# 2017–18 RFU Junior Vase

The 2017–18 RFU Junior Vase is the 28th version of the RFU Junior Vase national cup competition (9th using the name RFU Junior Vase) for clubs at level 9 and below of the English rugby union system. The competition consists of 134 clubs divided into four regions. The winners of each region then advance to the national semi-finals with the final being held at Twickenham Stadium in London at the end of the season, along with the RFU Intermediate Cup and RFU Senior Vase finals.
The 2017–18 champions were Yorkshire club, Old Otliensians, who defeated the Devon side, South Molton, 31–21 in the final. Old Otliensians were worthy winners of the competition, scoring over 260 points on route to the final, whilst conceding only 15, a run which included a club record 126–0 over Wallsend in the early stages. Old Otliensians victory was the 11th by a Yorkshire club since the competition began in 1990.

## London & South East Junior Vase

The London & South East Junior Vase involves a knock-out competition with 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, 4th round, semi-finals and final. The winners of the London & South East Junior Vase then go on to the national Junior Vase semi-finals where they face the winners of the South West Junior Vase. There are 55 teams involved in the London & South East Junior Vase, all of which are 1st XV sides, coming from the following unions and leagues.
| Union(s) | League(s) / Level | Participants |
| Eastern Counties | Eastern Counties 1 (9) | 2 |
| Essex | Essex 1 (9) | 4 |
| Hampshire | Hampshire 1 (9) | 5 |
| Hampshire | Hampshire 2 (10) | 2 |
| Hertfordshire | Herts/Middlesex 1 (9) | 2 |
| Hertfordshire | Herts/Middlesex 2 (10) | 1 |
| Kent | Kent 1 (9) | 6 |
| Kent | Kent 2 (10) | 5 |
| Kent | No league | 1 |
| Middlesex | Herts/Middlesex 1 (9) | 2 |
| Middlesex | Herts/Middlesex 2 (10) | 2 |
| Surrey | Surrey 1 (9) | 6 |
| Surrey | Surrey 2 (10) | 4 |
| Surrey | Surrey 3 (11) | 3 |
| Surrey | Surrey 4 (12) | 3 |
| Sussex | Sussex 1 (9) | 4 |

### Round 1

Byes: Ashford (K1), Bognor (H1), Burgess Hill (SX1), Cranbrook (K1), Gillingham Anchorians (K1), Millbrook (H1), Royston (HM1), Sandown & Shanklin (H1), Uckfield (SX1)
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 14 October 2017 | Bank of England (HM1) | 45–53 | Old Whitgiftian (SY1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Bec Old Boys (SY2) | 26–24 | Old Gravesendians (K1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Brockleians (K2) | HWO | Old Suttonians |
| 14 October 2017 | Chipstead (SY1) | HWO | Askeans (K2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Cranleigh (SY2) | HWO | Aldershot & Fleet (H2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Dagenham (E1) | HWO | Old Millhillians (HM2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Egham Hollowegians (SY4) | 10–33 | Alton (H2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Fareham Heathens (H1) | HWO | Worth Old Boys (SY3) |
| 14 October 2017 | Farnborough (H2) | HWO | Kingston (SY2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Harwich & Dovercourt (E1) | HWO | Beccles (EC1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Hellingly (SX1) | 10–26 | Old Mid-Whitgiftian (SY1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Ipswich Y.M. (EC1) | HWO | Stanford Le Hope (E1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Old Walcountians (SY1) | AWO | Seaford (SX1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Old Wimbledonians (SY1) | HWO | Southwark Lancers (K1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Purley John Fisher (SY3) | 59–7 | Greenwich (K2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Reigate (SY4) | HWO | Dartford Valley (K2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Sittingbourne (K1) | HWO | Old Blues (SY1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Southampton (H2) | 26–81 | Reeds Weybridge (SY2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Thamesians (HM2) | 42–7 | Barnet Elizabethans (HM1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Wasps FC (HM1) | HWO | Cuffley (HM2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Whitstable (K2) | 38–17 | Croydon (SY3) |
| 14 October 2017 | Woking (SY4) | 80–5 | Ventnor (H1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Writtle Wanderers (E1) | 51–15 | Thurston (EC1) |

