|
September 1, 2006
To run out at Twickenham is a dream for every rugby union player and each year, courtesy of the Daily Mail Schools Cup, that dream becomes a reality for over 160 schoolboys.
The Daily Mail competition is split into four parts - Under 18 and Under 15 Cups, Under 18 and Under 15 Plates - and the finals of those competitions will combine at the end of March to create a massive festival of school rugby at the game’s most famous venue.
This season’s competition, which starts in the next few weeks, has generated another record entry, with almost 1,000 schools taking part - 443 in the Under 18s and 544 in the Under 15s - and preliminary rounds needed in the Under 15 sections in the Midlands, South West and London to cope with the extra numbers.
And while the chance for every school to reach the hallowed turf is a powerful incentive for the teams taking part, for the majority, simply being involved provides great stimulation and excitement.
Nothing energises an entire school more than success on the sports field by a team or an individual, especially when that success captures media attention and headlines.
That is certainly true of the Daily Mail Cup competitions and any teacher who has been in charge of a team making significant headway in the competitions will confirm what a spring that corporated association with a successful cup run puts in the collective step of the entire school.
Last season the ultimate delight was experienced by St Peter’s SFC, Gloucester, who beat Durham School 26-17 in the Under 18 final; Bedford School, who upset the form book to beat QEGS Wakefield 16-3 in the Under 15 final; Lymm High School, 27-8 winners over London Leisure College in the Under 18 Vase final; and Langley Park Boys’ School, who were 27-12 winners against John Cleveland College in the Under 15 Vase.
They will all be particularly keen to defend their titles, as other schools have despite the increasingly huge field each year.
Colston’s Collegiate from Bristol, of course, produced a period of sustained excellence when they won the Under 18 Cup on six successive occasions from 1995/2000, while Bradford Grammar set the early standard when they won in 1992 and 1993. Oakham are the most recent school to defend the Under 18 Cup successfully in 2002/3.
RGS High Wycombe have always been a force in both sections and they had a run of three years from 1996/98 when they took the Under 15 Cup, Wellington College following up with a brace of victories in 1999/2000.
And with all those happy memories, interspersed with heartbreaking disappointments for those who perished at the semi-final stages, still fresh for all those who have tasted the pleasure of a good cup run, another campaign begins.
Once again it will create heroes across the country, not simply this season, but in all likelihood, in years to come as individuals from the current crop emerge as the England senior players of tomorrow.
The Daily Mail Cup competitions appear in the CVs of a number of England players and there is no doubt that some of tomorrow’s international heroes will be taking their first steps down the Twickenham path in the coming weeks.
Daily Mail Schools Under 18 Cup, Round One
North: Keswick School v Cockermouth School, Netherhall School v St Bees School, Trinity School Carlisle v Whitehaven School, Dame Allan's School v Egglescliffe School, Emmanuel College v Haydon Bridge HS, King Edward VI Morpeth v MacMillan Academy, Kings School Tynemouth v Ponteland Community HS, Whitley Bay HS v Whickham School, Northallerton College v Carmel RC Tech Coll, QE 6th Form College v East Durham & Houghall College, Yarm School v St Bedes Catholic School, Richmond School v Ashville College, Hull Collegiate School v South Hunsley School, King James Knaresborough v Scarborough College, Driffield School v Ripon GS, Ermysteds GS v Harrogate GS, Queen Ethelburga's College v St Peters York, Tadcaster GS v Guiseley School, Roundhay School v Wetherby HS, Bingley GS v Benton Park School, Horsforth School v Rishworth School, St Mary's RC School Menston v Bridgewater HS, Ruthin School v Kings School, Wrexham, Bishop Heber, Malpas v Rydal Penrhos School, Wirral GS v St Anselms College, Sandbach School v Birkenhead School, Sir John Deanes SFC v St Nicholas Catholic HS, Altrincham Boys GS v Wilmslow HS, Cheadle Hulme School v Stockport GS, Birkdale School v Calday Grange GS, Cowley Language College v Ormskirk School, St Edwards College v Liverpool College, St Margarets C of E HS v St John Rigby College, Hall Cross School v South Craven School, Bolton School v Holy Cross College, Sale Grammar School v Manchester GS, Myerscough College v Rossall School, KE VII & Queen Mary School v Lytham St Annes Tech College, Runshaw College v Arnold School, Clitheroe RGS v Hutton GS, Crossley Heath School v Giggleswick School, Ullswater Comm College v QE School, Kirkby Lonsdale.
