Hutchesons’ Grammar School confirmed their growing confidence this season by reaching the semi-final of the Scottish Schools under-18 Shield, with a characterful 31-24 win over a strong Bell Baxter High School side.
The Shield is the second tier competition and is for schools who lost in the first or preliminary round of the Cup. For the semi-final Hutchesons’ will join Robert Gordon’s College, who defeated Glasgow High School 37-3 at Old Anniesland, Edinburgh Academy, winners over Kelvinside Academy by 20-5 and Strathallan who had a resounding 56-5 victory against Royal High School.
In their quarter-final match against previous Cup winners, Bell Baxter High School, Hutchesons’ outscored the Cupar school by five tries to four, their touchdowns coming from stand-off Chris Hyde, wing Jack Leslie, prop Jamie Campbell, hooker and captain Dario Ewing and second row Struan Miller, with Hyde converting three of his side’s touchdowns.
“This was a great game of end to end rugby,” said Hutchesons’ first fifteen coach, Craig Sorbie. “Our set piece and especially our scrum was dominant and that created a great platform to attack from. The boys worked tirelessly at the breakdown and looked to attack from quick tap penalties.
“It was a tough physical game but we fought hard in the last ten minutes to grind out a win. I was very pleased with the maturity shown in how to close out a tight game.”
Meanwhile, the third tier Plate competition quarter-final draw has been made despite several second round ties still to be played. The only confirmed Plate quarter-final in the under-18 competition is between Galashiels Academy and Dunbar Grammar School. Galashiels reached the last eight with a 25-5 away win against Linlithgow Academy while Dunbar’s progress was achieved with a 62-0 victory over their East Lothian rivals, Ross High School.
Also in the last eight is Marr College, who will face the winners of the Culloden Academy v Gordonstoun delayed second round tie.
Last season’s Plate winners, Earlston High School, showed their determination to retain the title with a 57-5 win over Boroughmuir High School. The Borders school will now have a home tie a week tomorrow against North Berwick High School, winners over McLaren High School by 53-12 in the first round. Whichever of Earlston or North Berwick emerges on top will progress into the quarter-final where they will have an away match against the winners of the Balerno/Currie High School v Queen Victoria School tie,
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