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Day 2 of the World Schools Festival: Favourites avoid huge upset
Day two of the World Schools Festival provided more of the drama and high-quality age-grade rugby we saw on Day One.
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Rugby Travel Academy (South Africa) vs Sedbergh (England)
The first of the Shield semi-finals in the World Schools Festival was a close-fought game. Rugby Travel Academy, also an invitational team, faced an experienced side in the form of Sedbergh from northern England. Both teams wanted to prove their worth on the world stage.
An incredible second day of World Schools Festival rugby played in brilliant spirit by all teams involved 🔥
On to the finals on Saturday #wsf2022 pic.twitter.com/9iC8tG68Wr
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 15, 2022
Full Time: RTA 10 – 26 Sedbergh
Sedbergh came out firing, after coming close to beating Millfield on Day One, they wanted to come back into the competition, and solidify a place in the Shield Final. The feat was not made easy as the Rugby Travel Academy side took it to one of the best in England, making the game close-fought in parts.
But Sedbergh’s experience and sheer teamwork got them over the line and into Saturday’s Shield final which they will go into with confidence. Rugby Travel Academy showed moments of class, especially against quality opposition, so when they went into their respective final, they could make waves.
Trinity School (England) vs St Michael’s (Ireland)
Both sides just fell short on Day One, facing some of the world’s best as opponents. A place in the Shield final would’ve meant a lot to both of these teams as both have the quality to lift some silverware. With a few more days in the Thai sun, naturally, we saw two sides feel more comfortable in the 60 minutes and have adapted to the scene.
Full Time: Trinity 19-20 St Michael’s
Heartbreak for Trinity in the World Schools Festival. One of the closest games of the tournament, no one knew where this one would end up. St Michael’s opened the scoring early on which shocked the side from Croydon. Trinity Returned through some Conor Byrne magic a few minutes before the halftime whistle, but moments later, St Michael’s sent one through the uprights and gave themselves a 3 point lead at the Half Time break.
Trinity star Josh Bellamy gave Trinity a second try in the second half with more incredible individual work to make it 19-8 with 15 minutes left on the clock. Handbags came out in the dying moments as St Michael’s won it, showing just how much it means to the young players. After the referee sorted the situation out, it was St Michael’s 13 who slotted it through the posts to make it 19-20 to the boys from Ireland.
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Grey College (South Africa) vs Cardiff & Vale (Wales)
The first of the cup semi-finals, and the action did not disappoint. Social media was riled up once more as the team from Bloemfontein took to the World Schools Festival stage. Cardiff & Vale, a relatively unknown on the world stage, had the opportunity to cause a huge shock and knock off the favourites for the trophy.
Full Time: Grey 14-11 Cardiff & Vale
A cagey start, as both sides tried to work each other out, would lead to a brilliant game. CAVC broke the deadlock with a penalty being converted at the 10-minute mark. After a miscommunication on the Cardiff and Vale tryline, they handed the ball to Grey who got the opening try of the game in the 28th minute, with the Welsh teams’ hard work undone by a momentary lapse.
In the second half, we saw more of the same as both teams struggled to find a way through. But Cardiff and Vale took an opportunity, finding space out wide before spreading it quickly which lead them to a try that gave them the lead (8-7).
Late winners seem to be the theme of this World Schools Festival, as Grey made it 12-11 deep into the final play with a converted try that won them the game on a 14-11 scoreline. Cardiff and Vale shocked the world with their performance at the WSF, and will go into their final game on Saturday knowing they were seconds away from beating one of the world’s best.
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Hamilton Boys’ High School (New Zealand) vs Millfield School (England)
Naturally, the team from Somerset entered the second day of the WSF more worse for wear than the Hamilton team as their respective quarter-final asked more of the Millfield side, with Hamilton able to prepare for the next round with a 56-0 win against Odyssey XV. Millfield, with tired bodies, still gave it their all, and gave a great England vs New Zealand affair.
Full Time: Hamilton Boys’ 14-0 Millfield
It was the tale of a ruthless Hamilton in the Semi Final of the World Schools Festival, as they saw off a strong Millfield side with two converted tries. Millfield had moments of class and were on the doorstep on multiple occasions, but they couldn’t find a way through an organised Hamilton team. Hamilton had moments of class in attack, one, in particular, seeing the scrum half dummying his way through before giving a cheeky celebration to the Millfield bench as he solidified their place in the cup final.
It all comes down to Saturday where four finals will be played. All the drama can be followed live on the RugbyPass youtube channel.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
10 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
10 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments