KIRKHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL RUGBY RESULT v WIRRAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL, SATURDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2009

1st XV

Won 55-0

KGS travelled to the Wirral full of confidence from the previous week’s win against Calday.  After strong early Wirral pressure KGS settled and with vice-captain and centre Sean Condon scored two tries.  Young fly-half Tom Hurst also impressed helping himself to a good try.  KGS started to run Wirral off the park with some sparkling handling. The Marmion brothers were in top form, with winger Liam scoring three tries and Kieran (scrum-half) one.  Callum Bennett also collected 15 points as he continued his impressive start to the season.  Finally, flanker Matthew Edgar got on the end of some clever inter passing for a further try.

2^nd XV

Won 48-6

In a scrappy first half, KGS struggled to capitalize on possession.  Failing to support players who had made a break and some poor kicking left KGS without much to show on the scoreboard.  Only a Beswick try gave KGS any points and they found themselves at half time down 6-5 due to two Wirral penalties.

However, in the second half KGS used possession much more wisely and the back began to make incisive breaks, none more than Stan Graham who scored two tries.  As the pack took control, Ed Gill pounced on the opportunity to score two more tries, whilst Precious and Adam Galley also crossed the line as the Wirral defence became weaker.  As the game went on KGS got stronger and stronger and should be satisfied with their second half efforts.  A penalty and five conversions took the3 score to 48-6 on the final whistle.

U15B XV

Lost 44-22

The U15B’s played Wirral A/B’s on Saturday.  KGS knew they were playing against tough opposition despite a slow start.  KGS played with a lot of commitment and courage.  Harry Rimmer led the way on the forwards along with Oliver Hulme making crucial tackles and turn-overs.  In the backs Callum Paley and Sam Brooker did tremendously well to break through Wirral’s defensive line to set up Tom Baybutt and Henry Chi to cross the line.

U14A

Lost 32-26

This was a fiercely contested match with both teams working hard and giving little away.  This was without doubt the U14’s best performance to date and they should have won the fixture.  All the forwards played with determination and performed well.  Josh Burrows, Lewis Leech and Harry Mason did play exceptionally well in the pack.  Hunter, Lewis Leech, James Penrose and Sam Norris scored good individual tries and kept the Wirral defence under pressure for most of the game.  Unfortunately missed tackles did cost us the game.  In the backs, Will Lockhart and Rob Lavelle worked tirelessly throughout the game and made a significant contribution.

U13 XV

Won 24-10

KGS continued their unbeaten start to the season with a relatively comfortable victory over Wirral despite falling behind to an early try following a sustained period of possession by the visitors.  This seemed to rally KGS who began to thrust forward and make good yardage particularly through Scott Collins and Oscar Twitchett who put KGS level with Josh Powell converting.  KGS continued to dominate possession after the opening try with Hadley Price burrowing over in the corner after a series of drives.   In the second half, with Wirral tiring, KGS moved the ball freely with David King and Conor Wilkinson making fine breaks and indeed King scored the third try after a jinking run.  From the kick-off, KGS ploughed forward and a fine backs move ended with Ellis Clarke diving over to make the score a resounding 24-5.  Wirral had the final say with a fine score right on time with their captain finishing off a flowing movement to touch down in the corner.

U12A XV

Won 29-0

The U12’s started their season with an excellent win over Wirral GS.  The forwards led by the hardworking Charlie Abbott were able to win enough ball to let free the exciting runners in the backs.  Full-back Tom Gargett was a constant threat to the Wirral defence with his elusive running.  However, it was some slick passing along the three-quarter line that led to the first try scored by Benedict Le Saint.  The KGS backs always threatened when they got the ball and they scored all the tries – James Keelan (2) and Matthew Neill (1).  The best try of the game was the last one when winger Ollie Crankshaw jinked his way through the Wirral defence.  The forwards can also feel very pleased with their efforts during the game with many promising performances.  James Todd Roper added two conversions.

U12B XV

Lost 33-17

The opening game of the season saw the U12B team take on a strong Wirral side.  The start of the game saw the KGS side playing very well, and they opened the score through an excellent try from captain Ben Clowes, whose strong running was one of the highlights of the morning’s play.  Unfortunately we could not convert the try.  It soon became clear that Wirral had the stronger side, but KGS were definitely better technically, and so good work from the pack in the scrums and quick delivery from scrum half Sachin Nantheesan allowed the backs to dominate the opening play with some good passing and forward running.  However, this was not to last long and Wirral quickly scored two concerted tries.

To their credit the KGS boys continued to focus on doing the basics well, and following some good tackling from Jack Buckingham and Michael Lewthwaite to pin the Wirral side back, Sam Walsh was set free for a well crafted try, which was converted by Will Forsyth.  It was certainly not reflective of the quality of the rugby played by the KGS XV, that Wirral’s strong runners allowed them to  score three more tries in quick succession.  The boys will have to learn to tackle low when faced with larger opposition.  However, the move of the game came towards the end of the match.  Following some good during by Elliot Turnock, Will Forsyth burst through the Wirral defence.  The resulting move saw Sachin Nantheesan pick the ball up and run over for a thoroughly deserved try.