A busy weekend of fixtures made for another challenging decision on which sides should make the Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend.
All over the country sides impressed in their performances, and there were some seriously good games in amongst them. Indeed in this, the season of the draw, there were a couple of games where sides were inseparable, Woodhouse Grove and St Peter’s York drawing 14-14, Monmouth holding Millfield to a 35-35 draw, a result that almost got Monmouth into the Top 5.
As ever, there were some outstanding performances away from home, starting on Friday night with London Oratory’s defeat of UCS. Likewise their namesake’s on Saturday, The Oratory, at Pangbourne.
Also impressive away from home were the relentlessly good Maidstone Grammar, likewise Prior Park College while Ampleforth College had their best outing of the season, a result that would have put them in the Top 5 were it not for a rotated Dame Allan’s side due to Vase commitments in midweek. Nevertheless, it does not detract from the performance.
Bromsgrove were fantastic in a 28-0 victory at Oundle, while Bloxham continue to be a huge force, they won 27-17 at King’s Gloucester. Exeter School were sensational at West Buckland, while Gordon’s impressed at Royal Alexandra & Albert.
It was in the tight games where some of the best away performances came though, Bristol Grammar winning 29-28 at Dauntsey’s was outstanding, likewise Pocklington’s 27-26 victory at Hymers College, and Norwich’s derby victory at Gresham’s, 21-18, Bedford’s 24-20 victory at Haileybury.
A number of sides almost made the Top 5 in defeat, Hurstpierpoint College running Cranleigh close, 14-19, Marlborough College almost upsetting Cheltenham College, 21-24, and RGS Guildford coming within a disallowed try of an upset against Brighton College, 22-26.
Some of the season’s standout sides were in standout form on home turf, chief among the Wellington College, time was a result like theirs against Tonbridge was unthinkable. Mill Hill were outstanding in derby victory over St Albans, while Campion continue to make jaws drop, this time against Bedford Modern.
Radley College likewise, a terrific performance in our Ten to Watch against a dangerous Sherborne side, while Barnard Castle were brilliant against Bedford Modern. Skinners’ continue to be an utterly dominant force in Kent, while elsewhere in the South East Eltham College, Eastbourne College, St Joseph’s College, The Leys, and The Perse were all utterly brilliant.
Elsewhere, Oakham were outstanding against Stamford, while RGS High Wycombe, Stonar, St Ambose College and, on Friday night, Sir William Borlase’s, all deserve huge credit.
As do both Clifton College and Seaford College after a fantastic game in Bristol, likewise Teddies Oxford and Lord Wandsworth College, brilliant games of rugby.
Only five could make this list though, let us know who would have made yours!
Top 5 School Teams of the Weekend | Week 12:
Berkhamsted
Berkhamsted have been brilliant this year without quite getting their rewards in a big game, so there was a sense that they were due a result against a heavyweight opponent after a season of such promise.
What few probably expected was that it would come at Harrow on Saturday in an emotionally charged outing for the hosts as they celebrated outgoing legendary head of rugby James Melville. Yet that was exactly what Berkhamsted did, keeping focus to spoil the party an claim a fantastic 26-21 victory away from home.
Kingswood
Kingswood have been fantastic this season and in many ways a little bit under-appreciated. Heading into Saturday’s game with Sir Thomas Rich’s they had only been defeated twice, by Radley College and King’s Worcester, two brilliant sides.
The problem for them was that Tommies have only lost once, to the outstanding Clifton College, and had beaten King’s Worcester and, dramatically, local rivals Cheltenham College. So the visitors were favourites and yet Kingswood stepped up magnificently for a 29-19 victory, an outstanding effort from the Bath side.
Warwick
Heading into half time 6-0 down in the final home game of the season, the last home game for the Upper 6th, it would have been easy for Warwick to have their heads down against Rugby School. Instead they put in one of the best 35 minutes of their season, storming to a brilliant 36-6 victory over the founders of the game.
After a season of ups and downs for Warwick, it was the perfect way to sign off at home and they will head into the end of the season with huge confidence of another big performance.
Whitgift
Friday night’s Whitgift v Epsom College fixture was one of the most hotly anticipated of the weekend, two top class sides ready to go toe to toe. Only the elite had got the better of these two, Wellington, Sedbergh, and NSB for Whitgift, only Radley for Epsom, these are two top of the table sides.
So it proved in an epic game of rugby that was tight and tense throughout, creating a sense that whoever won would be in the Top 5. It proved to be Whitgift, 10-5, this fantastic side that is so often underrated because of their incredible fixture list. A top performance.
Wimbledon College
Pressure was on for Wimbledon College on Friday, an away tie in the last 16 of the Continental Tyres Schools Vase at Dr Challoner’s Grammar School, 2016 champions in this competition at U15 level, and a side that were unbeaten heading into this one.
Wimbledon College, in contrast, arrived following back to back defeats. So it was a big ask, but Wimbledon College pulled off one of their best performances of the season for a 33-14 victory on the road, sending them into the quarter finals with a performance to be proud of. Outstanding.
