Rugby Kirkham slay the Welsh dragons KIRKHAM Grammar School first XV scored a splendid 19-7 win over Llandovery College, one of Wales’ top rugby-playing independent schools, which has produced internationals over the years. It will go down as Kirkham’s finest result of the season. KGS’s scrum held firm against a much bigger pack, with the front row of Kieran Brookes, Phillip Berry and Daniel Sissons dominating. Just before half-time centre Lewis Russell followed up a penalty attempt and stepped his way over the line for KGS to take the lead. This was quickly followed by a try by Tom Bowden after a piece of individual skill from fly-half Daniel Bibby, who converted both tries. The second half was dominated by Llandovery, but KGS’s defence was outstanding, led by captain Richard De Carpentier and flanker Gregor Aitken. Llandovery scored a try but KGS dug deep. Well into stoppage time, full-back Tom Bowden ran 50 metres to dive in at the corner. In other matches against Giggleswick, Kirkham’s Second XV lost 63-0 to first-team opposition. The under-15 A XV won 27-12, coming back from 12-0 down after only 15 minutes. Hat-trick Stanley Graham kicked well and Kirkham’s points were scored by Matthew Ellis and Dexter Eaves. The under-15 B XV won 50-0. Joe Casson scored a hat-trick, while Kris Turnbull worked hard for his try. Jake Wilson also kicked his conversions well. Tries: Jonathan Davies, Joe Casson (3), Henry Hesketh, Daniel Bartley, Phil Brook and Kris Turnbull. The under-14 A XV won 58-0. Four tries by Precious Nwaokomah and Sam Hall, plus and two by Tom Hurst, sealed a comprehensive victory, with four conversions by Will Roper. The under-14 B XV won 59-0 as Patrick Callery scored a hat-trick. Other try-scorers: Loftus, Eaton, Baker, Walker, Grumme, Jones. Conversions: Burnie (6) and Loftus. The under-16s won 24-0 as tries by Toby Townsend (2), Matthew Bennett and Ethan Harvey were converted by Jamie Roper (2). The under-12 B team beat Ripley St Thomas 41-4 after Alex Ward’s try gave them a perfect start. Ward completed a hat-trick as the pack applied pressure and Tom Lee also scored, though Ripley came back strongly with two tries. Blackpool Colts 36 Kirby Lonsdale 10 Blackpool had to reshuffle but m ade the brighter start as backrowers Armstrong, Holland and Sanderson ran powerfully. Good work from Ben Brittain and Ben Johnson enabled prop Ryan Rostron to power over from close range for his first try of the season, Blackshaw converting. Captain Ben Holland stretched the lead with the second try, and although Kirby put some good attacks together a Pete Armstrong try made it 17-0 at half-time. Stand-off Dave Collis was in fine form on his first appearance of the season, delivering good ball to centres Richardson and Mellor-Clark. Man of the match Ryan Holmes, playing out of position at full-back, collected his own high kick to score the next try, again goaled by Blackshaw. Kirby finally got on the scoreboard, making it 24-5, but then Holland sent Armstrong bludgeoning over for his second. Pressure from scrum-half Blackshaw then forced a Kirby error and he weaved his way through to score, Holmes adding the conversion. Kirby scored the final try but Colts coach Paul Moran was highly satisfied. Luke Bennet and Simon Wilkinson turned in impressive debut performances Blackpool Scorpions RL (U15s) 20, Widnes West Bank Bears 14 Scorpions continued their good form with a hard-fought victory. Both side made big hits in the early exchanges, with Josh Shearman, John Beattie, and Zach Ward tothe fore. Scorps opened the scoring after the lively Anthony Livingstone forced his way over in the corner and then kicked an excellent touchline conversion. Bank came back strongly but Scorps moved further in front when stand-off Liam Wilkinson’s high kick was chased down by full-back Joe Bullock and slick handling saw winger Matthew Hulme score his first try for the club. Tom Anderson, Chris Cornall, Adam Constantine, and Zach Ward kept the Widnesd side at bay until a converted try made it 10-6 at half-time. Defused Sustained pressure enabled Widnes to pull level at the start of the second half and crash over to level the score. Kyle Daniels, Oliver Jordan and Wilkinson made fine tackles, while hooker Matty Egan distributed well. Jordan edged Scorps back infront after a Wilkinson interception and good work by Ward and Livingstone. And they pulled clear when man of the match Bullock defused a bomb and dashed 70 metres to the sticks, Livingstone converting to give Scorps a 10-point cushion. Despite Bank’s last-minute try, this was a fine performance. Scorps lost influenial prop Omar Fredrick with a