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The 2nd XV have had a mixed season, winning 4 and losing 6 games. The most pleasing thing has been seeing the development the team has made in all areas of the game, with improved structure, skills and team play shown in each game so that we were playing some of our best rugby in the final games. It is always difficult in the 2nd XV as we face often physically larger opposition, from numerically larger schools, but the boys always played with commitment and resilience. You also never quite know what to expect from each school year on year, and this year we beat 2 teams we normally struggle against, lost to a couple we normally beat, so predicting how would we go in each game was difficult. Our best result was a 7-5 win over St Johns, Cambridge, which came down to the final kick of the game, and had us biting our nails. The team was ably captained by Ben Thompson, who led with maturity and a positive approach, supported by his vice-captain Max Clifton. My thanks, as always, goes to Mr. Mellor for his support in training, and all the parents who turn out to cheer on the boys, I hope you enjoyed seeing the development as much as I did.  S R Bradnam

 

 

The 2nd team lost a tough match by more than they should on a wet pitch on Wednesday.  After an even battle for the bulk of the first half, which saw us level at 7-7 for a while, we suffered as their big no.10 kicked and ran them out of trouble many a time, resulting in a steady trickle of tries.  A disappointing way to end the season but overall we can be pleased with the spirit, commitment and effort shown by all the team.  We ended with the record P10, W4, L6.  SRB

 

The 2nd XV scored a good victory at a freezing Swanbourne on Saturday. 7 tries reflects our dominance in the game, with three 2nd row forwards managing to get on the scoreboard unusually. Not our best performance but a good win on which to build for our last game against St. Faiths.  SRB

 

A depleted 2nd team took on a physically bigger Bilton team, and largely outplayed them in terms of the rugby. We dominated large parts of possession and territory but didn’t finish our chances, and they used their size effectively to rumble over and hit us on the break. Two good tries by L. Redding and M. Cunningham brought us close, but we ended frustrated. One of our best performances of the season, just not the result we wanted.   SRB

 

The 2nd team had a good win against Wellingborough on Saturday. After a calamitous start conceding a try in the first 5 minutes, we fought back well as a team and scored 6 tries (3 for F. Telfer), the pick being a break out by the forwards and a weaving run by B. Measom to score under the posts. The wind was a factor and we played more tactically in the second half, keeping them pinned in their half, to run out comfortable winners.   SRB

 

Our best performance of the season saw us squeak home in a game we deserved to win. Despite facing a couple of giants in the opposition, the team outplayed the opposition in all departments, with the 1st half being the best rugby we have played all season. A deserved Tom Wilson try, converted from the touchline by Freddie Telfer, saw us lead 7-0 until the final minute when they scored, but missed the conversion, giving us a nail-biting victory.   SRB 

 

A hard fought game where we tackled the best we have all season, repelling a good Maidwell team many times, but eventually their superiority of possession and territory told. 5-5 at half time showed what grit we had demonstrated in the first half, and the boys should be proud of a good team performance, ably led by captain B. Thompson who scored our only try.    SRB

 

Two contrasting games where the boys were overwhelmed in the first half against NSB, as bigger, faster boys dominated against us. The second half saw a much closer contest and the boys fought back well. Against Trent we came out all guns blazing and shocked the opposition with out direct, powerful play. We dominated the first half with strong forward running, and good back link up play, being ahead 10-0 at half time. The 2nd half became a scrappier affair, but a superb try by M. Clifton cutting back through about 5 of their players rounded off a solid performance. SRB