Under-Fifteen's NatWest School's Cup and Vase: QF Round-Up
Wellington College helped seal a victory by 20 points to 3 at Dulwich College
©Stuart Wilson
Having played the quarter-finals across the country, eight under-fifteen sides are on their way to Allianz Park after securing semi-final spots in the NatWest Schools Cup and Vase.
The four winners will then make their way to Twickenham, battling it out for the two trophies on Wednesday the 16th of March.
Warwick School are on course to secure an under-eighteen and under-fifteen cup double, while Sir Thomas Rich’s School and Wellington College also sealed semi-final spots.
Under-Fifteens Cup
Rugby titans Millfield School ensured their spot in the semi-finals of the Cup with a convincing 19-6 victory over Woodhouse Grove, which was played at the Bath Rugby Academy ground.
The victors went in at half time with a narrow one-point lead, but kicked in to gear after the break with two second half tries, while a stout defence kept Woodhouse Grove at bay.
Whitgift School’s dream of the Cup double was ended by Sedbergh School, who came away from Croydon with a 34-17 win.
It was a dramatic day for Warwick School as they came away from Worcestershire victorious, having edged Bromsgrove School on the technicality of being the away side in a game that finished 12-12.
Despite trailing 12-0 in the second half, a resilient performance was capped with a last minute try from the Warwickshire side, bringing them level with just seconds remaining, and they remain on course for the Cup double.
Last but not least, an inspired performance from Wellington College helped seal a victory by 20 points to 3 at Dulwich College, as Headmaster Julian Thomas watched on from the sidelines.
Lucas Wilson had put Dulwich 3-0 ahead in the opening exchanges, before a long-range penalty from Will Sinfield bought the visitors level, at the break.
Second half tries from Jasper Johnson, Albert Dwan and Jamie Miller helped Wellington ease in to the semi-finals.
As with the under-eighteen semi-finals, the games will take place at Saracens’ Allianz Park, as Millfield go up against Sedbergh, and Warwick face Wellington, both on Sunday the 6th of March.
Under-Fifteens Cup
In the only tie that didn’t take place this week, Doctor Challoner’s Grammar School came away from Manchester Grammar School having secured a 28-10 victory on the 4th of February.
Two tries from Blake Morris and another from James Tunney were added to by the boot of fly-half Monty Weatherall, who kicked two conversions and three penalties to send his school to Allianz Park.
Meanwhile Bridgewater High School hosted Devonport High School in a West-Country quarter-final derby, which saw Bridgewater come away with a spot in the semi-finals.
Devonport had taken a 3-0 lead from the tee early on in the game, but a strong Bridgewater side proved too powerful for their Plymouth counterparts.
Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School completed a stunning come back to see off New Hall School on home soil, in one of the stand out games of the quarter-finals.
New Hall held a 15-point lead at the half time interval, before a resilient Bishop Vesey’s side pulled it back, winning it with a try inside the final 10 minutes of the game.
And finally, in a game played on Thursday afternoon, Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School lost out to Sir Thomas Rich’s School by a score of 19 points to 13, despite taking an early lead.
The Vase semi-finals will also be played at Allianz Park on Sunday the 6th of March, with Bridgewater playing Doctor Challoner’s Grammar School, and Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School taking on Sir Thomas Rich’s School.
