KIRKHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY RESULTS V ARNOLD, SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 2011

1^st XV

Won 71-3

Kirkham Grammar School 1st XV having held top rugby school Llandovery College to an 8-8 draw in their previous game made the short trip to near neighbours Arnold School. Kirkham seemed confident and positive in everything they did from the start. Captain and centre Tom Hurst lead well from the front and opened the scoring with a fine break, full back George Brookes added the conversion. Kirkham's second try was an excellent team try with winger Precious Nwaokomah making a fine break before off-loading to no.8 Sam Peet who continued the play and then again off loaded to centre Ben Swift to score.

KGS maintained their momentum and gained further tries followed from prop Phil Cringle, winger Sam Hall, and another Tom Hurst effort after a neat move .Full back Brookes  also kicked a penalty and three more conversions for a 36-0 half time lead. Although Arnold responded with a penalty centres Hurst and Swift continued to score at will both touching down with two more tries each. Replacement prop Dominic O'Connor also scored after some very pleasing inter-linking from the Kirkham team. George Brookes also converted another four tries for a personal tally of 19 points, whilst winger Sam Hall added a conversion late on.

2^nd XV

Won 67-0

Even with this match finishing slightly early, this was an impressive display by the 2nd team. The team scored eleven tries through Lewis Leech (4), Rhys Williams (3), Fraser Burnie, Sam Hargreaves, Hilton Bailey, Joseph Wareing and Sam Hargreaves kicked six conversions.

The team dominated from the outset but Arnold continued to battle throughout. The Kirkham pack dominated in the set pieces throughout with James Penrose and Andrew Collins superb in the second row. Ben Everson and Marcus Eaton regularly ventured off their wings and linked well with both Will and Robert Lockhart in the centres. Sam Hargreaves partnered Harrison Moulding well at half back and both dictated the play both through kicking and passing.

It was pleasing to see Hilton Bailey score the final try in his final appearance and with only three points conceded (apart from the Sedbergh game) in the second half of term, the second team have had a fantastic term of rugby.

U15A XV

Won 43-11

Despite the score line, this was a close encounter against a well-motivated Arnold side. KGS dominated and kept possession, allowing A Whalley and W Rhodes to score first. However the U15’s were too complacent allowing Arnold back into the game. Both teams were pretty close going into half time, score was 24-6.

After half-time, Arnold again stepped up and scored immediately (24-11). Suddenly Kirkham bean to play again. C Scott scored a creative individual try, whilst J Welch the replacement showed some excellent skills and set up C Wilkinson twice to score.

U14A XV

Won 26-7

2 Tries Charlie Abbott, 2 Tries Joshua Keelan. 3 conversions Todd Roper.

This was a rather poignant fixture, the last ever rugby match against Arnold School. However, despite the weather conditions the team played very well, and had it not been for a very gritty performance by the Arnold forwards, the score could have much greater. Kirkham were without two key players, Matt Thomas the outside centre, and Ed Lavelle prop forward. So last minute changes were necessary. We started well by using both wingers to attack the Arnold defence. Roland Burt, and Ben Le Saint, seeing plenty of the ball. In the opening five minutes the Kirkham fullback Josh Keelan side stepped the centre and scored an excellent try running 80 metres, after some good play from the stand-off Roper, and the outside centre Seward.

The forwards had their work cut out by a determined performance by the opposition forwards. The Kirkham front three of Tyrone Cartmell, Jack Campbell, and Grady Rawlinson all performed well. The outstanding Abbott scored his first try with an excellent piece of play from midfield, seizing an opportunity to cut through the Arnold defence, after good inter play of hands by George Carter, and Jack Edwards. Josh Keelan, who had a very impressive performance, scored his second try from the left wing cutting inside, after some innovative play by the Kirkham back line, Seward, and Edwards again linking well. At half time the players were comfortable with a 21-0 lead.

In the second half Kirkham played some excellent open rugby, but the Arnold players didn’t give up and there was some positive tackling from both sides. Abbott scored his second and the team’s fourth and final try with an excellent pick up from the base of the scrum. The teams fitness clearly showed through, plus some very good handling and passing particularly from the backs. Arnold scored in the final moments of the game, with the score finishing at 26-7.

U13A XV

Won 46-5

Kirkham won this local derby in convincing style after a first half which saw Kirkham race to a 31-0 lead. The home side enjoyed plenty of possession from the kick off and ran the ball with precision and skill which gave the winger time and space to manoeuvre. Henry Pearson scored the first try after a surging run down the left and centre Chris Walker followed soon after a similar run down the opposite flank. Arnold kelp battling, however and caused Kirkham some problems with some powerful forward bursts. Pearson scored his second try after good work from flanker Will Smith who gained quick possession from a ruck to feed the backs.

The second half saw Kirkham make several changes and although they found their rhythm difficult to retain, still scored three more tries, with Pearson completing a hat-trick and Akinyinka George-Taylor scoring two after 40 metre runs. Matthew Newby kicked three conversions.

U12A XV

Won 34-12

On a small pitch Kirkham were always going to find it hard to find space, particularly against a well organised pack of forwards. However the Kirkham pack matched their opponents up front and won many of the rucks in the opening encounters. Kirkham opened the scoring with a well taken try by Carr in the corner. Arnold responded with an interception try. Kirkham then put a series of attacks together into the wind and after a series of phases Ryan Leach used some excellent footwork to score a good try.

Kirkham therefore led at half time, but with the conditions now in their favour the game looked likely to swing their way. Two quick tries by Wilkinson and Topping confirmed this and gave them a gave them some breathing space. Arnold pressurised the Kirkham line and scored a try, despite some great defence. Kirkham re-grouped though, and with further scores by Wilkinson and Hughes a pleasing win was secured. Well done to all 21 players who played, no-one looked out of place in this game.