KIRKHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL’S RUGBY RESULTS V CALDAY GRANGE ON SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008

1^st XV

Won 55-0

KGS 1^st XV maintained their unbeaten run with a convincing victory over Calday Grange Grammar School on the Wirral last Saturday.  A powerful display by a number of forwards especially by Tom Sanders, David Ellis and Josh Woods, allowed vice-captain and hooker William Stover to claim two early tries.

After a number of good breaks by centre Tommy Banks, KGS continued to keep the scoreboard flowing, tries by Jonathan Edwards, Stephen Hamilton, James Gardiner and Tommy Spencer followed.  Whilst full back Callum Bennett reached the hundred point barrier for the season with a number of successful conversions.

KGS now look forward to the challenge of top schools Llandovery College and Sedbergh in November.

2^nd XV

Won 26-19

KGS despite superior age and physical advantage struggled against a skilful Calday team who had success last year in the Daily Mail Vase Competition.

KGS failed to dominate in the set piece and were frequently dispossessed in the loose.  This led to a fragmented game which favoured the potent speed of some of the Calday players.  Leading at half time 14-0 with two tries (Edgar and Gyi) KGS should have pushed away.  Another try (Morecombe) gave a comfortable lead, but Calday came back with three well worked tries to put KGS under real pressure.  Only a try by Edgar in the closing minutes sealed the victory, made more comfortable by three conversions by Jones.

U15AXV

Win 27-12

After a couple of poor performances, it was essential that the team got back to winning ways and they started strongly with a try from the Captain Tom Hirst and a conversion by Will Roper.  Calday scored a lucky try and at half time the score was 7-5 to KGS.  However, tries from Michaelis Papangelis and Sam Hall (converted by Will Roper) were well deserved after a great defensive performance from the whole team limited Calday to only one other score.  KGS went further ahead with a penalty from Will Roper and another try from Sam Hall after an excellent support play from their own half.  The boys showed that a disciplined defence and a controlled attack is the way forward.

U14AXV

Won 52-0

Overall an excellent performance by KGS and the score reflects a lot of determination and hard work by both the forwards and backs.  Calday gave a gritty performance but the KGS forwards were just too strong physically and technically.  Sam Gayle (man of the match) and Matthew Beaty had excellent performances.  The backs all performed well under the guidance of Captain Ryan Wilkinson.  Tries: Ben Rhodes-Powers (3), Ryan Wilkinson (2), Matthew Beaty (2) and Charles Redshaw (1). Conversions - Matthew Beaty (6).

U13AXV

Lost 0-29

This was a much improved performance from KGS who finally started to believe in themselves.  The tackling during the whole game showed a marked improvement to previous weeks which was just as well as Calday were physically bigger than the home side.  The first half was virtually all Calday with KGS turning round 19-0 down but the reverse was evident after the break with the KGS pack picking and driving forward with tenacity led by Naved Shaikh-Soltan and the robust Tom Hunter.  Calday did add two further scores late on but the second half possession was and territory was dominated by an improved KGS side.

U12AXV

Won 24-0

The first five minutes was a very strange affair with KGS determined to attack the sidelines more than the opposition try line.  This was followed by an excellent team try with Conor Wilkinson scoring after the team had secured about ten phases of open play.  The ease with which the try was scored suggested that the U12’s were going to romp away with the game but the opposition defended bravely and made the team work hard for the rest of their points.  In a very entertaining game tries were scored by Conor Wilkinson (2), one of which was a superb solo effort, Josh Powell who also scored two conversions and Henry Joyner who scored on his debut for the A side.