Natwest U18 Cup Schools Round-up – Fourth Round

With just three games remaining before the tournament reaches the national stage, the fourth round of this year’s Natwest U18 Schools Cup has seen Bedford Modern School, Abingdon School and St Peter’s RC High School score big, as well as a shock result for Ampleforth College in the North A division.

London & SE A

An extremely close fought match in London and South-East A saw King’s College School, of Wimbledon, travel to St Benedict’s School in Ealing, and they left victorious after winning by eight points to seven.

In a high scoring match, Skinners’ School triumphed over St Joseph Williamson’s Mathematical School, scoring 58 points and only conceding a single unconverted try.

Whitgift School continued their impressive run of form in the competition, defeating an in-form Hurstpierpoint College 24-19 away from home.

London & SE B

A thrilling encounter between Simon Langton Grammar School and The Judd School ended 46-22 in the Grammar School’s favour, seeing them through to the fifth round.

John Fisher School beat New Hall School on home soil, securing a 27-7 victory.

While in Croydon, Trinity School sealed off the perfect day for the home teams by sealing a 19-10 victory over The College of Richard Collyer.

South-west A

Lord Wandsworth College played host to Royal Grammar School High Wycombe, but the home side failed to rise to the occasion as they lost out by 40 points to 15.

However, as Aylesbury Grammar School travelled to Bishop Wordsworth’s School, they returned home having been defeated 29-5 by the home side.

After their high-scoring heroics in the third round, Portsmouth Grammar School found themselves straight through to round five as King’s College Taunton failed to raise a team.

South-west B

One of three matches in South-West B division saw St Peter’s RC High School travel to Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital School and keep them at bay for the entire match, securing a 36-0 victory.

A close game between King Edward VI’s School, from Southampton, and Dauntsey’s School ended with an 8-3 score line in Dauntsey’s favour, sending them through to round five.

And finally Exeter College hosted Weston College, and sealed a 24-13 victory at home.

Midlands A

Abingdon School put together the most impressive performance of the week, seeing off King Edward’s School by a whopping 55 points to nil in their fourth round encounter.

Bedford Modern School also scored big, beating Roundwood Park School 53-7, and they are now on course to face Abingdon in the final match of the division, should they beat their fifth round opponents.

An away win for Bromsgrove School sees them through as well, beating Solihull School 22-8 after making the journey north-east, and they will face in-form Abingdon in round five.

Bishop’s Stortford High School secured victory in the final fourth round match in the division, beating The Perse School by 27 points to 10, setting up a fifth round encounter with Bedford Modern School in the process.

Midlands B

Mixed fortunes in Worcester saw Royal Grammar School crash out of the competition after losing 27-7 to Warwick School, while The King’s School were victorious after securing a 36-18 win against Ellesmere College.

Langley School also secured their spot in round five, defeating Carre’s Grammar School 27 points to three away from home.

North A

Catching up from last week’s third round games, Ermysted’s Grammar School hosted St Peter’s School, of York, on Friday afternoon, but it was the away side who came away the victors having secured a 34-16 win.

A quick turnaround saw St Peter’s School go in to their fourth round match just five days later, taking on an in form Ampleforth College and upsetting the odds by sealing a win by 30 points to nil.

Lancaster Royal Grammar School were also playing catch up, and faced their third round opponents Stonyhurst College away from home on Saturday.

Having secured a 22-10 win, Lancaster then faced Austin Friars at home on Wednesday, but the away side failed to raise a team, sending Lancaster through to the fifth round.

Royal Grammar School Newcastle faced Durham School in this week’s final fixture in the North A division, and won 29-10 on home soil to set up a fifth round tie with St Peter’s School.

North B

A tight matchup between Mount St Mary’s College and Pocklington School made for a great game of rugby, with Pocklington finishing just one score away from levelling the game, as Mount St Mary’s went through to the next round, winning 15-12.

Meanwhile Woodhouse Grove School were runaway winners at Bolton School for Boys, winning by an impressive 34 points to seven.

All results are as stated on the official England Rugby website, and the full list can be found here: http://www.englandrugby.com/fixtures-and-results/competitions/natwest-schools-u18-cup/