Year 7 Rugby

A Happy Christmas indeed and a wonderful way to finish an Autumn Term of rugby!  After a disappointing defeat away to Bridgewater High School last Tuesday, the boys were keen to bounce back and so they did in style this afternoon with a draw at local rivals Altrincham Grammar School for Boys.  In fact, we should have come away with a victory as their teacher very graciously acknowledged.  I was delighted that the boys responded to some harsh (but very fair criticism) from Coach Beeley following last week’s below-par performance; our defensive press was vastly improved and put AGSB under real pressure and we took our chances well.  To be 3 tries to 1 down with under 10 minutes left to play, showed true grit, determination and resilience; characteristics which will stand us in good stead for the Spring Term. There were still one or two silly mistakes borne out of naivety and a lack of experience in match situations, but it will come, of that I have no doubt.  ALL the boys contributed to a fabulous performance and it’s always difficult to pick out individuals but it was great to have Joe Hughes and his big ‘hits’ back in the centre, the Lewis boys gave us the ‘go forward’ every team needs, Josh Wilson made several superb try-saving tackles and Ollie Jones and Harry Edmundson both ran the game well when at fly-half.  I could go on. However, I would have to award Man of the Match to Isaac Povey.

We have deliberately arranged tougher fixtures this season and the boys are learning well from defeats to quality opposition; it’s the best way to improve.  We will continue to challenge ourselves next term and if today is anything to go by, the boys are certainly ‘up for it’!  Well done, gents, on a great first term of Wellington rugby.