South West: Kerrier Sixth Form College v Truro School, Bodmin Comm College v Truro College, Churchston Ferrers GS v Torquay Boys GS, Exmouth Comm College v Kingsbridge Comm College, John Kitto Comm College v Plymouth College, Kelly College v Exeter College, Ilfracombe College v North Devon College, Saltash Comm School v Queen Elizabeth’s Comm College, South Dartmoor Comm College v Paignton Comm & Sports College, Okehampton College v Cornwall College, Gillingham School v Poole Grammar School, Corfe Hills School v Bournemouth School, St Peters, Bournemouth v Downside School, Milton Abbey School v Purbeck School, St John's Sch, Marlborough v Thomas Hardye School, West Somerset Comm College v Dauntseys School, Richard Huish College v Yeovil College, Norton Hill School v St Laurence School, Weston College v Filton College, Gordano School v St Brendans SFC, Churchill Comm School v Castle School, Thornbury, Ridings School v Chew Valley School, Chosen Hill School v Churchdown School, Beaufort Comm School v Crypt School, Beechen Cliff School v Newent Comm School, Wyedean School v Wycliffe College, Sir Thomas Rich's School v Farmors School, Katherine Lady Berkeley School v Tewkesbury School, Rednock School v Cirencester College, Marling School v Cheltenham Bournside School, Cleeve School v Chipping Campden School, Park House School v Queen Mary's, Basingstoke, Windsor Boys School v Desborough School, Charters School v Claires Court School, Forest School v Bulmershe School, Kennet School, Thatcham v St Crispin's School, Leighton Park School v Reading School, St Bartholomews School v Reading Blue Coat School, Bearwood College v Easthampstead Park School, Sir William Borlase's GS v John Hampden GS, Shiplake College v Henley College, Dr Challoner's GS v Chesham HS, Chalfonts Comm College v Burnham GS, Sir Henry Floyd GS v Royal Latin School, Waddesdon C of E School v St Paul’ Catholic School, Lord William's School, Thame v Marlborough School, Matthew Arnold School v Magdalen College, Wood Green School v Henry Box School, King Alfred's C&S College v Gosford Hill School, Akeley Wood School v Kingham Hill School.
Midlands: Lincoln Minster School v The Priory LSST, Brunts School v Manor School, Mansfield, Magnus C of E, Newark v De Aston School, Worksop College v Glossopdale Comm College, Carlton Le Willows School v Queen Elizabeth, Ashbourne, Stafford Collegiate v St Joseph’ College, Cheslyn Hay School v King Edward VI, Lichfield, Friary School, Lichfield v Newcastle-under-Lyme School, Fairfax School v KES, Aston, KES, Camp Hill v Solihull 6th Form College, Chase School, Malvern v Evesham High School, Haybridge HS v Prince Henry's HS, Evesham, Hereford Cathedral School v Hereford 6th Form College, Worcester 6th Form College v Pershore High School, King Henry VIII, Coventry v Woodlands School, Kenilworth School v King Edward VI, Nuneaton, Lawrence Sheriff School v Princethorpe College, Bablake School v Coundon Court School, Beauchamp College v King Edward VII, Melton Mowbray, Welbeck Defence SFC v Loughborough GS, Lutterworth GS v Prince William Sch, Oundle, Robert Smyth School v Leicester GS, Wreake Valley Comm Coll v Wyggeston & QE I College, Brooke Weston CTC v Bishop Stopford School, Campion School, Northants v Guilsborough School, Biddenham Upper School v Moulton College, Queensbury Upper School v Redbourne Upper School, Sharnbrook Upper School v Stratton Upper School, Cedars Upper School v Vandyke Upper School, Richard Hale School v Simon Balle School, Leventhorpe School v St Ivo School.
