Blackpool 6th Form College

Rugby Academy 200/2009: Season Review

Well what a season it has been for the Blackpool 6th Form Rugby Academy.  The year started off very promisingly, with an influx of first year pupils to support the players about to start their second year.  Links with local clubs and teams ensured a quality that hadn’t been seen at the college before, with players arriving from Fleetwood, Fylde and Arnold School.  Captained by second year student Ross Mellor Clark, the team achieved three major trophies throughout the season, and players having trials for the North West through to England College trials.

Seven players from the Academy had trials for the North West Colleges team with three players making into the squad.  Ross Mellor Clark, Liam Nixon and Michael Mitchell all started for the North West team against out North East neighbours up at Hartlepool RFC, with the overall aim of looking to get into the North of England Colleges team, which then resulted in England College trails at Moulton College, Northampton.  Ross Mellor Clark was the only player selected and was unlucky not to e selected for full international honours.

The first trophy of the season was won after beating Bury College in the Final of the British Colleges North West / Wales final at Preston Grasshoppers.  With Blackpool 6th Form suffering from more injuries than usual, it was a credit to all players that played their part in securing the first trophy of the season, ranking them within the top eight sixth form colleges in the Country.  We later played Hartlepool 6th form in the National quarter final losing out 26-10.

The second trophy came after we hosted our own North West 10s Seaside Festival.  A lot of hard work had gone into this tournament in what was a very successful day.  Blackpool 6th Form were crowned the North West Seaside 10s Festival Plate Winners 2009.  A lot of positive feedback was received from all participating colleges, so we have decided to host the event again next year in order for us to defend our title.

We then participated in a Rugby League competition to try and forge links with Blackpool Panthers RFL.  The competition on the day was of a very high standard, with many established rugby league academies on show.  As one of only two rugby union colleges participating, the job at hand was always going to be hard.  However, the boys showed tremendous courage winning their group to make the cup competition semi final where we played old adversaries Blackpool & the Fylde College, beating them convincingly 26-4.  We then played Blackburn St Mary’s in the final, winning by 28-10 to claim our 3rd trophy of the season.

I would like to congratulate all players who have played for the Academy this season, especially those second year students who are going to pastures new.  As for next year, I envisage a better season with more talent, more wins and especially more trophies.

Thank you to you all

Paul Moran
Blackpool 6th Form Academy Manager