### Round 2

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 14 October 2017 | Bec Old Boys (SY2) | HWO | Brockleians (K2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Bognor (H1) | HWO | Farnborough (H2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Cranbrook (K1) | HWO | Thamesians (HM2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Cranleigh (SY2) | 20–11 | Burgess Hill (SX1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Fareham Heathens (H1) | 33–37 | Chipstead (SY1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Harwich & Dovercourt (E1) | HWO | Dagenham (E1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Old Mid-Whitgiftian (SY1) | 19–21 | Ashford (K1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Old Whitgiftian (SY1) | 30–8 | Gillingham Anchorians (K1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Old Wimbledonians (SY1) | 76–0 | Sittingbourne (K1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Purley John Fisher (SY3 | 16–10 | Uckfield (SX1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Reigate (SY4) | 0–41 | Millbrook (H1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Royston (HM1) | 22–14 | Ipswich Y.M. (EC1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Sandown & Shanklin (H1) | HWO | Woking (SY4) |
| 14 October 2017 | Seaford (SX1) | 27–10 | Alton (H2) |
| 14 October 2017 | Wasps FC (HM1) | 12–18 | Writtle Wanderers (E1) |
| 14 October 2017 | Whitstable (K2) | AWO | Reeds Weybridge (SY2) |

### Round 3

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 2 December 2017 | Bec Old Boys (SY2) | 8–22 | Ashford (K1) |
| 2 December 2017 | Bognor (H1) | 31–27 | Cranleigh (SY2) |
| 2 December 2017 | Chipstead (SY1) | 29–5 | Seaford (SX1) |
| 2 December 2017 | Harwich & Dovercourt (E1) | 7–54 | Royston (HM1) |
| 2 December 2017 | Millbrook (H1) | 25–22 | Purley John Fisher (SY3) |
| 2 December 2017 | Reeds Weybridge (SY2) | 48–23 | Cranbrook (K1) |
| 2 December 2017 | Sandown & Shanklin (H1) | 12–34 | Old Wimbledonians (SY1) |
| 20 January 2018 | Writtle Wanderers (E1) | 10–26 | Gillingham Anchorians (K1) |

### Round 4

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 20 January 2018 | Ashford (K1) | 20–5 | Royston (HM1) |
| 20 January 2018 | Chipstead (SY1) | 18–10 | Bognor (H1) |
| 20 January 2018 | Millbrook (H1) | 15–17 | Old Wimbledonians (SY1) |
| 10 February 2018 | Gillingham Anchorians (K1) | 17–15 | Reeds Weybridge (SY2) |

### Semi-finals

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 24 February 2018 | Ashford (K1) | 3–15 | Chipstead (SY1) |
| 24 February 2018 | Old Wimbledonians (SY1) | 29–17 | Gillingham Anchorians (K1) |

### Final

The winners of the London & South East Junior Vase final would advance to the national semi-finals.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 17 March 2018 | Old Wimbledonians (SY1)) | 0–27 | Chipstead (SY1) |

## Midlands Junior Vase

The Midlands Junior Vase is a direct knockout cup with a 1st round, 2nd round, 3rd round, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final The winner of the final goes forward to the National Vase semi-finals where they face the winners of the Northern section. The competition involves 50 clubs from the following unions and level 9-10 leagues:
| Union(s) | League(s) / Level | Participants |
| East Midlands | Midlands 4 East (South) (9) | 5 |
| Leicestershire | Midlands 4 West (South) (9) | 1 |
| North Midlands | Midlands 4 West (North) (9) | 4 |
| North Midlands | Midlands 4 West (South) (9) | 3 |
| North Midlands | Midlands 5 West (North) (10) | 5 |
| North Midlands | Midlands 5 West (South) (10) | 1 |
| North Midlands | No league | 1 |
| Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire | Midlands 4 East (North) (9) | 9 |
| Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire | Midlands 4 East (South) (9) | 2 |
| Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire | Midlands 5 East (North) (10) | 6 |
| Staffordshire | Midlands 4 West (North) (9) | 4 |
| Staffordshire | Midlands 5 West (North) (10) | 3 |
| Warwickshire | Midlands 4 West (South) (9) | 3 |
| Warwickshire | Midlands 5 West (South) (10) | 3 |