London & SE: Strodes College v King's College, Wimbledon, Godalming College v Howard of Effingham, RGS Guildford v Gordon's School, Woking, Reeds School, Cobham v London Oratory School, St Paul’s School, Barnes v Esher College, Glyn School, Epsom v Wimbledon College, Reigate Grammar School v St Bedes School, Redhill, Richmond upon Thames College v John Fisher School, Coombe Sixth Form College v Tiffin School, Claremont Fan Court School v Whitgift School, Caterham School v Trinity School, Croydon, Colfe's School v Langley Park School for Boys, Wilmington GS for Boys v London Leisure College, Borden GS v Gravesend GS, Dartford GS v Chislehurst & Sidcup GS, Sir Joseph Williamson's School v King's School, Rochester, Beths Grammar School v Charles Darwin School, St Olaves GS v St Dunstans College, Collyer's College v Christ's Hospital, Hove Park School v Brighton College, Sussex Downs College v Worth School, Imberhorne School v St Bede’s School, Upper Dicker v Beacon Comm College v Sackville School, Darrick Wood School v Ravens Wood School, Hayes School, Bromley v Eltham College, Bethany School v Astor of Hever Comm School, Cranbrook School v Judd School, Oakwood Park GS v Maidstone GS, Skinners School v Sevenoaks School, Simon Langton GS for Boys v Chatham House GS, Dover Grammar School v Sir Roger Manwood’s School, Norton Knatchbull School v Harvey Grammar School, Chichester HS for Boys v Bognor Regis Comm College, Barton Peveril College v Brockenhurst College, Portsmouth Grammar School v Hampshire Collegiate School, King Edward VI, Southampton v Oaklands SFC, Waterlooville, Lord Wandsworth College v Alton College, All Hallows School v Farnborough SFC, St Georges College, Weybridge v Isleworth & Syon School, Cardinal Vaughan Mem School v St Charles Catholic SFC, Enfield Grammar School v St Benedicts School, Ealing, Finchley Catholic School v Mount Grace School, Hampton School v Haberdashers Askes School, Latymer School, Edmonton v Parmiter's School, Vyners School v Latymer Upper School, St Ignatius College v Monks Walk School, Verulam School v Beaumont School, Sandringham School v St George's, Harpenden, Broxbourne School v Fearnhill School, Anglo European School v Campion School, Hornchurch, Colchester SFC v Thomas Mills High School, Coopers Co & Coborn School v William de Ferrers School, Davenant Foundation School v King Edward VI, Chelmsford, Knights Templar School v Palmers College, SEEVIC College v St Mary's Catholic School, Robert Clack School v Westcliff High School for Boys, Bungay High School v Ipswich School, Hills Road VI Form College v Long Road Sixth Form College, Birchwood High School v Bishop Stortford High School, West Suffolk College v Saffron Walden County HS, Perse School v King's School, Ely, Wymondham College v Norwich School, East Norfolk SFC v Fakenham School, Langley School, Norwich v Gresham's School.
