Local Schools Rugby
Kirkham GS
KGS U'17s win Manchester Development tournament
KGS U'17s win Manchester Development tournament
During the half term break Kirkham Grammar School U17's competed in the prestigious Manchester Grammar School U17 Development Tournament featuring most of the top schools from the North West and Yorkshire. KGS were drawn in a group with Bradford Grammar School and Audenshaw School.Â
KGS started well against Bradford, with the forwards (especially Bobby Garlington, David Egelstaff and Matthew Ellis in good form), allowing the backs plenty of space. Talented backs Michael Simmonds (fly-half), Tom Hurst (centre) and Sam Hall took advantage of this space and all of them scored tries as well as looking dangerous all day. KGS dominated Bradford winning 21-0.Â
A number of changes in the starting team for the Audenshaw game initially disrupted patterns, but with props Jon Evans and Micky Papangelis leading the way, KGS ran out 12-0 winners and allowing them to go into the top league to contest the cup in the main competition.Â
This league contained the winners of all other groups (Sedbergh School, Manchester Grammar School, Leeds Grammar School and Kirkham Grammar School). KGS played Leeds first and with the forwards again dominating Sam Hall was put away for an excellent team try. Full back Stanley Graham was also in good defensive form which typified the good defence of all the KGS team. KGS ran out 12-0 winners.Â
KGS then turned their attention to the host team Manchester Grammar School, and from the very start dominated their opponents. Again, props Evans and Papangelis were in rampaging form and KGS soon scored. KGS completely controlled the game and although they should have scored more points they ran out 5-0 winners.
The final game of the group was against Sedbergh School (who had beaten Lees but drawn with Manchester). KGS having beaten Sedbergh the previous week started with confidence and soon centre Chris Kohler had given KGS a 5-0 lead. A lead which they kept until the last 5 mins. Strong KGS defence contained Sedbergh and forced them into mistakes; however, they drew level (5-5). A frantic last five minutes was a credit to schoolboy rugby with both teams having chances but with the last play of the game Sedbergh seemed to have got away until full back Stanley Graham produced a match saving tackle on the Sedbergh winger. The final score was 5-5, which allowed KGS to become overall winners and taking this trophy for the first time.









