfred’s (Vase Round 1)
Northampton School for Boys 2nd XV v Leicester Grammar
Saturday
AKS Lytham v Altrincham Grammar
Austin Friars v Newcastle School for Boys
Coopers’ Coborn v St Olave’s Grammar
Langley Park v Dartford Grammar
Richard Hale v St George’s Harpenden
Sandbach v Wirral Grammar
Shiplake College v The Oratory
Sir Joseph Williamson’s v Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar
Watford Grammar v Hitchin Boys’
Wilmslow High v Stockport Grammar