groin strain but welcomed back centre Joe Williams. Scorpions team: Bullock, Constantine, Cornall, Ward, Hulme, Wilkinson, Jordan, Beattie, Egan, Fredrick, Anderson, Shearman, Livingstone, Williams, Cotton, Fisher, Daniels, Rams Blackpool Scorpions RL (U15s) 16 Orrell St James 20 Scorpions failed to capitalise on their first-half domination and allowed Orrell to snatch victory from under their noses. The home side started confidently and were soon on the scoreboard when full-back Joe Bullock linked up with loose forward Anthony Livingstone to go over in the corner. Continued pressure from Scorpions saw Josh Shearman force his way over and Anthony Livingstone converted. However, St James hit back to cut Scorpions’ half-time lead to 10-6. It needed big hits from Tom Anderson, Zach Ward and Shearman to keep Orrell at bay after the restart but Scorpions increased their lead against the run off play when stand-off Liam Wilkinson scooted over and Livingstone converted. Orrell rocked the Scorps with two tries to close the gap to 16-14. And as the home tackling deteriorated Orrell converted a match-winning try to end the Scorps’ four- match winning run. Anderson was voted man of the match, while Ward, Shearman, Oliver Jordan and debutant Gareth Horrocks all played well. Team: Joe Bullock, Matty Hulme, Christian Cornall, Zach Ward, Joe Williams, Liam Wilkinson, Oliver Jordan, John Beattie, Matty Egan, Omar Fredrick, Tom Anderson, Josh Shearman, Anthony Livingstone, Matty Cotton, Gareth Horrocks, Danny Percival Kings swing it BRAGGING rights went the way of King Edward and Queen Mary School in the annual first XV rugby match against Arnold. Arnold staged the thrilling match, which ended 16-15 at South Shore. Both sides displayed superb handling and rugged defence in difficult conditions. The opening try resulted from good driving forward play and Michael Cooper scored in the corner. Arnold soon responded and took the lead with a penalty but KEQMS kicked one of their own to make it 8-8 at half-time. With the wind at their backs in the second half, KEQMS started to exert pressure and regained the lead with a second penalty. However a converted try put Arnold back in front 15-11 with 15 minutes left. The Lytham team laid siege to the Arnold line and were finally rewarded when No.8 Sean Dickinson clinched victory by driving over from the scrum base. Full stretch: Michael Cooper’s try for KEQMS Waterloo 18 Fleetwood (U16s) 22 Fleetwood maintained top spot in their Lancashire Cup group with this hard-fought victory. Waterloo scored first inside five minutes but Danny Maher and Adam Dawson led the fightback as Fleet began to take the game to Waterloo. From a Maher break, Keiron Teale sent Kris Phillips clear between the posts. Tom Hird went close but Waterloo scored a penalty to lead 8-7 at half-time. The second half was just as tight but star player Phillips scored the try try of the match to put his side in front, racing 80 yards to score in the corner. Tom Evans stretched the lead with a penalty but Waterloo hit back with a try in the corner. Fleetwood’s problems mounted as stand-off Jamie Railton was forced off with an ankle injury. However, that brought James Cameron into the action and he dived over for the decisive try from a kick by scrum-half Evans, who converted the try. It meant a late third try from Waterloo could not deny Fleetwood victory. Fleetwood squad: Birks, Cameron (Capt), Cowie, Dawson, T Evans, Foden, Hird, Maddern, Maher, Morgan, Phillips, Preston, Railton, Riley, Ruddlesdin, Speed, Teale, Turner, White, Worthington. Early risers: Fleetwood U16s Ormskirk 24 Fleetwood (U14s) 26 Fleetwood are still seeking their first Lancashire Cup win but there were some encouraging signs for a side boosted by the return of Marc Maher and captain Jordan Leighton after long lay-offs. Ormskirk started strongly with a converted try but Fleetwood responded with a try by man of the match prop Asa Watson, converted by stand-off James Wilson. Ormskirk scored again to lead 12-7 at half-time and another converted try stretched their lead further. But Fleetwood heads never dropped and Jordan Leighton went over for the next try. Star runner Ashley Seddon then used all his speed and strength for a trademark solo try, finishing with a spectacular dive to close the gap to two points. With 15 minutes remaining, Ormskirk increased their lead to 26-17 but full-back Maher rounded the Ormskirk wing to touch down. James Wilson’s conversion again cut the gap to two and set up a thrilling final five minutes, but the valiant Fleetwood side were unable to score again. Email us and tell us about your stories!