KEQMS Rugby Results 2008 / 2009

Thursday 16^th October vs. Lytham High School (Daily Mail Vale Rd2)

U15 Won 47 - 8

Tries: Higham (3), Dowds (3), Miles (3)

Con: Arciniega

KEQMS U15s welcomed Lytham High School on Thursday afternoon, in their first game in the Daily Mail Plate after being knocked out of the cup by a strong Lancaster side.

Lytham High kicked off and immediately won a scrum on the home sides 22m. KEQMS turned over the ball and attack wide but sloppy hands from the KEQMS backs let them down, this was to be the story of the half. KEQMS were soon on top however and from a quick tap penalty, good hand from the backs saw inside centre Ralph Dowds race in for a good try. Connor Miles added another soon after. Lytham High won a penalty under the post and took the three points easily. The home side were still on top but still their backs kept letting them down, while the forwards were playing great. When finally the back managed to get the ball down the line, Tom Higham was able to race in with his first try of the game. Another two tries from Connor Miles and Ralph Dowds ended the half with KEQMS 27-0 up.

Lytham High hit back in the second half and for the first 10 minutes seemed the better side however two quick scores from powerful winger Tom Higham soon put the game out of sight.  Connor Miles and Ralph Dowds added two scores late on before Lytham High responded with a try threw their forwards in the closing minutes.  KEQMS didn't play their best, but did what they had to do but unfortunately the happy mood was cut short as KEQMS lost two forwards to add to their long list of injuries as Ben Raybone had to go off with a suspected broken wrist and Alex Hoskinsson with a broken collarbone.  Our best wishes are with the two boys for a speedy recovery.  The final score was KEQMS 47 – 0 Lytham High

Saturday 8^th November vs. Arnold School

1stXV Won 15 - 8

Tries: Webb, Holland

Cons: Blackshaw

Pen: Blackshaw

2^nd XV Won 13 - 12

Tries: Auty, Pemberton

Con: Carson

U15 Lost 10 - 20

Tries: Williams

Cons: Arciniega

Pen: Arciniega

U14 Lost 0 - 50

U13 Lost 0 - 38

U12 Won 10 - 0

Tries: T. Lanigan (2)

U12B Lost 10 – 20

Tries: Sumner, Ackerley

Reports

1stXV

A usual local derby closely fought with no quarter given by either side. Played in difficult windy and wet conditions both sides had their chances but the result, in my opinion was a fair reflection of the try scoring opportunities that were created. Although at 8 all with 15 minutes to go playing into the wind, I probably would have accepted a draw if offered it at the time how much do I know! The game followed a strange pattern with Lytham dominating the first and last quarter and Arnold the middle two.

Lytham won the toss and decided to play with the elements in the first half. Lytham started the game well displaying a high level of confidence in conditions that did not lend themselves to handling. The backline produced several penetrating movements with some slick and accurate passing. From a well run move at the base of the scrum Number 8 Dale Martin fed scrum half Tom Webb who quickly transferred to inside centre Kelham O’Hanlon who hit a superb angle to split the Arnold defence. With a one on one and the full back to beat O’Hanlon unfortunately slipped and the chance had vanished. Fortunately for Lytham they were still deep in the Arnold half and good pressure saw them progress even further down the field. From a loose maul near the Arnold line Webb harried the clearance kick and charged it down and showing good anticipation won the race to the touch down. Unfortunately outside half Grant Blackshaw failed with what for him was a straight forward conversion attempt.

Lytham continued their good start with more positive play behind accurate  handling saw fullback Kenji King supporting another good break by O’Hanlon, using his pace well he just wasn’t able to deliver the final pass to the wing to finish the move. Lytham did come away with something with Blackshaw slotting a simple penalty.

Skipper Harry Ormsby was the next to profit from the good handling inside him being put into space and beating his opposite number on the outside but being hauled down just short of the line. Unfortunately for Lytham it was Arnold who were to profit as they gambled on their own line running the ball. Some sloppy defence saw the Arnold outside three quarters in space and some clinical drawing of the opponent saw them score against the elements, which visibly lifted their spirits. Half Time 8 – 5.

