Rugby Oarsome player ... that’s Sean! GIFTED teenage sportsman Sean Dickinson is getting pulled two ways by rowing and rugby. Just 24 hours after skippering King Edward’s and Queen Mary’s School, Lytham, on the pitch, the 17-year-old was in Paris picking up a silver medal in the French Open indoor rowing championships. The loan Briton among 188 in the under-18 race was pipped for the gold by an agonising 0.7secs after simulating the 2,000m in 6mins 23.6secs. It’s not the first time Sean’s had to fit in both sports back to back. Recently he won the Welsh national open title in Cardiff before racing off to star in the front row for Lancashire under-18s against Cheshire. Sean said: “I’ve always used the indoor rowing machine to help improve my fitness levels but this year I decided to use it more than ever. But when I arrive home from rugby training and climb on the machine for a 10,000m row, it can take a big effort to motivate myself.” It’s paid off, because his best-yet time of 6:20.6 puts him in the top 10 for the under-18 world rankings. Dickinson plans to attend university next year and may then have to decide which sport to dedicate himself to. Alone Right now he’s focused on winning a gold medal in the English national championships in Manchester next month - and this time he hopes KEQMS don’t have a rugby match the day before. He is coached by his stepfather Wayne Howard, who said: “Every one of his opponents both in Cardiff and France was a member of a rowing club and Sean hasn’t even rowed in a boat yet. He trains alone six times a week in the spare bedroom at home!” SEAN DICKINSON: Sporting double act Kirkham sweep the board KIRKHAM Grammar School rugby union teams scored a clean sweep of wins over Audenshaw. The first team won 58-10, having been held to 5-5 after 20 minutes. Flanker Jonathan Edwards, prop Keiran Brookes and right winger Tom Bowden all scored twice, while there was a debut try for James Moncrieff on the left wing. Other tries were scored by Tony Banks, Alex Spratt and Joe Brown, who also kicked four conversions. KGS’s Sam Kindred, Richard De Carpentier and Bowden have all been selected for the North this term, while Phil Berry, Jonathan Edwards and Banks have all represented Lancashire under-18s, and Kieran Brookes, Gregor Aitkin and Daniel Sissons played for Irish, Scottish and Welsh Exiles. The under-15s won 26-0, with tries by Alex Lo, Stanley Graham and Ryan Morton. The under-14 A XV won 56-12 as Patrick Callery, Ryan Vaughan, captain Tom Hurst and Sam Hall all scored in the first half. Audenshaw hit back with two tries but a pair by Precious Nwaokomah and Micky Papengelis’s score brought up the half-century. Fly-half Will Roper landed eight goals. The under-13s won 50-7 as Ben Rhodes-Powers notched another hat-trick but the man of the match was probing scrum-half Jack Smith. Smith, Swift, Kiziltas and Gale (2) also scored and Callum Wilkinson kicked five conversions. The under-12s won 30-7 and opened the scoring through scrum- half Ward. Leech scored before prop Mark Bruce marked his last game at KGS with a try. It was 15-7 at the break but three further tries clinched victory from fly-half Lockhart, forward Hunter and centre Alex Bruce - the Bruce brothers are now bound for Australia. KGS under-15s side progressed to the third round of the Lancashire Cup thanks to a 12-0 win over Stonyhurst College. With Matthew Ellis and Alex Lo dominating the line-out, Stanley Graham scored and converted the only try of the first half. Centres Wikus Coetzee and Jake Hodgkinson made good breaks before Jake Hodgkinson’s try clinched a tie against Ripley St Thomas in the next round. BREAKTHROUGH: Kirkham Grammar School’s Theo Mason penetrates the Audenshaw defence Schools’ honour, now it’s Hart of England Arnold rugby player Tom Hart (right) has been selected for the England Independent School Barbarians to play the Irish Exiles at Harrow School on January 6. The scrum-half or centre was in outstanding form for the North of England against the South last weekend. Arnold’s rugby players finished the term off in fine style against Ripley St Thomas from Lancaster. Ripley’s unbeaten under-12s proved strong opposition and finally pulled clear to win 24-10 despite tries by Alex Naylor and Max Reid. Louis Mottley scored twice in the under-13A’s 28-7 win. Ahmed Ahmed and Tom Hammond also scored The Under-14A recorded their 12th win in 14 games with a 14-5 success in which outstanding No.8 James Aird scored his 33rd try of the season. Jacob Reid scored his ninth of the campaign. Despite fine performances from Tom Armfield, Luke Smith, Ben Perkins and Josh Buckley, the Under-15A lost out 41-0. The Second XV beat Ripley’s first XV 40-0 to record their third straight win with tries from Liam Hill (2), Richard Wardell, Chris West, Julian Richardson and captain Alistair Tittley. Ben Perkins (U15), Jacob Nickson and James Aird (U14) and Louis Mottley (U13) have all been selected for the prestigious Lancashire Schools of Rugby for the most talented players. At North Lancashire level, there has been success for Ben Blake (U15), Sam Crowther (U14) and Alex Casey, Alex Evans, Andrew Walkden and Oliver Hopkins (all U13). Rugby3 - Tom Hart has been selected for the England Independent School Barbarians Great Evans it’s Fleetwood Altrincham Kersal 17 Fleetwood (U16) 38 Fleetwood are in fine form ahead of their Lancashire Cup derby at Fylde in the new year. However, they failed to capitalise on early pressure and were punished with a try in the corner. The front row of Hird, Ruddlesdin and White competed well against a big home pack. Fleetwood upped the tempo and a 50-metre break by stand-off Steve Preston sent centre Kris Phillips in for a try in the corner. George Worthington led a dominant Fleetwood pack and Danny Maher burst through for Phillips to score his second. He was denied a first-half hat-trick when bundled into touch just before grounding the ball. The home side scored early in the second half but scrum-half Tom Evans responded with a try from a chargedown. An injury to Preston resulted in captain Cameron switching effectively to No.10. Hooker James Evans won three scrums against the head and one pack push resulted in Evans darting 25 metres to score his second. With No.8 Dawson running and tackling strongly, centre Keiron Teale scored a deserved try before man of the match Evans completed his hat-trick. A home try at the death and a sending off could not spoil Fleetwood’s day. Fleetwood Squad: Birks, Cameron, Dawson, J Evans, T Evans, Foden, Hird, Maddern, Maher, Morgan, Phillips, Preston, Railton, Riley, Ruddlesdin, Speed, Turner, White, Worthington. Colts turn on the style Blackpool Colts 31 Bury Colts 3 Some of Blackpool’s fringe players seized this chance to make their mark, while back-rower Richard Docherty had an impressive debut. Stand-off Dave Collis soon applied the pressure, well supported by Will Richardson and Ross Mellor-Clark, but it was Bury who opened the scoring with a drop goal. Blackpool made the perfect response as prop Ryan Rostron scored for the third game running after strong runs by Eddie Dowdall and man of the match Ben Holland. Will Richardson’s try in the corner made it 10-3 at half-time after a pacy break by Adam Davies. Mellor-Clark’s interception try stretched the lead and Davies scored next after pouncing on full-back Ryan Holmes’ bobbling kick and outpacing the defence. Blackshaw converted both tries. Holland bulldozed over for the final try, again improved by Blackshaw. Coach Paul Moran said: “After that performance it is going to be a difficult time to select the team for our derby against Fleetwood.” Email us and tell us about your stories!