It was a weather impacted weekend of schools rugby, but thanks to the great work of groundstaff across the country the expected sweeping cancellations did not come to pass, only a dozen or so games were lost.
Sadly among those was our LIVE game this weekend, Hereford Cathedral School v Hereford 6th form College in the Apple Cup, that game has now been moved to the 23rd January and will once again be live.
That was due to be on Friday, which was the most impacted day by the weather, but Saturday conditions had eased and yielded some incredible games of rugby – and a day that really shook up the perceived order.
Ten to Watch
That shake up was never more apparent than in our Ten to Watch, where Warwick School sprung a shock in beating one of the nation’s very best teams, Northampton School for Boys. It was an epic contest that highlighted just how unpredictable Warwick have been this year. On Saturday they were at their absolute best against an NSB side that had just come through a tough Cup victory over Bromsgrove. NSB gave it everything, but Warwick were inspired to just take a narrow 26-24 victory.
Strathallan had a day to remember as well, they will be going to Scottish Gas Murrayfield for the Scottish Cup Final after a brilliant 34-19 victory over the reigning champion, Stewart’s Melville. It’s a magnificent achievement from Strathallan, who had played some outstanding rugby over the course of this season. It also doubled up as a Scottish Schools and Clubs U18 Open League game, keeping them in touch with the top two, Merchiston and George Watson’s, at the top of the table.
Back in England, Woodhouse Grove earned revenge from the Cup defeat to QEGS Wakefield last week, playing their Yorkshire rivals at home this time and earning a fantastic 38-17 victory. A real show of heart from Woodhouse Grove, who are set to finish this term on a high.
Uppingham are flying right now as well, in midweek they have a Continental Tyres Schools Cup Regional Final against a rampant Campion side, but they arrive at that in peak form as they travelled to Rugby School and earned a 23-13 victory on Old Bigside, a venue that has been a tough one for them in recent years. Brilliant from Uppingham.
One of the best games in the Ten to Watch was Epsom College’s trip to Brighton College. Epsom arrived with a bang, 14-0 up in almost no time, but Brighton College worked their way back fantastically. Epsom’s impressive power has a big factor in them holding the lead though at 28-20, but in the final play of the game Brighton had their chance, only for excellent last-gasp defence from Epsom seeing them hold Brighton up and sealing that 28-20 victory. A magnificent game.
Cheltenham College are proving to be one of the very best teams in the country. Last week they defeated Millfield, but they travelled to a Sherborne side that has done so twice this year. A close game could have been predicted therefore and Sherborne played well, but Cheltenham College were simply outstanding, as they have been almost every time they have played this season, earning a 48-21 victory on the road.
Another fantastic game was one that saw a venue change thanks to the weather, Stonyhurst had been due to host King’s Macclesfield, but King’s Macc took over the hosting to keep the game on. Fresh from that victory over Denstone College last week they were feeling good, but so were Stonyhurst after a tight victory over Ampleforth College. It was another tight game of rugby, with both showing themselves well, but it was King’s Macclesfield that just had the edge, sealing victory 26-20.
In hugely impressive form were Mill Hill, who faced the Merchiston Festival champions, Finborough. Mill Hill were favourites, but Finborough were expected to pose a challenge, however Mill Hill were utterly inspired, earning a stunning 59-13 victory to rubber stamp just how good this Mill Hill side is.
Equally impressive were Kingswood, who hosted great rivals KES Bath. Unfortunately for the spectacle KES Bath were shorn of 6 of their most exciting players, which rather opened the door for Kingswood. It is a mark of Kingswood’s quality though that given that opening, they ruthlessly exploited it in a brilliant performance for a 55-0 victory.
One Ten to Watch fixture was sadly cancelled, Kirkham Grammar School v St Joseph’s College.
Ten to Watch Results:
Brighton College 20-28 Epsom College
Kingswood 55-0 KES Bath
King’s Macclesfield 26-20 Stonyhurst
Kirkham GS v St Joseph’s College – Cancelled
Mill Hill 59-13 Finborough
Rugby 13-23 Uppingham
Sherborne 21-48 Cheltenham College
Strathallan 34-19 Stewart’s Melville (Cup Semi Final)
Warwick 26-24 Northampton School for Boys
Woodhouse Grove 38-17 QEGS Wakefield
Friday 14th November
There was just the one game on Friday after the cancellations, but what a game it proved to be in Hertfordshire as St Albans and St George’s Harpenden put on a real show, challenging each other enormously in an incredibly tight game. Credit St George’s though, travelling to a tough place in St Albans and managing to edge the victory, 19-17.
Friday Results
St Albans 17-19 St George’s Harpenden
Saturday 15th November
There were some fantastic games and some brilliant performances on Saturday, and one of the most significant of all came in South East London where Dulwich College secured just their second victory of the season, significantly doing so against a major force in the form of Tonbridge. It was a tough game in tricky conditions, where scores were at a real premium, but Dulwich, hosting on Saturday, took it 10-5. A huge moment for them, allowing them now to look ahead to their final three game with a real sense of excitement.