Daily Mail Under 15 Cup, Round One
North: Austin Friars St Monicas School v Cockermouth School, Netherhall School v Ullswater Community College, Stainburn School v St Bees School, Whitehaven School v Trinity School, Carlisle, Keswick School v Kirkbie Kendal, Haydon Bridge High School v King Edward VI, Morpeth, QEHS, Hexham v RGS, Newcastle, St Cuthberts High School v Ponteland Community HS, Whitley Bay High School v Whickham School & Sports College, Emmanuel College v Egglescliffe School, Kenton School v Dame Allan's School, Yarm School v Durham School, Castle View School v St Bede’s, Lanchester, Bedale High School v Brierton Community College, Ripon Grammar School v Macmillan Academy, Richmond School v Northallerton College, Scarborough College v George Pinder College, Tadcaster Grammar School v Hymers College, Driffield School v South Hunsley School, Sherburn High School v Woodhouse Grove School, Rishworth School v St Mary's RC School, Menston, Mirfield Free Grammar School v Hipperholme & Lightcliffe HS, Crossley Heath School v Ermysted's Grammar School, South Craven School v Giggleswick School, Pudsey Grangefield School v Roundhay School, Horsforth School v Guiseley School, Allerton Grange School v Leeds Grammar School, Settle College v Prince Henry's GS, Otley, St Peters, York v Wetherby High School, Easingwold School v Carmel RC College, Darlington, King James, Knaresborough v Ampleforth College, Ashville College v Harrogate Grammar School, Queen Elizabeth, Kirkby Lonsdale v Ripley St Thomas, RGS Lancaster v KE VII & QM, Lytham, Lytham St Annes Tech College v Arnold School, Stonyhurst College v Kirkham Grammar School, Hutton Grammar School v Rossall School, Cowley Language College v Bridgewater High School, Ormskirk School v Merchant Taylors' School, Ballakermeen High School v King Williams College, IOM, St Edwards College, Liverpool v St Margarets C of E High School, St Mary's College, Crosby v Liverpool College, Wade Deacon High School v Calday Grange Grammar School, Weaverham High School v St Nicholas Catholic High School, Grange School v Hartford High School, Birkenhead School v St Anselm’s College, Rydal Penrhos School v Wirral Grammar School, Holmes Chapel Comp School v Sandbach School, Lymm High School v Altrincham Boys Grammar School, West Hill School v Bishop Heber School, Bramhall High School v Sale Grammar School, Marple Hall School v Stockport Grammar School, St Ambrose College v St Bede’s College, Wilmslow High School v Audenshaw School, Bolton School v Manchester Grammar School, Glossopdale Comm College v King's School, Macclesfield, Bingley Grammar School v Bradford Grammar School, King's School, Pontefract v Whitcliffe Mount School, Wickersley School v Hall Cross School, Birkdale School v QEGS, Wakefield, Mount St Mary's College v Worksop College, Nottingham High School v Carlton Le Willows School, Brunts School v Magnus C of E School, Lady Manners School v QEGS, Ashbourne.
Midlands: Church Stretton School v Corbet School, Adams Grammar School v Ellesmere College, Ludlow C of E School v Wrekin College, Blessed William Howard School v Weston Road High School, Trentham High School v St Joseph's College, Stoke, Newcastle-under-Lyme School v Friary School, Lichfield, King Edward VI, Lichfield v Shelfield Sports & Comm College, Queen Mary's Grammar School v King Edward VI, Aston, KES, Birmingham v Bishop Challoner School, Bishop Vesey's Grammar School v Great Barr School, Tudor Grange School v KES, Bartley Green, Fairfax School v Solihull School, Haybridge High School v Arden School, Old Swinford Hospital School v Stourport High School, King Edward VI, Stratford v Woodlands School, Kenilworth School v Bablake School, Warwick School v King Edward VI, Camp Hill, Lawrence Sheriff School v Princethorpe College, Coundon Court School v King Henry VIII, Coventry, Avon Valley School v South Bromsgrove School, Chase School, Malvern v Malvern College, Prince Henry's HS, Evesham v Bromsgrove School, Evesham High School v King's School, Worcester, Whitecross Hereford HS v Aylestone School, Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat Sch v Hereford Cathedral School, Monmouth School v John Kyrle High School, St Birinus School v Abingdon School, Kingham Hill / Chipping Norton Sch v Cokethorpe / Wood Green School, Icknield Community College v Gillotts School, Magdalen College School v Shiplake College, Burford School v Gosford Hill School, Rawlett CS College v Walton High School, Paulet High School v Derby Grammar School, Priory LSST v De Aston