ARNOLD U15’S SEVENS TOURNMENT – THURSDAY 1 MARCH 2012

Having had a very successful season in 15’s, KGS started their 7’s season at Arnold School with intense training, the U15’s had high hopes of retaining the cup two years in a row.

KGS had Bolton School, Merchant Taylors’ Crosby, Bury Grammar School and St Mary’s Crosby in their group. Winning the group games comfortably KGS progressed to the semi-final against Giggleswick School. KGS struggled in the first couple of minutes to break through a strong Giggleswick defence but the U15’s kept their composure and eventually came out winners and through to the final to face the host Arnold School.

In the exciting final, KGS managed to score two tries with no reply. Arnold scored just before half time. KGS continued to move the ball around the park in the second half and Daniel Radford scored a brilliant individual try and Arnold caved in. KGS retained the title two years running.

Group Stages

Won v Bolton School 36-5

Won v Merchant Taylors’ 34-0

Won v Bury Grammar School 34-7

Won v St Mary’s, Crosby 45-5

Semi Final

Won v Giggleswick 36-0

Final

Won v Arnold 24-12

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NORTH OF ENGLAND SEVENS TOURNAMENT AT BIRKENHEAD PARK ON SATURDAY 3 MARCH 2012

1^st VII

Kirkham GS 1ST V11 reached the final of North of England Plate Competition at Birkenhead Park. After finishing second in their group with wins over Sandbach School 28-10 and RGS Newcastle 34-19 (with some many tries coming from Ben Swift, George Brookes and Sam Hall), they went to the quarter-final. There they met Birkenhead School and with Sam Peet, Elliot Crowe and Robbie Lockhart controlling the game and Precious Nwaokomah running a try a 21-5 victory came about.

In the semi-final Kirkham played Hereford Cathedral School and went 12-0 down quickly. Ben Swift then scored a good try to give KGS a chance. Hereford keep their lead until replacement fly-half Will Lockhart scored a fine individual try to equal the scores. The game now went into sudden death and very quickly Elliot Crowe scored the winning try which gave KGS a place in the final. Despite losing in the final to Manchester GS, Kirkham played some excellent sevens and continued to improve during the day.

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PACKWOOD HAUGH SEVENS TOURNAMENT – SATURDAY 3 MARCH 2012

The Kirkham Grammar School U13 squad won the prestigious Packwood Haugh Sevens Tournament, one of the top Prep School Tournaments in England, for the first time on Saturday 3 March ending the tournament undefeated and only conceding three tries in the process. The group stages saw Kirkham compete against Prestfelde winning 33-5, Oswestry School 36-0 (Henry Pearson hat-trick) and in the final group match beating previous winners St. Olave’s 19-12 with a victory gained during the last play of the game, Pearson once again scurrying down the left hand side to score in the corner.
The quarter final saw Kirkham play Adams’ Grammar who presented a formidable task but Kirkham enjoyed large amounts of possession, on a narrow pitch, but still managed to score six tries with another Pearson hat-trick, Chris Walker (2) and Captain Jack Culver were the other scorers, Kirkham running out easy victors 38-0. The semi was against Wisbech Grammar School, Cambridge who had emerged from the group stages with some convincing victories but it was Kirkham who gained the early initiative moving the ball well from side to side before breaking down the Wisbech defence with telling breaks notably from Chris Walker and first year fly half Kieran Wilkinson. However it was Pearson who again dominated with his third hat trick scoring from long range on each occasion, Culver added the final try in a 35-0 victory.

The final saw Kirkham meet last year`s tournament winners Bromsgrove School who presented  a physical challenge to Kirkham but after electing to receive from the kick off Kirkham enjoyed the opening exchanges with plenty of possession. In fact they raced to a 19-0 lead with a Wilkinson hat-trick who showed strength and pace to muscle over, with two tries from 60 metres, he also kicked two conversions. Kirkham took this lead into half time and thoroughly deserved to be ahead matching Bromsgrove with some superb first up tackles and aggression in the contact area, Chris Walker also made some searing breaks to set up two tries. After some pressure on the Kirkham line and a last ditch tackle by Wilkinson, Kirkham won a scrum on their own line; showing excellent composure and skill, the ball was worked to winger Pearson who rounded his man to sprint over from 80 metres which gave Kirkham a comfortable cushion. Pearson finished off another flowing move at the death with Wilkinson adding yet another conversion to give Kirkham a very convincing victory 33-0.

The whole squad deserve plaudits for the manner of their play during the Tournament where very few mistakes were made and an excellent line out allowed Kirkham huge amounts of possession.

Kirkham squad

Jack Culver (captain)
Matthew Newby
Jonathan Smith
Gabriel Bland
Kieran Wilkinson
Chris Walker
Henry Pearson
Alex Mayhall
MatthewLlewthwaite