Sports
1st XV Rugby T. Bramwell (C). Team from: P. Alexander, B. Allison-Hughes, K. Armstrong, C. Bark, H. Byers, J. Covins, N. Crowe, J. Dickinson, J. Gibson, A Harrison, J. Huck, C. Jones, C. Legg, F. Marlow, M. Mellish, Y. Mirsamed, O. Moore, J Neville, F. Pearson, J. Rigby, A. Robertson, T. Spark, F. Tait, D. Thompson, W. Trewby, G. Upton, G. van den Dries, O. Waldin, J. Webster, S. Webster, G. Woollard, T. Weir. P 16/W 12/L 4/D 0 Results: Durham Yarm RGS Pocklington Hymers Woodhouse Grove St. Peter’s Mowden Park RFU Kings Dame Allans Sedbergh
won won lost won won lost won won won won lost
20-17 46-3 18-24 34-0 24-15 13-17 29-10 68-0 10-7 31-10 10-46
Daily Mail Cup Results: St. Bede’s Hartlepool 6th Form Durham Giggleswick QEGS Wakefield
won won won won lost
59-3 61-0 27-3 25-10 11-23
Leading Points Scorers: Name M. Mellish T. Bramwell J. Neville
Tries 4 12 11
Cons 34
Pens 15
Total 133 60 55
School Colours were awarded to: T. Bramwell, P. Alexander, C. Bark, J. Huck, M. Mellish, O. Moore, J. Neville, J. Rigby, O. Waldin.
Yet again, the 1st XV has produced a season of high quality rugby. Specific highlights of the season are the victories against Hymers and the Daily Mail Cup (DMC) game against Durham; these were two very good teams which expected to win. Hymers had a very big pack and effective backs; BCS dug deep to win with Chris Legg sealing victory with the last play of the match. Perry Alexander was outstanding and Jack Rigby emphasised his ability to be a fast robust runner with the ball. Tom Bramwell’s emotional post-match speech will be remembered for a long time. Against our old rivals Durham, the fact that most of their pupils and teaching staff had made the journey to BCS, made it extra-special to dominate and play precise controlled rugby for 90% of the match; Tom Bramwell and Jack Neville were outstanding in midfield, with Kieran Armstrong and John Huck dominating most contact situations. Winning 12 matches out of 16 has been both very pleasing, yet frustrating. The defeats against RGS Newcastle and Woodhouse Grove were very disappointing performances. To continue playing after Christmas in the DMC was a real bonus and our success was due to the depth in quality of the squad and the willingness of each player to work for one another both in training and during matches. We perhaps did not have the out and out game breaker that had blessed us in previous seasons but the squad had a fantastic work ethic. Injuries played a significant role in how we adapted and developed; it was a shame that Chris Bark effectively ended his outstanding schoolboy career so early in the season at RGS. He had performed extremely well for BCS since joining us from Sunderland. Hamish Byers’ flirtation with 1st XV rugby was cut short after an argument with one of his rugby boots on his bedroom floor. Oscar Moore, another significant 1st XV player over the last three seasons, had his season disrupted, as did Owen Waldin, Ben
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Allison-Hughes and the very promising Guy van den Dries, through injury. Chris Legg was missed in the DMC match against QEGS. The talent Toby Spark undoubtedly has was also stifled by injury. However, the cruellest blow had to have been served up to Matthew Harrison who broke his leg in one of our warm up matches. It was fantastic to see him getting fit for the tour to South Africa in the summer term. John Huck was awarded the Players’ Player Award indicating that, with the appropriate amount of dedication and motivation, it is possible to be truly outstanding in more than one sport at our school. John would have been awarded MTP’s most consistent player award too, although Jack Neville had a brilliant second half of the season and Matthew Mellish grew in stature as the season progressed. Tom Bramwell was a constant threat to opposition defences and was able to break tackles with ease and have the ability of putting people in gaps. Perry Alexander marshalled well from fullback improving his positional sense and making incisive line breaks with ease on occasions. Oscar Moore added a real physicality to the forward pack, something his brother was never able to do! Felix Pearson proved to be elusive but effective with ball in hand and Daniel Thompson was involved with most things positive. Cameron Jones quietly asserted himself as a 1st XV player, forging a good partnership with Bramwell, and Chris Legg demonstrated that he could be a potent weapon for us next season. Along with the guile and know-how of Greg Upton, next years’ midfield looks exciting. Angus Robertson and Anthony Harrison indicated that they will forge a formidable back row in the future and Finlay Tait possesses huge potential. The work Mrs Deacon undertook in the Autumn Term on the fitness and general conditioning of the players demands a special mention. It was noted on several occasions how fit and well conditioned our players looked. Her work on technical aspects in the gym added to her running/speed sessions have been well received by the players and I am aware of how they have benefitted individually and collectively. Whilst she will be missed, her replacement Mr Woodward, who it cannot be said is as pleasing on the eye, has made an immediate impact since Easter. MTP Representative Honours: U18 County Schools: T. Bramwell, F. Pearson, J. Rigby, M. Mellish. U18 North of England: T. Bramwell, F. Pearson, J. Rigby, M. Mellish. U16 County Schools: A. Harrison, G. van den Dries, C. Pollock, F. Tait, A. Lister, J. Dickinson, J. Webster, B. Clegg, D. Potts, F. Marlow. U16 North of England: A. Harrison, G. van den Dries, A. Lister, D. Potts.