School, Lincoln Minster School v Yarborough School, Loughborough Grammar School v Rugby School, John Cleveland College v De Lisle Catholic Science College, Wreake Valley Community College v Leicester Grammar School, Beauchamp College v Lancaster School, Kings School, Grantham v King Edward VII, Melton Mowbray, Robert Smyth School v Uppingham Community College, Bilton School v Lutterworth Grammar School, Bishop Stopford School v Oakham School, Wellingborough School v Brooke Weston CTC, Campion School, Bugbrooke v Guilsborough School, Northampton School for Boys v Northamptonshire Grammar School, Spalding Grammar School v Stamford School, King's School, Peterborough v Prince William School, Oundle, St Ivo School v Longsands College, Hinchingbrooke School v King Edward VII, Kings Lynn, Redbourne Upper School v Stratton Upper School, Sandy Upper School v Lealands High School, Icknield High School v Cedars Upper School, Sharnbrook Upper School v Cardinal Newman RC School, Biddenham Upper / Vandyke Upper v Bedford School, Birchwood HS / Leventhorpe Sch v Bishop's Stortford High School, Richard Hale School v Queensbury Upper / Simon Balle, Thomas Alleyne School v Knights Templar School, Fearnhill School v Hitchin Boys School, Queen Elizabeth’s, Barnet v Mount Grace School, St Edmund's College, Ware v Parmiter's School, St Columbas College v Verulam School / Roundwood Park, St George's, Harpenden v Beaumont School.
South West: Camborne Science & Comm Coll v Newquay Tretherras School, St Ives School / Penair School v Truro School, Bodmin Community College v Redruth School, Callington Community College v Saltashinet Community School, Colyton Grammar School v Braunton School, Brixham College v Kingsbridge Community College, Exeter School v Exmouth Community College, Ilfracombe College v Pilton Community College, St Peter’s School, Exeter v West Exe Technology College, Devonport High School v Plymouth College, Ridgeway School v Kelly College, Great Torrington School v Uffculme School, Churston Ferrers Grammar School v South Dartmoor Community College, Torquay Boys Grammar School v Teignmouth Community College, Paignton C & S College v Queen Elizabeth CC, Crediton, Ivybridge Community College v Wellington School, Beechen Cliff School v Downside School, Haygrove School v Millfield School, Norton Hill School v Monkton Coombe School, Heathfield Community School v Castle School, Taunton, Churchill Community School v Clevedon School, Priory Community School v West Somerset Comm College, St Lawrence School v Milton Abbey School, Woodroffe School v Canford School, Gryphon School v Poole Grammar School, Bournemouth School v Bishop Wordsworth's School, Arnewood School, New Milton v Wyvern College, Gillingham School v Sherbourne School, Corfe Hills School v Thomas Hardye School, St John's School, Marlborough v Sheldon School, Hardenhuish School v Marlborough College, Dauntseys School v Corsham School, Park House School v Theale Green School, St Bartholomew’s School v Leighton Park School, Reading, St Crispins / Bulmershe School v Charters School / Pangbourne Coll, Bearwood Coll / Reading School v Wellington College, Waingels Coll/Easthamstead Park v Reading Bluecoat School, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic v Forest School, Kennett School v Windsor Boys School, Burnham Grammar School v Claires Court School, Furze Platt School v Sir William Borlase GS, John Hampden /Desborough Sch v RGS High Wycombe, Dr Challoner's GS / Watford GS v Chalfonts CC / Rickmansworth Sch, Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School v Lord Williams School, Thame, Royal Latin School v Berkhamsted Collegiate School, Chesham HS v Stowe School, Waddesdon C of E School v Tring School, St Pauls, Milton Keynes / Akeleywood Sch v Aylesbury Grammar School, Brockworth School / Chosen Hill v Churchdown School, Tewkesbury School v Rednock School, Wycliffe Coll / Farmors School v Whitecross School, Sir Thomas Rich's / Downend Sch v Crypt School, St Benedicts, Chelt / Katharine LB v St Edward's, Cheltenham, St Peters, Stroud / Marling School v Beaufort Community School, Pittville School v Cleeve School, Cirencester Deer Park School v Cirencester School, Newent Community School v Wyedean School, Grange School & Sports College v Whitfield Fishponds School, Mangotsfield School v Marlwood School, Chew Valley School v Kingsfield School, Castle School, Thornbury v Gordano School, Clifton College v Bristol Grammar School, QEH, Clifton v Ridings High School, St Bede’s, Bristol v Colston's School.
