KIRKHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL - RUGBY RESULTS V ST AMBROSE COLLEGE

SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 2009

1st XV

Won 53-15

After a mid-week 46-24 win over Ignatius Park College (Queensland), KGS 1st XV travelled to St Ambrose and were involved in an entertaining game, with both teams trying to put pace on the ball.  KGS's greater power up front allowed them to gain control.  Centres Sean Condon (Captain of the day) and Ben Jones were in good form, and in fact it was Jones who scored the first try after good interlinking between forwards and backs.  St Ambrose responded in a positive way and scored a try after slack marking by KGS.  The Marmion brothers were also in good form helping themselves to a number of tries either side of half-time finishing off some fluent KGS attacks and taking them into a comfortable lead.  Hooker Josh Woods made a number of powerful runs into the opposition half which eventually helped to release young winger Sam Hall to score in the corner. St Ambrose was kept in the game when KGS gave an interception try away, however, late scores by Josh Woods and Callum Bennett pulled KGS clear again.

2nd XV

Won 48-0

KGS produced its best performance of the season in this victory over St Ambrose.  Although it took 15 minutes to score, KGS gathered momentum and scored a total of seven tries.  The backs had the ability to find gaps throughout the game, and most of the tries came about through telling breaks created out wide.  The forwards dominated the set piece and turned over much of the opposition possession.  The tackling and defence throughout the game were sound.  A pleasing victory.

U16 XV

Won 28 - 7

It was clear that this was always going to be a difficult fixture, particularly as KGS was informed before kick-off that the opposition had reached the quarter final of the Daily Mail Cup in the previous season.  From the outset the team worked hard, but was clearly up against a very good side, which for the first twenty minutes seemed to be turning ball over at will.  However KGS competed well in the loose and was unfortunate not to get on the score-board after some good forward pressure.  However St Ambrose finally scored with five minutes of the half to go and after a quiet team talk behind the posts, KGS set about stringing phases together and were rewarded with a finely taken try by Precious Nwaokomah, which was converted by William Roper.

Half-time ended all square and with Adam Galley motivating the team at half-time, the work rate was increased and after three minutes of the second half, Adam Galley scored a crucial try after being fed by Harrison Moulding.  The front row of Joseph Wareing, Reece Williams and Patrick Callery then exerted more pressure and earned the team two crucial penalties that William Roper slotted over.  Some fine kicking by Roper and tackling by Joseph Walsh and Fraser Burnie led to another turn over and Craig Whalley-Hunter was rewarded for his excellent performance with a try.  Roper converted this and added another penalty to put the match beyond doubt.  With players coming back in this week, this was an excellent performance before Lancaster Royal Grammar School next week.

U15A XV

Won 7-5

The U15A's were lucky to win against a strong St Ambrose side on Saturday. St Ambrose had most of the possession in the first half, in fact KGS was defending constantly in the first twenty minutes.  The tremendous defence frustrated St Ambrose and they only managed to score a try out wide and missed the conversion.  The second half was a similar story apart from KGS had most of the possession and the strong wind certainly played a huge part.  Good pressure and ball retention from the forwards led by Charles Redshaw and Andy Collins allowed Scott Rudd to score a breakaway try under the post and this was converted by Ryan Wilkinson.

U15B XV

Won 32-5

U14A XV

Lost 17-0

U14B XV

Lost 0-22

On a windy morning KGS U14B's began their season's fixtures against St Ambrose. Although the opposition were resounding winners in the end, there was much to be optimistic about.  The KGS boys battled hard but a few missed tackles cost them dearly with two early tries conceded. The backs had several decent attacks particularly in the second half but could not quite get over the opponents line.  The two main areas to work on are tackling and rucking, but it was good to see heads never drop and the team battled hard right to the end.                         

U13A XV

Won 42-7

KGS U13's recorded a convincing win over physically larger opponents on Saturday with a first half display which stunned St Ambrose.  Six tries were scored in a one sided half with Connor Wilkinson crashing over after a sweeping move involving all the backs followed immediately by Harvey O'Connell after a similar move.  The KGS forwards worked hard driving St Ambrose back continually and provided the backs with plenty of ball which allowed them to several phases of possession.  Further tries were scored by Sam Sisson, Connor Wilkinson and Alex Whalley.  The second half was a little disappointing mainly due to the windy conditions but KGS did add two more scores with Wilkinson completing a hat-trick and Oscar Twitchett weaving his way through a now demoralised St Ambrose team.  Overall this was KGS's best performance of the season which should bode well for the next two encounters against rivals Lancaster and the highly rated RGS Newcastle

U13B XV

Lost 22-0

U12A XV

Won 26-5

After two late withdrawals on the morning it meant that the team had to be reorganised with Matthew Thomas and Sam Walsh making their debuts.  The team was slow to get going after its practice game against Arnold on the Friday afternoon and St Ambrose took the lead when their winger scored an excellent individual try.  This proved to be an early wake up call to the KGS side and the forwards responded positively by taking control of the game.  After a long period of pressure Matthew Nell dived over.  Ben Clowes scored soon after for KGS to take a 14-5 lead at half-time.  In the second half, Sam Walsh scored an excellent try in the corner and James Steward scored a second from a line out on the opposition line.  An excellent result with so many key players missing.

U12B XV

Lost 29-0