### Round 1

Byes: Amber Valley (M5EN), Ashfield (M4EN), Aston Old Edwardians (M4WN), Bedford Swifts (M4ES), Bloxwich (M4WN), Brackley (M4ES), Burbage (M4WS), Harbury (M4WS), Keresley (M5WS), Mansfield Woodhouse (M5EN), Mellish (M4EN), St Leonards (M5WN), St Neots (M4ES), Tupton (M4EN)
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 16 September 2017 | Atherstone (M5WS) | 81–0 | Gnosall (M5WN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Bourne (M4ES) | 28–0 | Skegness (M4EN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Chaddesley Corbett (M5WN) | 22–21 | Aldridge (M5WS) |
| 16 September 2017 | Church Stretton (M4WN) | HWO | Stourport (M5WN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Claverdon (M4WS) | 7–16 | Yardley & District (M4WN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Deepings (M4ES) | HWO | Bingham (M5EN) |
| 16 September 2017 | East Retford (M4EN) | 55–8 | Stamford College Old Boys (M4ES) |
| 16 September 2017 | Five Ways Old Edwardians | 0–39 | Stoke Old Boys (M4WS) |
| 16 September 2017 | Linley & Kidsgrove (M5WN) | 11–12 | Eccleshall (M4WN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Market Drayton (M4WN) | HWO | Bishop's Castle & Onny Valley (M5WN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Nottinghamians (M5EN) | 17–22 | Chesterfield Panthers (M4EN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Ollerton (M4EN) | AWO | Gainsborough (M5ENN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Pershore (M4WS) | 84–19 | Greyhound (M5WN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Redditch (M4WS) | 0–19 | Wednesbury (M4WN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Rugeley (M4WN) | HWO | Birmingham Civil Service (M4WS) |
| 16 September 2017 | Thorney (M4ES) | 31–24 | Boston (M4EN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Trinity Guild (M5WS) | HWO | Warley (M5WN) |
| 16 September 2017 | Worksop (M4EN) | 12–36 | North Hykeham (M5EN) |

### Round 2

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 7 October 2017 | Amber Valley (M5EN) | 15–36 | East Retford (M4EN) |
| 7 October 2017 | Brackley (M4ES) | HWO | Aston Old Edwardians (M4WN) |
| 7 October 2017 | Burbage (M4WS) | 10–65 | Ashfield (M4EN) |
| 7 October 2017 | Chesterfield Panthers (M4EN) | HWO | Mansfield Woodhouse (M5EN) |
| 7 October 2017 | Church Stretton (M4WN) | HWO | Chaddesley Corbett (M5WN) |
| 7 October 2017 | Eccleshall (M4WN) | HWO | Atherstone (M5WS) |
| 7 October 2017 | Gainsborough (M5ENN) | 10–30 | Bourne (M4ES) |
| 7 October 2017 | Keresley (M5WS) | 17–35 | Bedford Swifts (M4ES) |
| 7 October 2017 | Mellish (M4EN) | 24–19 | Deepings (M4ES) |
| 7 October 2017 | North Hykeham (M5EN) | 22–10 | Thorney (M4ES) |
| 7 October 2017 | St Leonards (M5WN) | 15–8 | Market Drayton (M4WN) |
| 7 October 2017 | St Neots (M4ES) | 16–18 | Harbury (M4WS) |
| 7 October 2017 | Stoke Old Boys (M4WS) | 66–26 | Rugeley (M4WN) |
| 7 October 2017 | Trinity Guild (M5WS) | 22–66 | Bloxwich (M4WN) |
| 7 October 2017 | Wednesbury (M4WN) | 22–17 | Pershore (M4WS) |
| 7 October 2017 | Yardley & District (M4WN) | HWO | Tupton (M4EN) |

### Round 3

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 28 October 2017 | Ashfield (M4EN) | 11–6 | Wednesbury (M4WN) |
| 28 October 2017 | Bedford Swifts (M4ES) | 8–12 | Harbury (M4WS) |
| 28 October 2017 | Bloxwich (M4WN) | 22–5 | East Retford (M4EN) |
| 28 October 2017 | Bourne (M4ES) | 38–12 | Chesterfield Panthers (M4EN) |
| 28 October 2017 | Church Stretton (M4WN) | HWO | St Leonards (M5WN) |
| 28 October 2017 | Eccleshall (M4WN) | 19–17 | Stoke Old Boys (M4WS) |
| 28 October 2017 | North Hykeham (M5EN) | 40–14 | Mellish (M4EN) |
| 28 October 2017 | Yardley & District (M4WN) | 29–27 | Brackley (M4ES) |

