The U16 Floodlit Cup gave AKS rugby its first real match to remember on Wednesday evening, as our year 11 boys took on last year's Lancashire Cup Finalists, Lancaster RGS, at Preston Grasshoppers RUFC.

To see some pictures from the match please visit AKS TV.

Lancaster are always formidable opposition but on a wonderful playing surface, under floodlits and with a good crowd watching, our AKS U16 side really showed their worth as they matched Lancaster in both the forwards and backs. In their first match together, they showed what tremendous team spirit they have against a side who have played together as a team for over four years.

Will Nickson captained the side at hooker and he led from the front and his pack of forwards followed him with the backrow of Matthew Patterson, Alex Stainer and James Griggs in unbelievable form. Griggs and Stainer were especially impressive and their work-rate was tremendous. Tom Lanigan and Matthew Garrod, the biggest pair of U16 second rows on display in any of the matches being played, hit the rucks hard and carried the ball well and John Cowell and Blake Wilkinson rarely put a foot wrong during the first twenty minutes. AKS forwards enjoyed the better of the contact areas, with their counter rucking particularly effective and aggressive.

David Maddox and Alex Vowles-Bradley led the backline well and when the overlaps were on they made good decisions. This eye for an opening was evident after ten minutes as fourth phase play was sent left and good handling from James Rowley and Tom Forster gave the elusive Myles Dunlop the chance to show his speed and agility, and he raced through a gap, beating two defenders to score. 5-0 AKS.

In typical Lancaster style, the opposition responded well and a good midfield break from their classy inside centre set up a chance and they made no mistake, as AKS ran out of defenders. AKS 5 LRGS 5.

With five minutes to go before half-time, AKS scored a virtual carbon copy try and it was the same player, Dunlop, who latched onto a lovely pass to glide in from 20 metres for a 10-5 lead.

Lancaster started the second half extremely well and the AKS boys looked lost for ideas and an early Lancaster penalty reduced the deficit to 10-8. Lancaster were definitely on top at this point but superb AKS defence from Rowley and Forster kept out the Lancaster dangerman at 12 and immense rucking from Cowell, Griggs, Stanier and Lanigan turned over numerous Lancaster attacks.

Despite all of the attacks from both sides there was no more scoring and the last twenty minutes saw AKS stay firmly in the Lancaster half as the bench of Matthew Tighe, Kieron Kelly, Tyne Davis, Jordan Makepeace and Ellis Whorlton-Jones added to the team effort in a quite breathtaking and entertaining encounter.

The supporting army of parents were more than pleased as the referee blew his whistle and AKS will now play Bradford GS in the next round.

Our congratulations to all of the boys and staff.