Not only had this late score lifted the opposition it had also had the effect to dishearten the home side. With the elements now in their face the Lytham side knew they were in for a hard battle to keep their slender 3 point lead. Using the wind to drill the touchline Arnold kept Lytham deep in their own half but solid defence from the Lytham back row and three quarters saw attacks being halted. Unfortunately during this process Lytham were heavily penalised but Arnold were unable to convert any of these opportunities. Yet again good play from the backs saw Blackshaw make a searing break and getting well behind the first line of Arnold defence before he was hauled down by the covering defence. With the Lytham lineout functioning well in the difficult conditions the supply of ball to the backs continued but with constant infringing in the loose Lytham continued to find themselves attacking from deep.

 

More ill discipline at the breakdown saw Arnold level the score with a penalty shot. With over 15 minutes to go Arnold looked favourites for the win with the elements in their favour. However the Lytham pack had different ideas. Suddenly they started to get on top, Luke Skyrme, Nick Cardus, David Johnson and Dale Martin seemed to be everywhere and with hooker Peter Erskine continuing to find his man in the lineout the flow of the game started to change. Excellent half breaks from Webb, supported well by Lewis Williams, saw Lytham deep in the Arnold 22, the backs handled well keeping the ball alive and with the breakdown just short of the line Vice Captain Ben Holland saw the mismatch and drove over for the score. Kicking into the wind Blackshaw added the 2. With little time left on the clock the usual last gasp drama reared its ugly head yet again. Failing to find touch Arnold ran the ball and from the ruck won a penalty. Kicking to the corner they won good ball and Lytham were offside so yet another penalty 15 metres in and 5metres from the line. The resulting chaos saw several penalties being retaken for Lytham not being 10m. But the Lytham line stayed intact and the solid defence saw Arnold eventually infringing and O’Hanlon kicking dead to claim the win. Full Time 15 – 8.

A well deserved victory which continues the excellent season that the First XV are having this year. We created numerous chances behind and with more clinical finishing we could have been further ahead at half time. As it was we had to play very well to grind out the victory with the elements in our face defending only a 3 point lead. Although it took us a little while to raise our game in the second half when it mattered we did and without the last few minutes of panic we would have run out comfortable winners. As it was it was the usual derby finish and we did well to hang on. The lineout, which struggled in the first half, was outstanding in the second half and high praise should go to hooker Peter Erskine who in the conditions in his first 1^st XV derby with such a large crowd managed to hit his target time after time. All of the backs performed manfully both in attack and defence and really looked the dominant force. I am sure that the whole side enjoyed the victory against their local rivals and will enjoy the years bragging rights over their Blackpool friends.

The atmosphere at the game was electric with one of the touchlines 4 to 6 people deep. I hope that the game was a good spectacle and reminds the people of the local community of the quality of players that could be in Fylde colours in years to come.

 

2ndXV

Unfortunately we started as poorly as we have done all season of kick off the forwards were weak in the rucks which lead to Arnold putting pressure on us and this put pressure on our scrum half who unfortunately miss kicked the ball and it ended up behind our line of players and their centre must have scored his easiest try all season. However straight off the restart we back in their faces with some great rucking by the forwards and quick play by the backs found us on the Arnold 5 metre line, some quick ball lead to a well executed backs move which put David Auty  in for a good try in the corner to level the scores to 5-5. The game levelled out after this but desperate play from the Arnold forwards and strong tackling and rucking by ours lead to a lot of penalties being given our way. Pearse Carson did some excellent kicks to the corner giving us ball in good areas of the pitch. However we found it difficult to penetrate the Arnold back line as there was a lot of slow ball through to their forwards diving over the ball and hands on the floor which they seemed to just get away with.