Elsewhere in South East London there was an excellent display from Hurstpierpoint College at Trinity in Croydon as they sealed a brilliant 27-17 victory, again in tough conditions. Campion continue this relentless run of form too, they were at John Fisher and earned a 36-22 victory. Dartford Grammar meanwhile were excellent again, winning 25-5 over Gravesend Grammar, while Chislehurst & Sidcup were excellent in a 38-7 victory over Colfe’s.
Deeper into Kent, The Judd were outstanding, as they so often are, beating Langley Park 48-0, while Maidstone Grammar were perhaps even better, winning 68-5 against St Olave’s, Maidstone have been outstanding this season. Cranbrook were stunning away at King’s Rochester, winning 59-7, while there was a tight game for King’s Canterbury, winning 10-7 over Sir Joseph Williamson’s. Sevenoaks, meanwhile, had another good performance in a 14-0 victory over New Hall.
In Sussex, Seaford College welcomed Canford and were quite extraordinary, putting in one of their best displays of the season for a stunning 50-7 victory. Travelling from Sussex to Surrey were Eastbourne College, they were at Caterham at put in a brilliant performance for a 54-14 victory.
Elsewhere in Surrey, an outstanding display from RGS Guildford ended Skinners’ unbeaten season. It has been a brilliant run from Skinners’, but RGS’ magnificence was too much as the hosts sealed a 40-22 victory. Gordon’s were also victorious, winning a tight game with The Oratory, while up the A3 St John’s Leatherhead once again demonstrated their class in a tight victory over a St Benedict’s side that has been superb of late, 23-17.
Back in the South West of London, there was an epic game in Wimbledon as London Oratory scored in the final play of an epic game at Wimbledon College for a 36-31 victory, arguably the game of the day. Travelling out of Wmbledon were the outstanding KCS Wimbledon, who were again superb in a 57-7 victory at Tiffin. City of London Freemen’s were on the right side of the result in a tight one at home to Fulham Boys, 12-10, while Cardinal Vaughan won a close one away at Claremont Fan Court, 8-3.
Out in Berkshire, Bishop Wordsworth’s played excellently at Pangbourne College for a 34-17 victory. Travelling from Berkshire was a Wellington College XV, who were hosted by a Lord Wandsworth College side that was in determined mood as the hosts played brilliantly for a 40-17 victory.
Elsewhere in Hampshire, Churcher’s College enjoyed a tight 15-6 victory over Halliford, while Mount Kelly travelled to take on Ryde, winning 28-10. Christ’s Hospital were in inspired form at Embley, winning 47-15, a fantastic display.
Out in Dorset there was an epic as Dauntsey’s won 31-22 at Clayesmore, a fantastic game of rugby. Meanwhile Milton Abbey also saw victory, winning 22-10 at Sherborne against their 4th XV. Wiltshire, meanwhile was home to a strong display from Bromsgrove, who travelled to Marlborough College and secured a fantastic 27-17 victory on the road.
Out in Somerset, Millfield and Taunton once again put on a show. They had met in a classic at the start of the season, and it was another classic on Saturday as both side took us through their attacking repertoire. It was Millfield that always just had the edge though, winning 43-31 in a great game. Elsewhere, King’s Bruton won 10-5 at Monkton Combe, while travelling out of Somerset were Wellington School, who headed to Exeter School in Devon for one of the games of the weekend, edging a thriller 33-28, a wonderful game.
Back in Somerset, Wycliffe College won a tight one at Downside, 19-13, an excellent competitive fixture, while Bristol’s Collegiate were brilliant, as they have been to often this season, winning 26-7 at Prior Park College. Over in Bristol, QEH were truly outstanding. Putting in one of the performances of the weekend for a 59-0 victory over King’s Taunton.
Gloucestershire saw an excellent effort from The Crypt at Pate’s Grammar, winning 21-5. While, staying in the Cotswolds, Oxfordshire was home to some of the performances of the weekend, not least the outstanding Radley College earning a 50-19 home victory over Oundle, they are relentless. Their great local rivals Abingdon bounced back from derby defeat to Radley in some style, beating Eton College 22-14 in a strong display. Meanwhile in Henley Reigate Grammar were superb at Shiplake College, earning a 39-14 victory.
Back west in Oxfordshire to Banbury, Bloxham were magnificent, winning 48-22 against Bedford Modern, this Bloxham side is something special. Over in Rugby, Princethorpe College hosted Loughborough Grammar in a Continental Tyres Schools Vase regional semi final in Midlands A. It was a great contest, with the visitors taking it 19-14, Loughborough Grammar will now host Aylesbury Grammar in the regional final.
Aylesbury Grammar themselves were victorious on Saturday, travelling to take on KES Stratford and earning a 32-7 victory. Not too far away, Bablake were also on the road, facing KES Birmingham and securing an impressive 32-12 victory. Over in Worcestershire, King’s Gloucester were at Malvern College and put in a wonderful performance for a 29-12 victory.
