As ever getting U16 fixtures proved very tricky but in the end the boys won 2 and lost 2, with a notable victory 12-0 against Cranbrook in a game that was slightly cut short due to a bad concussion. The boys worked hard throughout their season and it was fitting that four of the squad (Freddie, Dan, Harry and Luke) were included in the 1stXV squad for the Friday Night Light’s game at the end of the term against Chatham House. Next year we are also including U16 B team fixtures so that we can continue to widen the playing base which should help us get back to playing two senior teams.
RUGBY
Sixth as they progress through the School. Keeping them into the Sixth Form is an absolute must for the School! They started the season with a convincing win over Tonbridge but then struggled with the sheer size of Gravesend who basically demonstrated that at this age size can still win over skill. Next up was the outstanding Sutton Valence but in what was probably the best performance of the season the boys overcame their
It was a fitting finale to my time as the Head of Rugby that we had the best year group this school has produced in many years as the top year in the 1st XV. There were a lot of memorable moments throughout the season but also many ifs and buts once again across the age ranges. The 1stXV were brilliantly led by both Max Rogers and Gabriel Hayden, and it was only the outstanding Sutton Valence and a shock defeat to Cranbrook that unseated the boys from the potential unbeaten season. The season started with an excellent pre-season tournament hosted by King’s Canterbury, and it was clear at this stage that there was a lot of promise within the squad. We travelled to Tonbridge for the opening game of the season and despite limited warm up time once again for an away game the boys played close to their full potential pulling away late on to win 29-10. After the close loss to Sutton Valence, we were drawn at home in the National Cup to King’s Canterbury in what turned out to be one of the games of the season. Thomas Izzard returned from his horrific double broken leg and for once we were close to full strength. We needed to be as the game ebbed and flowed before we managed to get a stranglehold on them leading 29-12 before a late rally saw them get closer than we had hoped with the game finishing with a 29-24 victory.
Marsh Academy 50-12, Duke of York’s 28-17 and Simon Langton 56-7 and yet another cancellation by Oakwood Park. However, this did allow us plenty of time to recover and prepare for what is the biggest game of the season against local rivals Chatham House.
The U15s had another very good season and proving themselves to be an excellent team. Only two outstanding age group teams from Simon Langton and Duke of York’s managed to beat them. The result of the season was definitely the early season victory against Sutton Valence where they won 48-0 and this was backed up one week later with a 40-12 victory over Cranbrook. More victories against Tonbridge, Dover Boys’ and Norton Knatchbull left them with their big game against Chatham House. In a classic display of running rugby the boys scored 8 tries in an emphatic 48-7 win to finish their season off in style.
The season now came down to this final game on a Friday night at Thanet Wanderers. On paper St Lawrence College were the stronger side but in this game, this generally counts for very little. The small pitch made it really hard for us to really stamp our authority in the first half and at half time we were left scratching our heads. Thankfully the last 20 minutes the boys really stepped up their game and, in the end, we ran away with it, winning 29-3. If only this amazing occasion could be played on a bigger pitch that has lights it will make the game even better for the huge watching crowd.
mighty opposition 19-17. This game then gave them the confidence they really needed and they then also won their next four games in a row before losing their final 15 a-side game against Simon Langton 14-17. This couldn’t take away from what an excellent season the boys had had. They also entered the Kent 7’s and got all the way to the semi final defeating Gravesend in the process but came unstuck in the tightest of games against the Kent 15 a-side champions, Langley Park Boys GS, losing 12-10 before Langley went on to win the final by over 30 points. This is most definitely a team to watch!
With a quick to be forgotten 24-19 defeat to Cranbrook we then started to play some great rugby defeating
The U14s were the stars of the show this season and they have a great opportunity to match this year’s Upper
LAWRENTIAN 2023
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