14 October 2024
U15 national cup vs The Grange
18.10.24
The U15 squad took on The Grange School in round 2 of the national cup. The squad were well prepared and excited to take to the pitch in what was set to be a tough match.
KGS absorbed some pressure earlier on and it took the squad time to get into their stride.
Once they settled, the girls executed great skill across the pitch with M Hartley-Smith and Edwards impressing at the back.
Great attacking midfield play from Osborne, Whittle and Ely set Miles and Melling free up front to create chances in front of goal.
Whilst players peppered the goal, some great goal keeping from The Grange kept KGS out!
A great individual run from Osborne opened up space for the ball to be slotted into the bottom corner of the goal taking the score to 1-0. This was enough for the KGS girls as the final whistle was blown. They now meet Bromsgrove School in the 3rd round of the national cup.
England hockey tier 1 U16 national competition vs Trent College
The U16 squad played their third match of the league competition against a strong Trent College side. Both teams demonstrated real dicipline around the pitch and a very high level of skill. KGS took the lead early on with Edwards hammering the ball into the goal! The girls continued to work hard attacking the right side of the pitch creating space for Miles and Guthrie to attack the goal. It wasn't long before goal number two came. Mellings snap shot allowed Guthrie to volley the ball into the net. Trent were always going to fight back and they certainly did that! In the second half they evened up the match to leave the final score at 2-2. KGS are currently 4th in the national north tier 1 table and now look forward to playing Sedbergh in their next league match.
St Josephs College National Rugby Festival
18.10.24-20.10.24
Last weekend, Kirkham Grammar's 1st XV competed in the 38th annual St Joseph’s College National Festival, returning as defending champions. With only four players from last year’s championship squad returning, it is a largely new team this season. On day one, Kirkham showed strong play in patches but made too many unforced errors, which the high-quality opposition quickly exploited. They secured a 15-8 win over Hurtspierpoint School but narrowly lost to Strathallan 11-12 and Wellington College 12-15. In what proved to be an extremely competitive pool, Kirkham finished 3rd, meaning they would be in the Bowl competition quarterfinal against Seaford College the following morning.
The Kirkham coaches, Jonny Roddam and Dan Bibby, made a few key alterations to the squad and tweaked the game plan, which proved to be highly effective. On day two, Kirkham beat Seaford College 8-3 in the Bowl quarterfinal, followed by a dominant 23-0 victory over Trinity School Croydon in the semifinal. They capped off the day with a 12-0 win over Berkhamsted School in the final. Throughout the festival, Myles Lyster, Harrison Causey, Alfie Guthrie, Rohan Sheldon, and Charlie Bray were outstanding, delivering consistently high performances. Sebbi Krippner dominated his opponents in both attack and defence, making a significant impact across all games, while Archie Iddon managed the pace of the matches and kicked brilliantly, contributing to Kirkham's success.
Thirteen lower sixth players gained vital experience throughout the tournament and will relish the opportunity for another chance next year. The Kirkham squad can be extremely proud of their effort in what is regarded by many as the toughest schoolboy rugby competition in Europe. Their resilience and adaptability, especially as a new team, after a challenging first day were remarkable, and the experience gained will no doubt be valuable for future competitions.