It was the very final weekend of the season, and we saw some outstanding games of rugby across the board on this celebratory weekend.
Among the brilliance, a performance from Northampton School for Boys that was typical of their brilliance this year, sealing them a maiden Daily Mail Trophy title, and it could be a season that yet yields more, they have a Continental Tyres U18 Schools Cup semi final coming up, though their opponents, Campion, are also flying and had another outstanding performance this weekend.
Elsewhere it was a weekend about making memories and creating performances to be proud of, and all over the country that was exactly the case.
Ten to Watch
The final Ten to Watch of the season was a cracker, starting on Friday with some thrilling games of rugby. At the Cardiff Arms Park two legends of Welsh rugby met in one of the best games of the season, Christ College Brecon and Monmouth. It was a stunning game of rugby, both sides throwing everything at it as they displayed the very best of Welsh schools rugby. Christ College took it, but it was exactly the game everyone wanted – a game where both sides came off with a performance to be proud of, finishing up 29-27.
Things were similar in Birmingham, where KES Camp Hill and KES Five Ways went head to head in another game that had almost nothing to separate the two sides. Both can hold their heads high after it as Five Ways just edged it 15-14.
Up at Chester RUFC, Sandbach hosted Birkenhead in another awesome game. It was a theme of Friday’s games, sides putting in monumental efforts. Both did here, but it was Birkenhead that just edged it, finishing the term off in style for a 26-19 victory.
In London the Walton Thompson Cup was contested between Colfe’s and Bradford Grammar, this fantastic annual fixture that has become one of the standout moments of this period every year. It was again on Friday, a super competitive game and, ultimately, one of Bradford Grammar’s best performances of the season as they took a 20-12 victory.
On Saturday came the big ticket item of the weekend, Northampton School for Boys v Sir Thomas Rich’s, two of the best sides in the country this year. The Daily Mail Trophy was on the line for NSB, a bonus point victory would seal it, anything less would leave it with Sedbergh. For Tommies a hugely impressive 4th place was on the line. NSB were favourites, but Tommies are exceptional, there was a real sense that they could spring a shock. However NSB, with a number of players returning after missing that dramatic victory over Seaford College on Tuesday, found one of their very best displays of the season. Tommies threatened, absolutely, scoring in the process but, like so many others this season, there was little that they could do to halt this relentless NSB attack. NSB found full flow as they scorched away in the end for a 56-21 victory, sealing an historic Daily Mail Trophy title en route. Magical for them, plenty to be proud of for Tommies as well as they finish a very creditable 5th place. For NSB it is yet another signal of the fantastic work they have done in the last decade, but they will not be resting on their laurels, that Continental Tyres Schools Cup semi final looms large.
Their semi final opponents, Campion, were also in exceptional form on Saturday. Playing some excellent rugby en route to a brilliant 38-0 victory over Wimbledon College. Not the finish Wimbledon College wanted, but they can sit proud, Campion are one of the best sides in the country and they showed it once again. It has been a stunning season, and there is plenty yet to come.
Another of the country’s best, Kirkham Grammar School, who were up against NSB in the Cup quarters, were in action at Woodhouse Grove, another side that has been absolutely fantastic this season. Both sides played like it, in a fantastic game of rugby that saw both have some real moments of quality. It was Kirkham Grammar that came out on top though in a tight contest, finishing on a high for a 24-19 victory.
Also in Yorkshire came a superb performance from QEGS Wakefield, displaying their quality once again in this fantastic season against a good Grammar School at Leeds side, winning 29-5 to finish for the term on a supreme high.
The highest of high’s though came in the North East for RGS Newcastle. It has been a tough season for them, but on Saturday in an epic contest they had their moment of the season, facing Ampleforth College, who played well, and winning in the most of dramatic of circumstances – a late late penalty sealing a 31-29 victory. Heartbreak for Ampleforth, but a performance to be proud of, but ecstasy for RGS Newcastle, their biggest moment of the year in this final moment of the year.
Down in West London, a cracker at Ealing Trailfinders too as Hayes welcomed Hereford 6th form College. Both have been rising and rising in recent years and it this was a game that showed that off fantastically as they played some superb rugby. Hayes were just on the right side of it, winning a brilliant contest 34-24, but again, both sides leaving with plenty to be proud of.
Ten to Watch Results
Friday
Birkenhead 26-19 Sandbach
Bradford GS 20-12 Colfe’s
Christ College 29-27 Monmouth
KES Camp Hill 14-15 KES Five Ways
Saturday
Hayes 34-24 Hereford 6th form College – Ealing Trailfinders
Northampton School for Boys 56-21 Sir Thomas Rich’s
QEGS Wakefield 29-5 Grammar School at Leeds
RGS Newcastle 31-29 Ampleforth College
Wimbledon College 0-38 Campion
Woodhouse Grove 19-24 Kirkham GS
Friday 12th December
Friday saw a couple of other fixtures taking place as well, including a cracking game at Cobham RFC, where Claremont Fan Court and Dunottar played in an incredibly tight and tense game. Both sides gave it their all, but it was Claremont that just edged it, 19-12.
Over in Kent there was a special performance from Simon Langton Grammar School, who hosted Cranbrook. It was a stunning display from Simon Langton as they sealed a superb 67-17 victory.
Friday Results
Claremont Fan Court 19-12 Dunottar – Cobham RFC
Simon Langton GS 67-17 Cranbrook
Saturday 13th December
Saturday had some fantastic games of rugby and some brilliant performances. One of the best came in Kent as Ravens Wood put in a fantastic display to round out the term at Gravesend Grammar School, winning 27-0 for a finish to remember. Along the road, Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar put in one of their best performances of the season against a Maidstone Grammar School side that has been outstanding this year. The hosts won 21-7, a brilliant display.
In London Merchant Taylors’ had a fantastic outing as they hosted Aylesbury Grammar School in a tight and tense encounter. The hosts came out on top, a cracking effort in a 15-5 victory over a side that has played some great rugby this year
In the Midlands Solihull were outstanding en route to a 19-5 victory over a Princethorpe College side that has been in excellent form this year. It’s a great finish to the year for Solihull, who have had a season peppered with big moments, including that memorable day against Warwick.
Up in Lancashire it was a tight old contest as Scarisbrick Hall secured their place in the County Cup final as they just edged it against AKS Lytham, 10-3. A brilliant game of knockout rugby that could have gone either way, it was brilliant heart and spirit from Scarisbrick to find a way to victory.
Up in Scotland, Stewart’s Melville showed their class in a brilliant performance against Marr College, who got all the way to the Merchiston Festival final, remember. It was an awesome performance from Stewart’s Melville as they sealed a 45-12 victory. A finish to remember for them.
Saturday Results
Chislehurst & Sidcup GS 21-7 Maidstone GS
Gravesend GS 0-27 Ravens Wood
Merchant Taylors’ 15-5 Aylesbury GS
Scarisbrick Hall 10-3 AKS Lytham
Solihull 19-5 Princethorpe College
Stewart’s Melville 45-12 Marr College
Still to Come:
St George’s, Harpenden v Roundwood Park
The Grange v Liverpool College
