The final weekend of action before the half term break gave us an absolute treat as schools rugby showed off the very best of itself.
The 38th Annual St Joseph’s College National Schools Rugby Festival showed school rugby in all its glory as always, with 16 fantastic sides in action, plus 8 U15 sides this year too. Meanwhile the brand new John Fisher State Schools Festival saw 12 state schools in action in a tournament that captured the imagination and has given the state school game an incredible platform, while over at Eltham College 8 sides gathered for a Festival that is rapidly gaining momentum and showcased some superb rugby.
Those three festivals plus the half term break did mean that there were few other standalone games going on, but what rugby there was going on was as impressive as it has been throughout the seven weeks of this first half of term.
Ten to Watch
All three Festivals featured in our Ten to Watch, and all three gave us some incredible stories. At the St Joseph’s Festival Ireland’s St Michael’s College were utterly untouchable all weekend as they stormed to the title, Ireland’s first since Blackrock College in 2000. You can check out our roundup here: St Joseph’s Festival Roundup.
Meanwhile at the John Fisher Festival it was Old Swinford Hospital that lit the tournament up, going through the whole competition unbeaten and becoming the first ever champions at a tournament that is set to become one of the great. You can see our roundup here: John Fisher Festival Roundup.
Over at the Eltham Festival, there was a fitting champions in Eastbourne College who are celebrating 125 years of rugby at the school and did so in style as they sealed the festival title unbeaten. You can see you roundup of that here: Eltham Festival Roundup.
In standalone fixtures, Friday night saw some crackers and in one of the biggest derbies in Welsh rugby it was Llandovery College that came out on top against Christ College Brecon, winning 29-12 to secure the bragging rights and keep up the momentum in what has been another strong season.
Meanwhile Plymouth College made it two wins from two in their Devon/Cornwall derbies with Truro School this season, backing up their victory at Plymouth Albion a few weeks ago with a 24-12 victory at Truro on Friday.
On Saturday, the West Anglia Schools League returned and St George’s Harpenden put in an outstanding performance to beat a good side from The Perse 36-18.
Ellesmere College were meanwhile looking to complete an unbeaten first half of term on Saturday when they hosted Wirral Grammar, and once again they delivered in style as they secured a 48-5 victory. They must be eyeing up the second half of term and thinking that if they play to their best an historic season is on the cards.
Likewise KES Bath, who also head into the half term break unbeaten after winning an absolute thriller away at QEH 38-31, a stunning game of rugby and another example of KES’ ability to find a way to win in a variety of different games. There are big challenges to come after half term, but such is the momentum that they must be excited about that.
Clifton College have been one of the best couple of teams in the country this season and on Saturday they demonstrated that again with another excellent performance, this time travelling to Taunton School and securing an excellent 43-19 victory.
Also on song on Saturday were Bishop Wordsworth’s, who hosted a good Gordon’s side in a fantastic game of rugby, backing up a strong victory over Lord Wandsworth College to secure a 20-15 victory and a very solid week’s work.
Ten to Watch Results
Bishop Wordsworth’s 20-15 Gordon’s
Ellesmere College 48-5 Wirral Grammar
Eltham Festival – Eastbourne College Champions
John Fisher Festival – Old Swinford Hospital Champions – Live
Llandovery College 29-12 Christ College
QEH 31-38 KES Bath
St George’s Harpenden 36-18 The Perse (West Anglia Schools League)
St Joseph’s Festival – St Michael’s College Champions – Live
Taunton 19-43 Clifton College
Truro School 12-24 Plymouth College
Friday 18th October
Friday saw some cracking games of rugby, none more so than Bristol Grammar School’s tour to London to take on London Oratory. An epic unfolded, which could have gone either way, but it was the travelling side that did it, winning 29-28. Along the road Tiffin signed off for the break with a tidy 14-0 victory over Glyn.
Meanwhile in the Midlands, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School rounded off the first half of term with a good 22-12 victory over Queen Mary’s Grammar, who will be looking to bounce back in midweek.
Friday Results
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar 22-12 Queen Mary’s Grammar
London Oratory 28-29 Bristol Grammar
Tiffin 14-0 Glyn
Saturday 19th October
Saturday saw some real crackers, St Ambrose College won an epic at Lymm High 29-26, a game that was reflective of the ambition many played with this weekend. Further South there were other examples, The Oratory backing up their midweek derby victory with a second victory, an epic 29-24 effort at home to a strong Churcher’s College side.
Bishop’s Stortford High School meanwhile sprung a surprise in another thrilling game, beating a very good Richard Hale side 29-21. Over in Cambridge, The Leys were outstanding en route to a 57-5 victory over RGS Colchester, sending them into half term on a real high, meanwhile down in Kent Maidstone Grammar were excellent in a 31-17 victory over Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar.
Over in the South West, Sir Thomas Rich’s continued their excellent recent form with a brilliant 40-19 victory over The Crypt, while Clifton High won 31-17 at Westonbirt.
Up in Yorkshire, Hymers College were clinical as they sealed a strong 21-3 victory away at a good Pocklington side.
Saturday Results
Bishop’s Stortford High 29-21 Richard Hale
Lymm High 26-29 St Ambrose College
Maidstone Grammar 31-17 Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar
Pocklington 3-21 Hymers College
Sir Thomas Rich’s 40-19 The Crypt
The Leys 57-5 RGS Colchester
The Oratory 29-24 Churcher’s College
Westonbirt 17-31 Clifton High
Still to Come:
Ashville Harrogate v Ampleforth College
Cathedral School, Llandaff v RGS Worcester
St Anselm’s College v Altrincham Grammar
