KIRKHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY RESULTS – Saturday 15 NOVEMBER 2008

1^st XV v Llandovery College

Won 39-19

KGS 1^st XV played some excellent rugby against a highly talented Llandovery College who contained a number of Welsh Schoolboy Internationals.  KGS used the elements cleverly all afternoon, with both half=-backs Kieran Marmion and Daniel Bibby in outstanding form continually organising the KGS attacks.  Captain Jonathan Edwards made a number of rampaging runs and was well supported by flanker Tom Sanders.  After a number of forward drives, centre Wasim Riley skilfully released forward Kieran Brookes to score under the posts.  This was followed by a Jonathan Edwards try after a five metre scrum.  KGS forwards continued to dominate and a fine team try was finished by vice-captain and hooker William Stover.  At this stage it looked like Llandovery had cracked, but after a number of KGS errors they responded with two quick tries by their international centre.  KGS responded with their forwards outstanding and re-established and increased their lead with tries from James Hesketh (2) and Callum Bennett (1).  Bennett also converted a penalty and three conversions.  This was certainly the best performance of the season and KGS now look forward to playing Sedbergh School next Saturday.

2^nd XV v Llandovery College

Won 13-6

Against a very committed side in tough conditions, KGS ground out a win to keep their unbeaten record.  With possession a must, KGS held the ball for lengthy periods of the game but never really maintained momentum and lost the ball in contact or by poor handling at key moments.

Llandovery contained some excellent players in the pack and successfully thwarted many KGS attacked with strong defence.  Likewise in attack, Llandovery were met with some strong defence by KGS.  In the rare occasions when the ball went wide in open play.  KGS managed to cross the line (Cheng) but these opportunities were few and far between. In the second half, KGS showed some glimpses of being able to look after the ball in close quarters, playing the conditions well.  This resulted in a good push over try after a well worked line-out.

Much of the second half was played in the Llandovery half but KGS failed to finish off opportunities.  Credit must go to the Llandovery defence who held out resolutely.  With the score at 13-6 KGS had to defend their own line as the Llandovery forwards made in-roads into KGS territory, but good defence pushed the threat away.  KGS played a game of possession in the last five minutes to seal victory.

U16 v Bury Grammar School 1^st XV

This was always going to be a very tough fixture, particularly as the side were playing a team two years older than them.  The physicality difference in relation to other matches was apparent from the outset and the players showed that they were able to cope with the step up.  Once again the defence was excellent and was led well by Ryan Morton, Lucas Christiano and Stanley Graham.  After initially withstanding Bury’s attack, the side put a strong of phases together which led to Ben Jones kicking a penalty.  From the kick-off Bury made progress and were awarded a try which took the score at half-time to 7-3 to the hosts.  In the second half KGS started to control the game through some excellent kicking from Josh Keay and were rewarded by a try through Ryan Morton after he chased down a kick.  However with minutes left in the game, Stanley Graham was unfortunately injured and subsequently the match was stopped.    This week sees the team play Bolton in the Floodlit Cup on Wednesday (6.15 pm kick-off at Preston Grasshoppers) and Sedbergh next Saturday.

U15A v Llandovery College

Won 10-7

The first half offered some tremendous defending by the backs lead by Hurst and Roper, as well as some excellent attacking play by Precious Nwaokomah and Adam Galley.  An effective catch and drive by the forwards allowed Sam Hall to score under the post.  In the second half the forwards continued to dominate the set pieces.  An error by Llandovery provided Tom Hurst with the opportunity to score an impressive individual try.  Unfortunately, KGS gave away a soft try to Llandovery in the 40^th minute from a quick penalty tap on the five metre line.  Llandovery continued to put tremendous pressured on KGS in the final moments of the game but could not penetrate KGS’s defence.

U15 B team v Bury Grammar School A team

Lost 22-0

KGS B team started well but after keeping the score to a respectable 5-0 at half-time were finally overcome by a much stronger pack.  The final result, after a brave defensive effort was 22-0 against Bury’s A team.

U14B v Bury Grammar /School U14A

Lost 24-20

A close encounter in very difficult conditions. The U14B team battled well and played with a determined effort.  With a little more luck, they could quite easily have won this fixture.

U13XV v Bury Grammar School

Won 20-0

KGS dominated most aspects of the match with the help of fit again Lewis Leach and Adam Coates, in fact they scored two of the four tries, the others were from Jonathan Chan and Harry Mason.  The KGS backs looked strong from the beginning making ground with every move and the forwards had the better of the scrum and lineout.  Most pleasingly the KGS defence was solid when Bury had possession and this meant the score-line remained 20-0.

U12A/B v Bury Grammar School

Won 46-0

A combined team of A & B players went away to Bury and won convincingly.  Many of the A team players were asked to play out of their usual position and responded superbly.  A stream of ball gave a mainly B team back line an enjoyable morning of running and passing the ball and many were amongst the try scorers.