Last season's U18 Cup winners Edinburgh Academy
The final of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ finals has been rescheduled as a result of disruption to the preceding rounds by this season’s harsh winter.
However, with the bad weather waning and the majority of pitches now playable, the remaining quarter-final matches in the competition are expected to bounce back into action this weekend.
The under-18 and under-16 cup finals will now take place at Murrayfield on Saturday 5 March, while the Bowl and Plate finals will take place on Wednesday 9 and 16 March respectively.
Four schools dominate the last eight with George Watson’s College, Edinburgh Academy, Stewart’s Melville College and North Berwick fielding eight of the 16 sides in the under-18 and under-16 competitions.
George Watson’s College have already booked their place in the under-18 cup semi-final after a convincing 18-0 win over Loretto School on Tuesday, while their under-16 side will have to overcome North Berwick on Saturday (22 January) to join them in the penultimate round.
Speaking on his side’s passage to the semis, Andrew Barnett, George Watson’s under-18 forwards coach and PE teacher, said: “Considering that we have been without rugby for almost two months, both teams put themselves to the task admirably. It was a very physical match between two very good schools and we were happy to come out on top.
“All the schools that have reached the quarter-finals have proved they are excellent sides so whoever we face in the semis will make for a very hard draw. No matter who we play we’re looking forward to this weekend’s results and the draw.
“The players are really looking forward to it. All teams put in a lot of training to make it this far. These are the big games they want to play in.”
The next quarter-final ties will take place tomorrow (Friday 21 January) when Merchiston Castle School host George Heriot’s School in the under-18 cup and Stewart’s Melville College under-16s take on Robert Gordon’s College.
The rest of the cup competitors, including Stew Mel’s under-18s, will then take to the field the following day (Saturday 22 January), with the boys in red playing host to Dollar Academy.
Edinburgh Academy’s under-18 side will continue their title defense against North Berwick while their under-16s complete the double-header against the High School of Dundee at New Field.
Finally, under-15 cup champions, Hutchesons’ Grammar School, will face Marr College.
BREWIN DOLPHIN UNDER-18 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ CUP QUARTER FINALS
George Watson’s College 18-0 Loretto School
Friday, 21 January
Merchiston Castle School v George Heriot’s School
Saturday, 22 January
Edinburgh Academy v North Berwick High School
Stewart's Melville College v Dollar Academy
BREWIN DOLPHIN UNDER-16 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ CUP QUARTER-FINAL
Friday, 21 January
Stewart’s Melville College v Robert Gordon's College
Saturday, 22 January
George Watson’s College v North Berwick High School
Edinburgh Academy v High School of Dundee
Hutchesons' Grammar School v Marr College
* Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Cup semi-finals are to be played on or by Saturday 29 January
BREWIN DOLPHIN UNDER-18 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ PLATE QUARTER FINAL
Saturday, 22 January
St Aloysius College v High School of Dundee
Boroughmuir/ James Gilliespie’s v The Glasgow Academy
Glenalmond College v St Columba’s or Banchory Academy
Monday 24 January
High School of Glasgow v Hawick High School
BREWIN DOLPHIN UNDER-16 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ PLATE QUARTER-FINAL
Thursday, 20 January
Bell Baxter High School v Kirkwall Grammar School
Saturday, 22 January
Kelso High School v Winner of Pool 9 or Hawick High School
St Aloysius College v Boroughmuir/James Gillespie’s
The Gordon Schools v Peebles High School or Linlithgow Academy composite
* Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Plate semi-finals are to be played on or by Saturday 26 February
BREWIN DOLPHIN UNDER-18 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ BOWL QUARTER-FINAL (to be played on or by Saturday 5 February)
Berwickshire High School  v Arran High School
Alva Academy or McLaren High School v Balwearie/Kirkcaldy High School or Morrison's Academy
Elgin or Aberdeenshire South or Cults Academy v Millburn Academy
Bearsden/Doug Academy or Boclair Academy v Musselburgh Grammar School
* Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Bowl semi-finals are to be played on or by Saturday 26 February
BREWIN DOLPHIN UNDER-16 SCOTTISH SCHOOLS’ BOWL QUARTER-FINAL(to be played on or by Saturday 5 February)
Jedburgh Grammar School v Carrick Academy or Grange Academy
Balfron High School or McLaren High School v Morrison's Academy or Strathmore Schools
Ellon Academy or Turriff Academy v Inverness Royal Academy
Argyll Schools v Edinburgh School tbc
* Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Bowl semi-finals are to be played on or by Saturday 26 February
CUP FINAL DATES
Saturday 5 March
Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Under-18 Cup Final, Murrayfield international pitch
Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Under-16 Cup Final, Murrayfield back pitches
Wednesday 9 March
Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Under-18 and Under-16 Bowl Finals, Murrayfield back pitches tbc
Wednesday 16 March
Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools’ Under-18 and Under-16 Plate Finals, Murrayfield back pitches tbc
Sunday 27 March
Brewin Dolphin Scottish Girls' Finals, Murrayfield back pitches (Under-18/16 Cup, Under-18/16 Shield, Under-18/16 Bowl
Current Brewin Dolphin Schools' Cup champions
Brewin Dolphin under-18 Cup – Edinburgh Academy
Brewin Dolphin under-15 Cup – Hutchesons’ Grammar School
Brewin Dolphin under-18 Plate – Wellington School
Brewin Dolphin under-15 Plate – High School of Dundee
Brewin Dolphin under-18 Bowl – Aberdeen Grammar School
Brewin Dolphin under-15 Bowl – Earlston High School

This article was posted on 21-Jan-2011, 11:16 by Hugh Barrow.