1st VII Rugby Teams from: Core squad: T. Bramwell, P. Alexander, J. Huck, C. Jones, A. Lazaro, M. Mellish, O. Moore, J Neville, F. Pearson, J. Rigby, A. Robertson, O. Waldin. T. Spark, G. Upton, G. Woollard, T. Weir, K. Armstrong, J. Gibson, N. McGregor, Y. Mirsamardi, B. Allison-Hughes, L Summers.
The first tournament was down in Hereford to the very prestigious Marches 7s. Some top English and Welsh schools enter this tournament. Convincing wins against Adams Grammar School, Llanhari and Worth School and a more convincing quarter final win, 47-0 against Old Swinford Hospital meant a semi-final against the renowned Millfield. Losing 21-7 at half time did not help our cause but then an incredible squad effort, producing some stunning rugby, secured an eventual
victory 28-21; this was a fantastic achievement against a 7s team which has arguably one of the best schools’ record in the country. The final against Christ’s College Brecon was a bit of an anti-climax. We were eventual winners 19-7 and the champagne corks were ready to be popped! At the North of England 7s at Birkenhead, BCS continued in the same vein, without really producing the same quality of performance, winning our group games easily 38-5, 47-0, 39-5 and 50-7. The quarter final performance against Kirkham GS was disappointing, ending in defeat 14-12, especially in the manner that we conceded a try with the last play of the game. At Ampleforth we had a mixed day. We lost one group game to Hymers playing poorly; in the quarter final against Sedbergh, we were completely dominant for eleven minutes of the fourteen only to end up losing 2119, again conceding very late on. For the Hymers tournament, we had learnt lessons from the two previous tournaments and produced some of our best 7s of the season. We only conceded two tries until the semi-final stage where we were able to exert revenge on QEGS Wakefield from the DMC defeat winning comfortably 29-12. In a very closely fought final against the hosts we were successful, 26-14, in bringing home our second piece of silverware for the season. Due to other commitments, injuries and in the attempt to encourage competition for places, we fielded a different squad at the Durham School ‘Bain 7s’. To reach the final and lose narrowly to Ampleforth’s first choice VII was an outstanding achievement. To this point, the 7s season had probably been rated as one of the most successful for some time. The core squad had worked extremely hard and their discipline at this form of the game was excellent. Therefore at the National Schools’ 7s, Rosslyn Park, the defeat and the manner of it, against a good Eton team was very disappointing for all concerned. It was a shame the season ended in such a way; the whole squad deserves tremendous praise for their commitment and the level of performance they produced. MTP
2nd XV Rugby Captains: W. Trewby and T. Spark. Team from: B. Allison-Hughes, H. Bainbridge, H. Byers J. Covins, N. Crowe, C. Gliniecki, J. Hooker, A. Hopkin, J. Ingram, A. Jordan, G. McGrath, J. McKenzie, B. Mensah, J. Peat, T. Raw, T. Spark, L. Summers, T. Weir, A. Wheeler, G. Woollard. Results: Durham Richmond Duchess High RGS, Newcastle QEGS Penrith Pocklington Hymers Richmond Woodhouse Grove St Peter’s QE Darlington MacMillan Academy Kings Tynemouth Sedbergh Austin Friars Dame Allan's
won won lost lost won won won won won won cancelled cancelled won cancelled cancelled won
17-12 20-17 24-0 12-0 44-24 45-7 30-27 20-17 45-7 24-10
27-7
57-0
The team had a reputation for strong running amongst its backs; the pack worked hard to deliver the quality ball required for this. Nick Crowe, and either Chris Gliniecki or Joshua Hooker were able props for Andrew Jordan, the regular team hooker. Harry Bainbridge and
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