Half-term continues to provide a momentary respite for many coaches and players across the school game. However, with the next stage of the XV’s season being hastily constructed in the interim, there are still several quilty fixtures taking place across the nation this weekend. Here is our weekend Preview!
On Sunday, there is a live-stream of the very highest calibre being brought to you, as always, by NextGenLive. Sedbergh take on Northampton School for Boys in one of the biggest games of the season. You can catch the full LIVE broadcast, including our pre- and post-match coverage, via the NextGenLive YouTube channel and through the embedded video below:
For now, though, read on to find out our ten to watch, as well as the other fixtures, few there may be, that have caught our eye across the Halloween Weekend.
Ten to Watch
Much like the early weeks of the season, there is a real Celtic flavour to this week’s selection, as the Scottish Conference continues to rumble on this season. At the same time, another challenger from the Emerald Isle has crossed the Irish Sea seeking an opportunity to take on one of England’s best.
Dollar Academy v Stewart’s Melville
A rematch between two Scottish Giants. Back in August, Strewart’s Melville came out on top between these two sides away from home, by a scoreline of 36-14. Since then, only a narrow defeat to George Watson’s College can blemish their record. Dollar will be up against it ahead of some huge fixtures against Strathallan and Sedbergh down the road, but if they can reverse the early-season result here, they will renew some confidence, having gone 2-5 across the campaign so far.
Fettes College v Loretto
Fettes College, another giant of the Scottish schools game, are not having the season they would hope for. A run of 4 defeats to start the season was brought to an end after beating Jordanhill in early October. Is this the start of a titanic turnaround for the Edinburgh side, or will Loretto, who hold a reverse record of only 1 defeat this season so far, represent too tough a task? Fettes are fast improving, but Loretto will be confident of claiming their 5th win in a row in this fixture.
Harrow v Clongowes Wood, Ire
A very exciting fixture which we at NextGen are devastated not to be covering live – 9 times Leinster Cup Winner Clongowes Wood College from County Kildare, are taking on the reigning Continental Tyres Cup champions Harrow. Clongowes have an alumni to rival the very best in Ireland; the likes of Tadhg Beirne, Gordon D’Arcy, Rob and David Kearney, and Dan Sheehan have all pulled on the famous purple shirt in recent years. Harrow have excelled more recently, but will hope to avoid the fate of top teams like Kirkham and Sedburgh, who were humbled by Irish opposition in the form of Terenure and Blackrock College a few weeks ago. Harrow have not been flawless this season, but big scorelines against the likes of Dulwich, Clifton College and Mill Hill will embue them with confidence – can they scrape one back in the Irish v English school-boy tally this season?
Marr College v Hutcheson’s GS
Marr College are back in action for the first time after a fantastic performance at the Merchiston Castle festival in early October, which included a draw with eventual winners Finborough, and knocking out the hosts Merchiston, inflicting upon them their only defeat of the season so far. They will therefore be confident against Hutcheson’s, who share a similar record to them across the regular season. This should be a very close game, but Marr’s recent experience against foes from down south might see them through.
Merchiston Castle v George Watson’s College
Hello Blockbuster. Merchiston Castle, at the Fortress, having only suffered defeat once this season, up against their old foes George Watson’s, who themselves had a perfect run until the latter’s aforementioned festival, where they significantly underperformed. It was an open secret, however, that many of GWC’s biggest hitters were watching from the sidelines during that tournament, and they are the Conference’s defending champions. Merchiston Festival aside, both teams’ records are exemplary, with Scottish internationals on either side; this is going to be a fantastic contest between two of Scotland’s most historic, but also this year’s very best.
Skinners’ v Dartford GS
A little mid-list rest from the Scottish Conference, as one of the best performing state sides in the country is back in action. Stretching all the way back to their summer tour to South Africa, Skinners are undefeated this campaign, taking down heavy hitters from the state sector such as John Fishers, Gordons and Ravens Wood. They crossed the 400-point barrier already in their last game. Dartford have a respectable 3-2 record this year, but have not taken to the field since this game was rearranged a month ago, and Skinners may well go marching on here.
The Judd v Maidstone GS
Another Kent clash of real magnitude as The Judd take on Maidstone Grammar School. It’s been a mixed season for the Judd, who have beaten the sides they expect to, but have just fallen short against slightly more established opponents like Hurstpierpoint and Tonbridge. Maidstone capped off their first half term with a win over Eltham, which will inspire some confidence, but the Judd are still the favourites, having yet to slip up when odds on to taste victory – they have one the last 9 meetings between these two sides stretching back to 2014.
Robert Gordon’s College v Edinburgh Academy
Back beyond the northern border for another Conference tie. Robert Gordon’s are having a good season, going 4-2 so far across their opening six games. Both of their defeats came at the hands of reigning campions Geroge Watson’, so they can be taken with a very heavy pinch of salt. The Aberdeen side will be favourites at home, with their dramatic win against Fettes College the previous result that separates the sides. It is a big occasion either way for two teams who have only met twice since 2011, with the score 1-1 at the moment between the two.
St Aloysius’ College v Glasgow Academy
rounded out our Scottish schedule, and our penultimate pick is an interesting game between two sides on the periphery of the Conference. Glasgow had a tough start to the campaign before getting their season started with a win over local rivals, the High School of Glasgow, whereas St Aloysius has endured a spotty schedule with plenty of postponements. This is, however, a game with lots of history. Since 2020, the sides have met 6 times. 3 wins for St Alysius’s, 2 for Glasgow and a draw last season – it should be a cracker.
Northampton School for Boys v Sedbergh – Live, Sunday the 2nd
Now, for the big one. The preview for this game is well worth a read, but in short, it’s the most talked about team in the country taking on perhaps the most elite performance programme in schoolboy rugby. These teams do not suffer weak fixtures; they rarely bother with local rivals and casual circuits – it’s only heavy hitters each time out. Northampton are still undefeated with only a draw with Millfield to tarnish their perfect record. Sedbergh have only been beaten by a dogged Kirkham and the might of Blackrock when they have had their full strength side out, often choosing to have multiple first-team fixtures on the same day, or weekend. We aren’t not foolish enough to try and call this one, but NSB at home are a terrifying prospect for even the most professional of outfits. You can check out the full preview here: NSB v Sedbergh – Preview.
Saturday 1st November
There are just a trio of other fixtures to talk you through on Saturday. The High School of Glasgow will look for a third win this season against St Columba’s, whose solitary win against the Glaswegian’s local rivals is their only this season. North Berwick High School are also in action against St Leonards, two sides who will be hoping to grab a rare win this season. In the build-up to Harrow’s big game on Saturday, their second team, still of a high quality, will face St Edward’s Oxford, keen to prove that they deserve a crack at the first XV, given their good season so far.
Saturday Fixtures
Glasgow HS v St Columba’s
North Berwick HS v St Leonards
St Edward’s, Oxford v Harrow 2 nd XV
