KIRKHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY RESULTS - SATURDAY 7 JANUARY 2012

1^st XV v Old Swinford Hospital, Stourbridge

Lost 25-10

After a 4 week break, KGS 1st XV visited Old Swinford Hospital School Stourbridge one of the form schools in English schoolboy rugby this year. Kirkham were very rusty and made a number of poor decisions which gifted Old Swinford a 15 point early lead. Despite this setback Kirkham responded well and vice-captain and prop Phil Cringle was influential in Kirkham fighting back. Andrew Collins making his debut for the first team made a pleasing contribution as did a number of the pack.

Kirkham suddenly realised they could take Old Swinford on up front, and forced the Stourbridge school into mistakes. Cringle and no.8 Sam Peet scored tries within a 5 minute period to bring Kirkham right back into the game. The score remained at 15-10 for most of the second half, Kirkham's effort to fight back seemed to take its toil and Old Swinford scored two late tries to win 25-10, a score which did not reflect the game.

If KGS had played with more patience and composure they would not have given away the early points and could have won this game. Over the Christmas period Tom Hurst, Sam Peet, John Windle, Elliot Crowe and Charlie Swarbrick were all involved in North Of England Trials as well as representing Lancashire v Yorkshire. Phil Cringle has also progressed to the later stages of selection for Scotland under 18's.

2^nd XV v Old Swinford Hospital, Stourbridge

Lost 17-6

A totally depleted squad of sixteen players travelled to Old Swinford to represent the second team and there were seven changes to the starting line up from the team that faced Arnold before Christmas. However once again the team showed fantastic commitment, courage and energy and nearly produced a shock result against a very good opposition.

From the outset the pack battled against a much bigger opposition and with Rhys Williams, Joe Wareing, Lewis Leech and particularly Luke Woodward regularly breaking the opposition defence, the backs found themselves usually with a bit more time to put plays together. Sam Hargreaves and Jack Smith were back in partnership at half back and both picked holes in the opposition defence. Outside of them Marcus Eaton, Rob Lockhart and Adam Galley regularly came in looking for the ball and some excellent handling was seen. Dropped passes at crucial times caused us not to cross for a try but Sam Hargreaves kicked two penalties in the first half.

After taking the lead, the Kirkham side found themselves on the back foot and with Marcus Eaton taken out without the ball, Kirkham found themselves behind. Two missed tackles accounted for the other two tries and even though our lineout was not as good as we wished, there was always pressure on Old Swinford. Liam Marrows made his debut in the second half and the side will need to train hard this week for the fixture against a strong King’s, Macclesfield side next Saturday.

U16 XV v Old Swinford Hospital

Won 17-7

A pleasing win against a generally older and bigger 3rd XV from Old Swinford Hospital School. Kirkham played one of their best games of the season against this powerful team from Stourbridge. Kirkham seemed unaffected by the long journey as they started the game with control and aggression. The pack showed intent both in the loose and the tight plays and the backs used the ball wisely in a strong cross wind. Taking advantage of possession near the OSH line, a set move took a strong running Tom Hunter over the line for a well-deserved converted try. Old Swinford had plenty of possession, but strong defence denied them a scoring chance in the first half.

Old Swinford started the second half with determination, resulting in a forwards try under the posts. With the scores level. KGS defended their line superbly and using the wind advantage, were able to shift the ball up the pitch. Using possession in the opposition territory, a promising attack led to a penalty under the posts, converted by Lockhart, to gain a three point advantage. OSH responded with a wave of attacks, but again the Kirkham defence held firm despite some miss tackles. However, as Kirkham once again managed to get the ball up the pitch, a superb individual try from Lockhart running from the base of the pack, going blind and weaving his way through the defence, sealed the game in the last five minutes. Well done to all nineteen players who all made a great contribution to this performance.

U15A XV v Audenshaw High School

Won 41-14

Despite a strong comeback from Audenshaw in the second half, Kirkham were too powerful scoring four tries before half time. Kirkham started strongly with forwards dominating the rucks and the scrums. Powerful runs from Rhodes and Whalley, breaking through tackles, allowing Wilkinson and Twitchett to score. Excellent defence from Clarke and Joyner making tackles at crucial moments

U14A XV v Audenshaw High School

Won 34-8

2 Tries Charlie Abbott. 2 Tries Matt Thomas. 1 try Roland Burt. 3 conversions Todd Roper, 1 penalty Todd Roper.

Despite the result this was a tough fixture. Audenshaw worked hard in the opening twenty minutes to contain the Kirkham forwards allowing little opportunity for the Kirkham backs to see the ball. Audenshaw scored their first and only try in the opening three minutes. Whilst Kirkham were still trying to find their feet quite literally on the new 3G pitch. The Kirkham forwards eventually started to win ruck ball and worked extremely hard to gain possession. The continuing improving Charlie Abbott seized onto a loose pass in his own 22 metre line and raced through the Audenshaw defence to score an important try. The Kirkham front row of King, Campbell and Rawlinson worked hard throughout the game and made a positive contribution to the final result. At the end of the first half Kirkham were down 10 points to 8.

In the second half the Kirkham backs started to see more ball and have more time to exploit the opposition defence. George Carter (9) Todd Roper (10) and Jack Edwards (12) made some excellent runs and displayed some very good handling skills, to allow Matt Thomas (13) to score two excellent and well deserved tries. As the game continued Matt Thomas came into his own along with Charlie Abbott to run at the opposition and push them onto the back foot.

The Kirkham wing forwards of James Seward and Nick Coleman, made some excellent defensive tackles particularly in the 2^nd half, and gave the Kirkham forwards the momentum to move forward. In the final 5 minutes Roland Burt scored the fourth try of the game with the ball being passed through 10 pairs of hands. This was an excellent try by both Burt and the rest of the team. The game finally finished with Matt Thomas scoring his 2^nd and the teams fifth try in the final moments. An excellent team performance after a lengthy Xmas break. Man of the Match Charlie Abbott & Matt Thomas.

U13A XV v Audenshaw High School

Won 22-7

Kirkham pulled away for a very hard fought victory in the last 10 minutes of the game against a plucky and determined Audenshaw team who took the game to Kirkham from the start. The visitors enjoyed much of the early possession forcing Kirkham to defend stoutly which they did but unfortunately the pressure eventually told with Audenshaw scoring. Kirkham hit back and enjoyed more of the ball which allowed the forwards to create a platform, Chris Walker scoring after a neat break by his centre partner Henry Pearson.

The rest of the first half was even until the final minute when the forwards drove towards the Audenshaw line, the backs gained quick ball and Jack Culver crashed over after a final pass from Pearson. In the second half Kirkham, with the wind behind them, had even more possession which allowed them to dictate play and ultimately field position. Despite this Kirkham could not break through until the very end when Pearson rounded off a flowing backs move. Then right at the death, with the Audenshaw defence spread-eagled, scored the match clinching try, James Smith on hand taking a neat inside pass from Will Bruce.

U12A XV

Won 48-0

Kirkham achieved an excellent victory against spirited opponents playing an exciting brand of rugby.  The forwards won a flow of good, fast ball while the backs passed fluidly.  Tries were scored initially by stretching the defence and then finding space on the blindside but increasingly the backs found spaces in midfield.  One particular individual try from Topping exemplified good handling and strong running.  The half backs linked very well enabling Kieran Wilkinson to set up midfield runners and also to score a number of tries himself.  An excellent team effort.