London & South East: Chatham House School v Sir Roger Manwoods School, Dover Grammar School for Boys v Norton Knatchbull / Harvey GS, Bethany School v Cranbrook School, Hugh Christie Technology College v Judd School, Skinners School v Sevenoaks School, Astor of Hever Community School v Oakwood Park Grammar School, Maidstone Grammar School v Chatham Grammar School for Boys, King's School, Rochester v Sir Joseph Williamson's School, Sackville School v Imberhorne School, Christ's Hospital v Warden Park School, Brighton College v Worth School, Dorothy Stringer High School v St Bede’s, Upper Dicker, Cardinal Newman Catholic School v Shoreham College, Hove Park School v Bognor Regis CC / Chichester HS, Hampshire Collegiate / Toynbee CS v King Edward VI, Southampton, Swanmore Coll / Oaklands School v Portsmouth Grammar School, Henry Beaufort School v Kings School, Winchester, Gordons School / Woking HS v Hounsdown Sch / Amery Hill Sch, Winston Churchill School v Lord Wandsworth College, Brighton Hill Community College v Salesian College, RGS, Guildford v All Hallows / St Peters, Guildford, Rodborough School v Priory School, Dorking, Royal Alex & Albert/St Bede’s,Redhill v Reigate Grammar School, Whitgift School v Warlingham School, Trinity School / Caterham School v John Fisher School, City of London Freemen's School v Epsom College, Dulwich College v Colfe's School, Eltham College v St Dunstans College, Langley Park School for Boys v Priory, Orpington / Darrick Wood, St Olave's School v Ravens Wood School, Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar Sch v St Georges CofE / Gravesend GS, Dartford Grammar School v Beths Grammar School, Fakenham High School v Gresham's School, Langley School, Norwich v Costessey High School, Norwich School v Sir John Leman High School, Wymondham College v Wymondham High School, Impington Village College v King Edward VI, Bury St Edmunds, Methwold High School v King's School, Ely, Thomas Mills High School v Woodbridge School, Westbourne High School v St Joseph's College, Ipswich, Saffron Walden County High School v RGS Colchester, Jo Richardson Community School v St Mary's, Bishop's Stortford, Davenant Foundation School v Robert Clack School, St Peter’s, Burnham v Coopers Co & Coborn School, King John School, Thundersley v Westcliffe High School, Anglo European School v Appleton School, William De Ferrers School v William Edwards School, Helena Romanes School v St Martin’s School, Brentwood, Great Baddow / KES, Chelmsford v Felsted School, Vyners School v Haberdashers' Askes Boys School, St Ignatius College v Isleworth & Syon School, Merchant Taylors' School v Broxbourne School, Enfield Grammar School v St Benedict's School, Ealing, Compton School v Latymer School, Latymer Upper School v Orleans Park School, Hampton School v Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, Halliford School v Teddington School, King's College School, Wimbledon v Feltham Community College, Emanuel School v Wimbledon College, St Paul's School, Barnes v Carshalton Boys Sports College, London Oratory School v Tiffin School, Hinchley Wood/Claremont Fan Court v Therfield School, Reed's School v St George’s, Addlestone, Howard of Effingham v Glyn School / Ewell Castle School. |