But with doing this one time too many gave us a penalty in front of the posts which Pearse took easily, making the score 8-5 to us. After this we showed how solid we were in defensive with some big tackles and some excellent turnover by the back row. After Arnold had being attacking for around 5 minutes a fantastic turn over by Nick Barker lead to Tom Pemberton getting the ball on our own 5 metre line and showing the strength and pace he’s used all season to break tackles and run to their 10 metre line when he was finally tackled in to touch.

At half time the score was 8-5 to KEQMS. Straight off the restart we started strong with some good tackles by Chris Williams and some aggressive rucking by Rob Taylor. Through this more penalties came our way and Pearce stuck them into their 22 every time. An overthrown defensive lineout by Arnold on the own 22 led to Tom Pemberton outmuscling the Arnold flanker for the ball and having an open run for him to get yet another try this season, this gave us a 13-8 lead. After this Arnold had a lot of possession which let sandy have numerous amounts of runs as there fly half only seemed to kick it down his throat. But when he did decide to pass they never got anywhere with great defence by centres Tom Richardson and Alasdair Killgallen. As we were clearing our lines their fullback surprisingly caught the ball for once but he probably wished he didn’t as he ran straight at Tom Richardson pulled out the biggest hit of the season, smashing him backwards and making him knock the ball on. This was the sort of defensive which won us the game. When we had the ball we moved forward every time but we just couldn’t put the finishing touches on. With time closing down Arnold to scored a conciliation try off the last play of the game to make the final score 13-12 to King Edwards.

U15

KEQMS U15s travelled to the close rivals Arnold for the local derby. Arnold kicked off and immediately put KEQMS under pressure through their strong forwards and won two quick penalties on the 22m line which they opted to kick. The penalties were both successful and Arnold led 6-0 after 10 minutes. KEQMS hit straight back from the restart when the KEQMS forwards turned over Arnold possession and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, unfortunately the kicked narrowly missed the right upright and the score remained 6-0. The game continued and the KEQMS backs were looking threatening and broke through the Arnold backline but on each occasion the covering defenders were able to get to the ball carrier and stop the King Edward attack.  Arnold began to take control midway through the 1^st half and KEQMS inability to clear their line resulted in a converted try from Arnold to make the score 13-0. Once again KEQMS regained possession from the restart and quick ruck ball resulted in Ralph Dowds breaking through the Arnold defence but unfortunately he knocked the ball on as he dived over the Arnold line.  However Arnold were offside in front an earlier ruck and again KEQMS had a penalty in front of the posts but once again another easy penalty was missed.   Late in the 1^st half KEQMS finally got on the scoreboard with a penalty by Emilio Arciniega but two basic errors gave easy possession back to Arnold in the KEQMS 22 and the Arnold forward powered over for a try to leave the half time score 3 – 20.

Most teams would have let their heads drop after conceding a try just before half time but the way the KEQMS team were playing and the spirit they have didn't let them stop and with the wind behind them knew they could do it. Straight from kick off KEQMS won a penalty straight in front of the stick which again was missed, but the Arnold full back dropped the ball over the line and flanker Matt Williams dived on the ball for a converted try to make the score 20-10. KEQMS began to build constant pressure in the Arnold 22 and with 10 minutes left in the match began to throw everything at the Arnold defence.  During this period KEQMS missed two more kickable penalties in front of the posts and wasted two overlap opportunities when simple passing would have result in a try. 

 

Never the less KEQMS carried on till the very death and as the full time whistle blew the King Edward boys were camped on the Arnold line but hadn’t been able to break through the solid Arnold defence. The Final score ended 20-10 to Arnold who had a great game and whose forwards played great. But you cannot falter the fight of the KEQMS players who never stopped trying and if not for a number of poor decisions and missed penalties the KEQMS boys could have probably won the game. But KEQMS won’t let this game get them down and will prove this by carrying on strongly in the Daily Mail Plate which continues for them next week with a long trip to Cumbria.

Final score 20-10.