Rugby This season saw a change in our fixture card with a number of new opponents, providing us with new challenges. St John’s Beaumont proved a stiff first test for some of the younger age groups and the Seniors were able to get the better of the Oratory School. Towards the end of the season we achieved a clean sweep against Pangbourne College along with some convincing wins for the seniors against our local rivals, Lord Wandsworth College. We had a successful cup run with the U15s who reached the area plate final, away against the sporting powerhouse Wellington College. With the high turn outs at training and the enthusiasm with the boys’ commitment to rugby, we are confident that we will continue to go from strength to strength as we welcome our new Head of Rugby, Ben Skirving.
1st XV
The statistics don’t tell the whole story, but they do give us a start with the 1st XV playing 17 matches winning nine and drawing one, so a successful season with a 59% win ratio. It was just a shame to lose some close ones that we could have swung our way (Gordons, PGS, Salesian and Pangborne spring to mind). One result that does stand out is the victory at Shiplake with the last kick of the game - a good memory but more grey hairs for me on the touchline.
have been top of the tackle count over the season. Both showed huge commitment and should be proud of their efforts - being leaders of the Senior Squad is much more than the work put in on the pitch on match days and this pair should be proud of their efforts both on and off the pitch. This season was very much a squad effort with a total of 32 players representing the 1st XV. We also had over 45 active players with the senior squad, which is a testament to the commitment and enjoyment of the game that this group of players had. This was a talented side with many voices and at times, they could be excellent particularly with the ball in hand. Perhaps we lacked a bit of patience in that we did have a tendency to go for the high-risk killer move too early and a little more patience would have led to better results. However, their skills and ability to work as a team was shown by a fine run in the Hampshire Cup where we ultimately failed to defend our title in the final where we came up against a fine Peter Symonds side who deserved the victory on the day.
2nd XV
The Second XV set themselves two goals at the start of the season: to be the hardest working team in the school and secondly, to be the most fun team to play for. It was wonderful to look back at the end of the season and say we smashed 50% of our goals!
The squad was ably led by Joe Knowles who was also top scorer, backed up by Ollie Mutch who must
The boys showed outstanding character in taking the rough with the smooth and were competitive in
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every encounter. However, despite their efforts, some sterling defence and mind games against strong opponents at Reading Bluecoat’s, PGS and Shiplake, they found themselves starring down the barrel of a winless season (an opening day draw with Oratory aside). However, a trip to riverside Pangbourne proved to be their salvation. In the driving rain they rallied from behind to win an enthralling match, with a standout individual try from stand-off Fin Egan the high point. A first victory was no more than the boys deserved for their efforts and resilience and capped a fine, fun-filled season for the team and plenty of great memories for the departing Upper Sixth.
U16As
A most enjoyable season with a thoroughly brilliant group of personalities unfortunately fizzled out as the opposition teams heard of their strength and pulled out of the final three fixtures. Indeed, with a hugely powerful pack, with talented props and hookers, we did not have a contested scrum after half-term, which must be a record! Whilst the opposition might have seen that we were big and powerful, they hadn’t counted on the fact that the pack was also fit and fast across the board and so no scrums meant we would get to the breakdown early and dominate there instead. The backs, too, had an enviable mix of brains, brawn, guile and deftness, allowing them to break the gainline in a plethora of ways and at speed. As a whole team, they