### Quarter-finals

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 18 November 2017 | Ashfield (M4EN) | 27–36 | Eccleshall (M4WN) |
| 18 November 2017 | Bloxwich (M4WN) | 34–41 | Bourne (M4ES) |
| 18 November 2017 | Harbury (M4WS) | 15–12 | Church Stretton (M4WN) |
| 18 November 2017 | Yardley & District (M4WN) | 12–35 | North Hykeham (M5EN) |

### Semi-finals

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 20 January 2018 | Eccleshall (M4WN) | HWO | Harbury (M4WS) |
| 20 January 2018 | North Hykeham (M5EN) | 15–18 | Bourne (M4ES) |

### Final

The winners of the Midlands Junior Vase would advance to the National Junior Vase semi-finals.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 17 March 2018 | Bourne (M4ES) | 13–27 | Eccleshall (M4WN) |

## Northern Junior Vase

Unlike the other regional competitions, the Northern Junior Vase starts with a mini-league stage, in which the eligible clubs are placed in 2 regional pools of 3 teams each. The winners of each pool then face each other in the Northern Vase final, with the winner advancing to the National Junior Vase semi-finals, where they will face the winners of the Midlands section. There are 6 teams (1st XV only) involved in the Northern Junior Vase representing the following unions and leagues:
| Union(s) | League(s) / Level | Participants |
| Durham County | Durham/Northumberland 3 (9) | 1 |
| Cheshire | Lancs/Cheshire Division 3 (9) | 2 |
| Cumbria | No league | 1 |
| Northumberland | Durham/Northumberland 3 (9) | 1 |
| Yorkshire | Yorkshire 3 (9) | 1 |

### Pool 1 (West)

Pool 1 :
| | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Points |
| 1 | Ramsey (LC3) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 83 | 8 | 75 | 4 |
| 2 | Creighton | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 81 | -44 | 2 |
| 3 | Liverpool University (LC3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 51 | -31 | 0 |
| 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. |||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 14 October 2017 | Liverpool University (LC3) | 15–34 | Creighton |
| 18 November 2017 | Ramsey (LC3) | 17–5 | Liverpool University (LC3) |
| 10 February 2018 | Creighton (LC3) | 3–66 | Ramsey (LC3) |

### Pool 2 (East)

Pool 2 :
| | Club | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points For | Points Against | Points Difference | Points |
| 1 | Old Otliensians (Y3) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 0 | 198 | 4 |
| 2 | Wallsend (DN3) | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 49 | 147 | -98 | 2 |
| 3 | West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B. (DN3) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 21 | 121 | -100 | 0 |
| 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw. |||||||||||||||
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 14 October 2017 | Old Otliensians (Y3) | 126–0 | Wallsend (DN3) |
| 18 November 2017 | Wallsend (DN3) | 49–21 | West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B. (DN3) |
| 10 February 2018 | West Hartlepool T.D.S.O.B. (DN3) | 0–72 | Old Otliensians (Y3) |

### Final

The winners of the Pool 1 (West) and Pool 2 (East) would meet in the Northern Junior Vase final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the National Junior Vase semi-finals.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 17 March 2018 | Old Otliensians (Y3) | 37–3 | Ramsey (IoM) (LC3) |

## South West Junior Vase

The South West Junior Vase consist of three stages, with representatives from the different unions joining at different points. The Dorset & Wilts and Gloucestershire clubs first play in county based knock-out tournaments, with the winners advancing to either the Southern Counties or South West Counties area semi-finals, where they join the other south-west representatives. The winners of each area final then meet in the South West Junior Vase final to determine who goes through to the national semi-finals, where they face the winners of the London and South East section.
The South West Junior Vase involves 23 clubs (1st XV only) from the following unions and leagues:
| Union(s) | League(s) / Level | Participants |
| Berkshire | Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (9) | 1 |
| Buckinghamshire | Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (9) | 1 |
| Devon | Devon League 1 (10) | 1 |
| Dorset & Wilts | Dorset & Wilts 2 South (9) | 4 |
| Dorset & Wilts | Dorset & Wilts 2 North (9) | 4 |
| Dorset & Wilts | Dorset & Wilts 3 South (10) | 1 |
| Dorset & Wilts | No league | 1 |
| Gloucestershire | Gloucester 1 (9) | 8 |
| Oxfordshire | Berks/Bucks & Oxon Championship (9) | 1 |
| Somerset | Somerset 1 (9) | 1 |

