KIRKHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY RESULTS

UCLanSport Floodlit U16 Cup - 2 December 2009

Sandbach   5               KGS    12 (AET)

After the tough result at the weekend, the U16 return to the field in the floodlit cup, with high hopes of progressing to the latter stages. However even though immense pressure was placed on the opposition in the opening ten minutes, the team struggled to convert this into points and subsequently after a scrappy first half the teams turned around still scoreless.

In the second half a lapse in concentration saw Sandbach take the lead and with this KGS started to play. The pack through Craig Whalley-Hunter, Will Fleuriot and Jack Loxham started to compete at the breakdown area and subsequently more ball was given to the backs. With Sam Hall and Adam Galley starting to run some attacking angles, KGS started to put some pressure on the Sandbach midfield and with time running out a break by Harrison Moulding led to an attack down the right and Sam Hall scored to tie the scores up. Unfortunately the conversion was missed and the teams went into extra time.

With KGS clearly having the momentum, Mickey Papangelis nearly scored in the first period of extra time, before Precious Nwaokomah finished off a break from Sam Hall and sealed the tie by racing seventy metres to score under the posts. William Roper converted the try. With a controlled final few minutes, Kirkham saw out the time and progressed to a quarter final that is to be played in January.

SATURDAY 5 DECEMBER 2009

KGS 1ST XV v Woodhouse Grove

Won 46-0

KGS 1st XV welcomed Woodhouse Grove to Ribby Road, they had been having a good season with numerous wins.  On a wet and muddy pitch KGS played their best rugby of the season with backs and forwards inter-linking throughout.  A number of forward drives led prop Jon Evans to score the opening try of the game.  This was quickly followed by a well constructed team try finished off by Liam Marmion.  KGS took complete control of the game and the forwards provided the platform for scrum half Kieran Marmion to direct wave after wave of attack.  Michael Simmons, Sean Condon and Sam Hall all helped themselves to tries as KGS opened holes everywhere in Woodhouse Grove's defence.  Kieran Marmion also ran in two tries during this period of sustained attacks.  Although Woodhouse tried to respond it was only time before KGS scored again with reserve hooker Edward Gill completing an excellent day's work.  Two of KGS's 1st XV members Tom Hurst and Sam Hall have been selected for the North of England U16 Trial next weekend. Both boys have contributed highly to KGS 1st XV's success this season.

U15 XV v Ermysteds Grammar School

Won 18-3

KGS U15 rugby team travelled to Ermysteds Grammar School in Skipton in The Daily Mail Cup.  It was a wet, blustery morning and both sides found the conditions in the first ten minutes difficult.  There was not much free flowing rugby, with Ermysteds choosing to kick the ball on almost all occasions.  This held KGS in their twenty two for the next ten minutes until Ermysteds scored from a penalty.  However, KGS's defence was strong and they held on to a draw (3-3) until half time after a penalty conversion from the centre Sam Hargreaves.  In the second half, with the wind in their favour, KGS stepped up the attack and after quick hands along the backs Sam Hargreaves scored a try and was also successful with the conversion.  After controlled and aggressive play from the forwards, the backs combined well and we saw KGS winger Ben Rhodes-Power score in the corner.  A further penalty against Ermysteds resulted in another three points from Sam Hargreaves and a deserved victory to KGS.

U14 XV v Woodhouse Grove

Lost 48-0

A difficult game in difficult conditions.  KGS played quite well in the first half with solid contributions from Hunter, Mason, Leech and Penrose.  However, in the second half the forwards lost their way a little and dropped their heads.  The backs did continue to tackle as well as one could ask a memorable performance from Miles Rawlinson at full back.  This was a game that won't go down in the records as a classic, but one that the U14's will learn from.

U13 XV v Woodhouse Grove

Lost 21-12

KGS lost a close contest away at Woodhouse Grove despite having several chances to win, indeed with the score at 14-12 and deep into injury time, the home side pounced on a KGS handling error, kicked through and scored under the posts.  The first half saw Woodhouse score two tries, one from a blind side break and the other from a good break from their lively fly-half.  This meant KGS had to up their game to get back into the contest.  Connor Scott replied with a good effort just before half-time and late in the second half Sam Sisson rumbled over from 10 meters after excellent work by the KGS forwards, Henry Cameron converting.