Rosslyn Park Diaries (Day 2), 21 March

Welcome to Day 2 of 5, where the weather gods were a little kinder to us as you can see. Whilst the U18 Boys Vase knock-out rounds strutted their stuff on the show pitches, Theo and Julian spent the day grafting away in the U14 competition, once again featuring teams from the length and breadth of the UK. Traffic delays meant a disrupted start and some teams never made it at all, but those that did were treated to a very high standard tournament with some very tight groups indeed. Tomorrow’s U14 knockout stages look to be very exciting indeed!

Today’s competitions

U18 Boys Vase Round 2

U14 Boys and U16 Girls cups (192 and 32 teams respectively)

Matches refereed

(thanks to Kevin Parsons NMSRFR for the photo)

Theo: Tonbridge v Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg, Rugby v St Ambrose, St Richard Reynolds v Weydon, Chislehurst & Sidcup v Westcliff, Torquay Boys v Ysgol Penweddig

Julian: Hayes v Bristol Grammar, Sedburgh v Bohunt, Brentwood v Cranmore, Bishops Stortford v Devonport, Orleans Park v St Ambrose, Rugby v Wrekin

Highlights

Seeing North Mids schools doing well, including Bromsgrove U18 reaching the Vase semi-final, and both Kings Worcester & Hereford Cathedral School progressing to the next round of the U14 Cup and Bowl respectively

Also finding out that North Mids YMO Charles Hoyland reached the Vase QF with Malvern College, losing only to the eventual finalists Kings Macclesfield.

What we learned today

U14 sevens players don’t know how to scrum, and many hadn’t been taught even to bind by their coaches! Also U14 sevens players appear to take direction from their parents about refereeing decisions, something that your correspondents were very swift to nip in the bud!

High profile players/referees spotted

Simon Easterby, Tom Mitchell (GB 7s) Vicky Fleetwood, Sam Warburton, Danny Grewcock, Will Greenwood, Kyran Bracken

Make sure you tune in to the live streams tomorrow for the business end of the U14 competition, and the main group stages of the U16 competition begin.

Pitch RE1 (the main show pitch featuring nearly all the finals)

Pitch RE2 (next door, and with some equally exciting talent on show)