Following last weekend’s games and this midweek of fixtures, the season is now over for most, but for a few hardy sides there are still games this weekend.
Twenty-two in total, with another dozen in midweek, and among the 22 are some absolutely fantastic games between some of the very best sides in the country this year.
As with last week, for those pulling on the shirt for the final time these are special days, to be remembered forever. It is all about putting in a performance to be proud of, no matter the outcome – as we saw from Seaford College in their narrow defeat to NSB in midweek.
On both Friday and Saturday occasions will be made of these games to make them even more memorable, it is going to be a fantastic weekend of schools rugby.
Ten to Watch
Despite the limited number of fixtures the Ten to Watch is still absolutely packed with fantastic fixtures and even better occasions for these final run outs, including a number of pro stadiums being in use.
Friday
Birkenhead v Sandbach
Chester RUFC plays host to Birkenhead School from the Wirral against Sandbach from Cheshire, and it should be a spectacular afternoon. It will be memorable from top to bottom at both schools, with the U12s acting as curtain raisers for the 1st XV game. Both 1st XVs arrive in good form with some excellent recent performances, but Saturday is going to see form go out of the window, it is all about going out with a performance to be proud of.
Bradford GS v Colfe’s
The annual Walton Thompson Cup takes place at Charlton Park RFC in South East London of Friday evening, this superb recurring fixture between Colfe’s, of the area, and Bradford Grammar from Yorkshire. Colfe’s have won the past couple of these, that always take place in this last weekend of the season, prior to that were a spate of weather and covid enforced cancellations. Prior to Covid, this had been dominated by Bradford Grammar. The two look pretty well matched this year, Colfe’s have maybe had the slightly stronger season but Bradford Grammar have faced some tough sides, it should be fascinating.
Christ College v Monmouth
There are not many more historic places to play rugby that the Cardiff Arms Park, and there aren’t many more historic rugby schools playing the game than Christ College Brecon and Monmouth. Two of Wales’ greats, going head to head in a final game of the term at the Arms Park. It doesn’t get much better than that. On tough circuits, both have been tidy this year, Monmouth’s draw with Millfield was a sign of their quality, likewise a tight victory over Llandovery College and running the superb Sir Thomas Rich’s so close in the Cup. Christ College meanwhile have been competing in the ferocious Welsh Schools and Colleges League, but have also faced and beat RGS Worcester, Malvern College, and Eton College, while running Clifton College close. It should be a brilliant occasion and a cracking game.
KES Camp Hill v KES Five Ways
A Birmingham derby to round things off for KES Five Ways, meanwhile it’s a penultimate game for KES Camp Hill, and it should be a fantastic one. Camp Hill have had a decent season and arrive in good form after back to back victories, meanwhile Five Ways, who have generally been playing on Wednesdays, will be frustrated to have last week’s game cancelled after losing the week before. However prior to that they too had back to back victories. Expect an excellent encounter, more importantly a brilliant occasion and a memorable send off.
Saturday
Hayes v Hereford 6th form College – Ealing Trailfinders
On Saturday Ealing Trailfinders plays host to this one as Hayes, from South East London take on Hereford 6thform College, from Herefordshire on the west of the country. These two are both fascinating tales, in recent years their rugby has skyrocketed, making them both a real force. Hayes have had a tough year this year, an increasingly challenging fixture list will do that, but they are going to be ready for this one without doubt. Their opponents, meanwhile, arrive on the back of three victories on the spin, albeit spread over more than a month due to a couple of cancellations. It will be a raucous atmosphere and a brilliant occasion.
Northampton School for Boys v Sir Thomas Rich’s
If you are looking for the game of the weekend, you just found it. Two of the very best in the country, and two state schools too – an incredible achievement. A bonus point win for NSB will seal the Daily Mail Trophy and given their performances this season, where they have only lost twice and they mounted an epic comeback against Seaford on Tuesday with half their side missing, you might be tempted to back them to do it. That would be to ignore Sir Thomas Rich’s, whose season has been epic. They missed out on joining NSB in the Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi finals only due to a last play penalty from Whitgift, one of just three defeats all season, Kingswood and Clifton College being the others. They are astonishingly good too. It is a heavyweight clash, one of the games of the season, and one with so much riding on it. Subscribers to www.nsbsport.tv can watch this one live!
QEGS Wakefield v Grammar School at Leeds
A massive Yorkshire derby to finish things off for these two, and what an occasion it should be. QEGS have been brilliant this season, they only missed out on a Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi final by a whisker at Campion, only their third defeat of the season, it has been another superb one from the Yorkshire giants. These two met back in October, a tough outing for GSAL as they faced QEGS at their very best, they are stronger than that though and, as we have seen already this season, that sense of wanting to get your own back can be very powerful, expect a big performance from them.
RGS Newcastle v Ampleforth College
It has been such a frustrating term for RGS Newcastle, but they are going to be so fired up for this game. Their final game of the term and they will be itching to secure a first victory in it. They have the quality, as short-form victories over Durham and Sherborne at the Merchiston Festival proved, they just need to piece it together over 70 minutes. Ampleforth have had some highs and lows this campaign, and would love to finish it off in style on Saturday away from home. It should be a fantastic game, these two met in the Cup in September and it was a classic, Ampleforth just edging it 36-33. Something similar and it really will be a final game to remember.
Wimbledon College v Campion
Wimbledon College certainly cannot be accused of giving themselves an easy final fixture of the season, they host one of the best sides in the country, Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi finalists, Campion. Wimbledon College have had a decent season, an even win/loss record and they arrive on the back of a victory, having also achieved a quarter final in the Schools Vase. This will arguably be their toughest game of the campaign though, at least since September, Campion have been utterly sensational. They are undefeated since September, even then an epic at Ipswich, since then they have been utterly unstoppable, they are going to want to keep that momentum flying as they build towards that Cup semi final.
Woodhouse Grove v Kirkham GS
Another absolute cracker of a game on which to finish for these two! Only Barnard Castle, Oakham, and QEGS have been Woodhouse Grove this season and they got their own back on QEGS later, last week they showed their quality in a brilliant 36-10 defeat of King’s Macclesfield. If Kirkham are at their best though, they will be the best side Woodhouse Grove have faced this year, the hosts will need to be sharp. Kirkham are going to be fired up, having beaten Sedbergh and only lost to Clifton and Ireland’s Terenure College they were flying, but back to back defeats heading into this will have stung albeit an epic Cup quarter final at NSB followed by a game a few days later against a strong Denstone side. They will want to end the term back on top though, and that is going to make for an epic encounter.
Friday 12th December
Alongside the fixtures mention in the Ten to Watch, Friday has a couple of other excellent fixtures, not least at Cobham RFC in Surrey, where Claremont Fan Court and Dunottar go head to head. Everything points towards a fantastic game and brilliant occasion, one that should stick with these players for years.
Over in Kent a fantastic derby between a Simon Langton Grammar side that has been playing some very nice rugby and Cranbrook, who are going to be incredibly excited for this one. The final outing for both and both will be giving this one absolutely everything.
Friday Fixtures
Claremont Fan Court v Dunottar – Cobham RFC
Simon Langton GS v Cranbrook
Saturday 13th December
On Saturday there are plenty of exciting fixtures. In Kent Maidstone Grammar play their penultimate game, they have been absolutely superb this year but on Saturday they will have to be at their sharpest away at a very challenging Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar side, for whom it is the final game. Along the road Gravesend Grammar welcome Ravens Wood, two sides that have put in some outstanding performances this season, it’s the last of the season for Ravens Wood, while for Gravesend a challenging trip to Campion awaits.
In London, Merchant Taylors’ welcome Aylesbury Grammar after their thrilling draw with namesakes Merchant Taylors’ Crosby last week. Aylesbury are in great form after a fantastic season where they have impressed at every turn. It should be a fantastic final game of term for both. Meanwhile in Hertfordshire, St George’s Harpenden host Roundwood Park in what ought to be a superb end of season send off for both sides.
In the Midlands, Solihull are at home in their final game of term a campaign full of highs and lows but they will want to end on a real high. They will need to be at their best though, visitors Princethorpe College have had a really competitive campaign and will certainly challenge. It should be a great game.
In Cheshire The Grange host Liverpool College, both sides will head into this feeling that there is a real chance of finishing the season on a really positive note. It should make for a compelling game, most importantly for a game and potential performance that both sides will rightly be able to feel proud off. Over on Merseyside Merchant Taylors’, fresh from that aforementioned draw against their namesakes, host Bolton School in a very similar game where both will fancy their chances and should make for another compelling contest on Saturday.
Lancashire, meanwhile, has a fascinating game too as Scarisbrick Hall welcome AKS Lytham in a game that doubles up as a County Cup semi final as well. Both have had pretty similar seasons too, so it should be a great contest on Saturday as both chase a spot in that county cup final.
Up in Scotland, a couple of games to round things off. Sadly the Scottish Cup finals were postponed due to storms, so the big end of season finale there will have to wait, but there are a pair of excellent games on Saturday. Last year’s Cup champions Stewart’s Melville are at home against Marr College, who impressed so much at the Merchiston Festival, that should be a great game. Meanwhile Linlithgow Academy have a huge game to finish off on, hosting a High School of Dundee side that has had a really strong season this term.
Saturday Fixtures
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS v Maidstone GS
Gravesend GS v Ravens Wood
Linlithgow Academy v Dundee HS
Merchant Taylors’ v Aylesbury GS
Merchant Taylors’ v Bolton
Scarisbrick Hall v AKS Lytham
Solihull v Princethorpe College
St George’s, Harpenden v Roundwood Park
Stewart’s Melville v Marr College
The Grange v Liverpool College