Up the M6 is where most of the cancellation occurred, but Cheshire did see Cheadle Hulme play brilliantly for a 50-0 victory over Manchester Grammar.
Across in Yorkshire, Barnard Castle secured a hard earned victory in tough conditions to beat Scarborough College 34-5, they really are playing well. Pocklington were also on song, beating Bradford Grammar 22-0. A little further south, Worksop College were excellent too, winning 28-7 at home to Trent College. There was good news for Nottingham’s other side though as Nottingham High School travelled to Leicester Grammar an won a fantastic game of rugby 26-24.
Travelling South to Hertforshire, Haileybury are in such brilliant form at the moment and were so again on Saturday in a 31-14 victory over Reed’s, it has been a quietly impressive year from the side in maroon. Richard Hale were also typically impressive, travelling to Bishop’s Stortford College and winning in style, 48-0.
Deeper into East Anglia, Suffolk saw an excellent display from Ipswich, who defeated Felsted 33-15. In Felsted’s native Essex, Coopers’ Coborn won a fantastic game at home against RGS Colchester, 22-19. Meanwhile back in Suffolk Framlingham won a tight game at home to Royal Hospital School, 15-7, while St Joseph’s College were excellent at Culford, winning 32-0.
Norfolk saw two Cambridgeshire sides travel over, The Leys were at Norwich School and the two simply could not be separated in a tight and tense 14-14 draw. The Perse meanwhile travelled to Wymondham College, who were excellent in fantastic game of rugby, Wymondham just edging it 29-24.
Finally to Scotland, where Glenalmond College won a fantastic game at home to Fettes College, 38-29. There was a cracker in Dundee too, where Dundee High just held out Robert Gordon’s College 19-17. St Aloyisus’ College meanwhile played well for a 31-17 victory at St Columba’s. Performance of the day though was in the capital, where Edinburgh Academy were brilliant in a 50-0 victory over Linlithgow Academy.
Saturday Results
Abingdon 22-14 Eton College
Barnard Castle 34-5 Scarborough College
Bishop’s Stortford College 0-48 Richard Hale
Bloxham 48-22 Bedford Modern
Caterham 14-54 Eastbourne College
Cheadle Hulme 50-0 Manchester GS
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 38-7 Colfe’s
Churcher’s College 15-6 Halliford
City of London Freemen’s 12-10 Fulham Boys
Claremont Fan Court 3-8 Cardinal Vaughan
Clayesmore 22-31 Dauntsey’s
Coopers’ Coborn 22-19 RGS Colchester
Culford 0-32 St Joseph’s College
Dartford GS 25-5 Gravesend GS
Downside 13-19 Wycliffe College
Dulwich College 10-5 Tonbridge
Dundee HS 19-17 Robert Gordon’s College
Edinburgh Academy 50-0 Linlithgow Academy
Embley 15-47 Christ’s Hospital
Exeter School 28-33 Wellington School
Framlingham College 15-7 Royal Hospital
Glenalmond College 38-29 Fettes College
Gordon’s 19-10 The Oratory
Haileybury 31-14 Reed’s
Ipswich 33-15 Felsted
John Fisher 22-36 Campion
KES Birmingham 12-32 Bablake
KES Stratford 7-32 Aylesbury GS
King’s Canterbury 10-7 Sir Joseph Williamson’s
King’s Rochester 7-59 Cranbrook
Leicester GS 24-26 Nottingham HS
Lord Wandsworth College 40-17 Wellington College XV
Maidstone GS 68-5 St Olave’s GS
Malvern College 12-29 King’s Gloucester
Marlborough College 17-27 Bromsgrove
Millfield 43-31 Taunton
Monkton Combe 5-10 King’s Bruton
Norwich 14-14 The Leys
Pangbourne College 17-34 Bishop Wordsworth’s
Pate’s GS 5-21 The Crypt
Pocklington 22-0 Bradford GS
Princethorpe College 14-19 Loughborough GS
Prior Park College 7-26 Collegiate
QEH 59-0 King’s College, Taunton
Radley College 50-19 Oundle
RGS Guildford 40-22 Skinners’
Ryde 10-28 Mount Kelly
Seaford College 50-7 Canford
Sevenoaks 14-0 New Hall
Sherborne 4th XV 10-22 Milton Abbey
Shiplake College 14-39 Reigate GS
St Columba’s 17-31 St Aloysius’ College
St John’s Leatherhead 23-17 St Benedict’s
The Judd 48-0 Langley Park
Tiffin 7-57 KCS Wimbledon
Trinity 17-27 Hurstpierpoint College
Wimbledon College 31-36 London Oratory
Worksop College 28-7 Trent College
Wymondham College 29-24 The Perse
Still to Come:
Bolton v AKS Lytham
Clifton College v Blundell’s
Clifton HS v Bristol GS
Merchant Taylors’ v Liverpool College
Sandbach v St Anselm’s College
Sedbergh 2nd XV v Dame Allan’s