### Stage 1 (Dorset & Wilts)

10 teams were involved in the Dorset & Wilts RFU Junior Vase qualification. The winners would advanced to the Southern Counties semi-finals.
First Round :
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 23 September 2017 | Amesbury | 36–19 | Colerne Calne (DW2N) |
| 23 September 2017 | Poole (DW3S) | 7–63 | Puddletown (DW2S) |
| Quarter-finals ||||
| 14 October 2017 | Amesbury | HWO | Colerne (DW2N) |
| 14 October 2017 | East Dorset (DW2S) | 25–3 | Wheatsheaf Cabin Crew (DW2S) |
| 14 October 2017 | Puddletown (DW2S) | 25–18 | Dinton (DW2S) |
| 14 October 2017 | Westbury (DW2N) | HWO | Cricklade (DW2N) |
| Semi-finals ||||
| 18 November 2017 | Amesbury | HWO | Westbury (DW2N) |
| 18 November 2017 | Puddletown (DW2S) | 34–5 | East Dorset (DW2S) |
| Final ||||
| 2 December 2017 | Puddletown (DW2S) | 32–31 | Amesbury |

### Stage 1 (Gloucestershire)

8 teams were involved in the Gloucestershire RFU Junior Vase qualification tournament. The winners of the competition would go through to the South West Counties final.
First Round :
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 2 September 2017 | Berry Hill (G1) | 28–30 | Widden Old Boys (G1) |
| 2 September 2017 | Cheltenham North (G1) | 16–37 | Brockworth (G1) |
| 2 September 2017 | North Bristol (G1) | 22–26 | Old Colstonians (G1) |
| 2 September 2017 | Southmead (G1) | 10–67 | Old Cryptians (G1) |
| Semi-finals ||||
| 16 September 2017 | Widden Old Boys (G1) | 37–23 | Old Cryptians (G1) |
| 23 September 2017 | Old Colstonians (G1) | 27–24 | Brockworth (G1) |
| Final ||||
| 14 October 2017 | Old Colstonians (G1) | 31–5 | Widden Old Boys (G1) |

### Stage 2 (Southern Counties)

The winners of the Dorset & Wilts Junior Vase would join representatives from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire unions in the Southern Counties knock-out stage. The winners would advance to play the South West Counties winners in the south-west regional final.
Semi-finals :
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 10 February 2018 | Aldermaston (BBOC) | 5–29 | Puddletown (DW2S) |
| 10 February 2018 | Oxford (BBOC) | 31–15 | Risborough (BBOC) |
| Final ||||
| 24 February 2018 | Puddletown (DW2S) | 13–36 | Oxford (BBOC) |

### Stage 2 (South West Counties)

The winners of the Gloucestershire Junior Vase would meet the representatives from the Somerset RFU in the semi-final, while the representatives from Devon RFU had a bye into the South West Counties final due to Cornish clubs not taking part this season. The winners would advance to play the Southern Counties winners in the south-west regional final.
Semi-finals :
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 10 February 2018 | Old Colstonians (G1) | 46–7 | Bristol Barbarians (S1) |
| Final ||||
| 24 February 2018 | South Molton (D1) | 24–10 | Old Colstonians (G1) |

### Stage 3 (South West final)

The winners of the Southern Counties and South West Counties final would meet in the south-west regional final. The winners of this final would then advanced to the national semi-finals.
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 17 March 2018 | Oxford (BBOC) | 13–13 | South Molton (D1) |

## National Junior Vase

4 teams qualified from the regional vase competitions:
* London & South East Junior Vase – Chipstead (SY1)
* Midlands Junior Vase – Eccleshall (M4WN)
* Northern Junior Vase – Old Otliensians (Y3)
* South West Junior Vase – South Molton (D1)
The Midlands winners would face the North winners in the first semi-final, while the London & South East winners would face the South-West winners in the other, with the winners of each semi-final meeting in the Twickenham final. Home advantage in the semi-finals will be decided by a draw.

### Semi-finals

| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 31 March 2018 | Old Otliensians (Y3) | 28–12 | Eccleshall (M4WN) |
| 31 March 2018 | South Molton (D1) | 12–10 | Chipstead (SY1) |

### Final

* 6 May 2018 11:00
| Old Otliensians (Y3) | 32–21 | South Molton (D1) |
| | Report | |
* Twickenham Stadium, London Referee: Callum Sharp