There were not too many fixtures from which to pick a Top 5 this week, however there was an awful lot of quality to once again make it a challenging endeavour.
It was a Festival bonanza this weekend, with the St Joseph’s U18 and U15 Festivals and the Langley U15 Festival all live on NextGen Live – and available to watch on the NextGen Live YouTube Channel.
The Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend is an U18 award, therefore sides involved in those U15 were not considered – nevertheless a huge shoutout for Northampton School for Boys, who won the St Joseph’s Festival U15 title, and Bedford School, who won the Langley Festival. Both were truly exceptional.
Langley had an exceptional U18 performance as well, beating King’s Ely to reach the Bowl third round. The likes of Aylesbury Grammar, London Oratory, and Bristol Grammar all could have laid claim to a place in the Top 5.
Likewise Old Swinford Hospital, who were outstanding at home against KES Birmingham, as were KES Bath at home, digging deep to beat QEH.
Two Yorkshire sides thoroughly impressed away from home too, St Peter’s York on Friday night winning 28-14 at West Park Leeds against Prince Henry’s Grammar, while on Saturday Ampleforth College travelling to Bradford Grammar and took a 29-17 victory.
All were considered, but ultimately on five could make the Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend.
Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend | Week 7:
Ellesmere College
Following a brilliant season last year, Ellesmere College have been brilliant this year too. Building into Saturday’s game against Wirral Grammar they had lost just one, away at the excellent King’s Macclesfield in the Cup.
They were eager for victory to maintain momentum and make it five from six heading into the half term break, and they did just that with a fantastic 35-17 victory on the Wirral, earning a spot in this week’s Top 5.
Llandovery College
This weekend saw Llandovery College head to Christ College for one of global schools rugby’s greatest rivalries, and also one of the oldest fixtures in all of rugby – not just schools. Always an epic occasion, and the sort of game where the winner is always likely to be flirting with the Top 5.
It went from flirting to certainty though as Llandovery College put in an outstanding performance to sign off for half term in style, winning 45-19 at Christ College, a superb feat.
Richard Hale
Richard Hale have been very impressive for a couple of years now, and this season has been no different. Leading into Saturday’s game against Bishop’s Stortford High School, they had won six from seven and had been undefeated since early September.
They wanted to make that seven from eight to head into half term with that momentum still in tact, and they did so in real style, running in the scores in thrilling fashion for a 48-28 victory and a place in the Top 5.
St John’s, Leatherhead
The Eltham College Festival this weekend saw eight schools gather on Saturday for an intense day of action. St John’s arrived as one of the favourites, but the competition was rife. They faced Merchant Taylors’, Hayes, and Eltham College the hosts in the group stages and played stunningly well, winning all three and scoring an impressive 66 points, conceding just 5.
That set up a final against the winners of the other pool, Bedford, who have been so impressive of late, with successive victories over Dulwich College, KES Birmingham, and Warwick. St John’s got the job done, earning the silverware and a place in the Top 5 that is deserved not just for the weekend’s achievements, but also for an outstanding first half of term.
Wellington College
There is perhaps no greater challenge in schools rugby than winning the St Joseph’s Festival, it is such an intense two days of rugby that it tests everything, your quality, your ability under pressure, your depth, your resilience. It is an epic challenge, and an incredible weekend.
Wellington College showed perhaps more of all of those quality than any previous champion, sealing the title for the second time in their history after being heavily challenged in almost every game. They had to show so much character, including in the final where they came from behind to beat the tournament’s most successful side in history, Millfield. A sensational display from Wellington College, deservedly earning their place in the Top 5.
