• Home
• »Sport
• »Boys' Sport
• »Rugby
• »Colts A Rugby

 

 

 

After a successful Warwick Tournament, the Spratton boys went down to Caldicott to defend their title. This competition is known to be one of the biggest in the country at this age group. Spratton began the day brilliantly in a pool that was the toughest on the day. The results were as follows:

 

v The Dragon     Won 26 - 0

v Lincroft           Won   5 - 0

v Ridgeway        Won 14 - 7

 

The games above were extremely fierce and competitive. Spratton set the benchmark against a talented Dragon team that won the Rugby School 7s. It was a great confidence booster for the boys to beat Lincroft in a very physical game. Ridgeway too proved to be a stern test, especially in defence. Eventually pool winners after 3 hard fought games, Spratton advanced to the Main Cup Quarter-Final, where they faced a determined Shrewsbury House team. Spratton enjoyed an excellent first half with numerous opportunities, however, a few injuries and missed tackles let our game slide and Spratton lost in the last few mintues 0-7.The boys now know that there are many good teams around, consistency and teamwork is vital to progress in these stages of such a prestigious tournament. Mr B

 

 

The Worksop Festival provided a testing opening to the season but the boys played some very good rugby, winning all four of their games. The forwards worked well together and their effective rucking won much good ball for the backs which was frequently turned into try scoring opportunities. Some fine handling from the backs saw some excellent tries particularly against S. Anselm's and Witham Hall. We eased off too much against Ranby and lost our shape - at times like these we must get the basics right. The boys finished strongly against Highfield and completed the afternoon having scored 11 tries and, most pleasingly, not conceding any. The boys were deserving winners of the 'Team of the Festival'. SJSC

 

Winchester House edged this very tight, tense game. We dominated the opposition 22 for most of the first half and should have been leading by half-time but simple handling errors and not using overlaps meant that we missed too many scoring opportunities. The 2nd half, however, was dominated by Winchester House who scored with 8 minutes still to play. We can improve in two areas - we must take our opportunities and we must be quicker on to loose ball. I am sure the boys will come back strongly on Saturday. SJSC

 

Back to winning ways. The boys responded really well to Wednesday's disappointment with a fine display on a hot day. The forwards did not allow Witham any ball in the first half and our backs used the ball effectively with some great tries from wide, two from Hamish M. We tired a little in the 2nd half but again had most of the territory and possession. Special mention to Fred L from the Under 10s who had a fine afternoon scoring a very good try. Well done boys!   SJSC

 

This was a destructive team performance. Every boy in the team contributed, from powerful, determined forwards winning quick and clean ball to the backs showing superb pace and handling. The ball moved freely and swiftly from one wing to the other and the team took every scoring opportunity with precision. The boys will have to tackle more in the harder tests that lie ahead, but this was a very clinical display.  SJSC

 

In extremely windy conditions the team played some good rugby against a very inexperienced and rather weak Houghton side. The opposition had no answer to our pace and use of space in the open or the low, direct running from the forwards. With the score at 42-0 at half-time, some Colts B boys came on and the Colts A backs all played out of position which they coped with very well. Special mention to Jonny B for converting all nine tries in that wind! 

 

 

This was the performance of the season – so far. Every boy played his part in this inspired and comprehensive victory. The forwards were just too strong for Bedford, rucking and driving them off the ball at nearly every breakdown – Charlie M, Adam W and James K, all outstanding. The winning and recycling of the ball from a tackle was also excellent. On a cold, wet and windy day, all of the backs too played tremendous rugby. Halfbacks Hamish M and Fraser R were fantastic but Tommy L and Tom B had first-rate games – both playing to their individual strengths for the good of the team. What a turnaround after last season’s defeat to Bedford – this was complete Colts rugby at its best.  SJSC

 

 

This game was not entirely straighforward as Wellingborough had some good players and the wind, yet again, did its best to hamper our style of play. The boys scored some very exciting tries however: Tommy L timing his pass to perfection for Wills L to dive over the line; Tommy L with a fine individual try, running it in from the halfway line; and one of the tries of the season - several phases, then solid ball set-up by the forwards for Hamish M and the backs to move it fast down the right wing, then cutting in to link with Fraser R in midfield, and then Tom B to finish it in the left wing corner. A good way to go into the Rugby School 7s on Sunday.  SJSC

 

It was a privilege as well as a challenge to play in this tournament which included a number of other very highly regarded prep schools. We were placed in a tough group in which we would have to play at our very best.

 

Drawing with The Oratory was a disappointing start but they were a good side who made it to the Cup Final. We had our chances but didn't take them. We did just enough against Packwood Haugh to keep alive our chances of qualifying for the main cup competition but we would have to beat Gayhurst to do so - and they were a huge, rapid, powerful team. We led for a while but Gayhurst soon levelled and went ahead with some brutal running.

 

Having now finished 3^rd in our group, we qualified for the Shield Semi-Final where we met Winchester House, the only team to beat us this season. It was 14-14 at full-time and so it went to sudden death. The boys won with a golden try, extremely well taken by Wills L. As always against Winchester House, this was a close game but the boys showed great determination and courage to cling on for victory.

 

We met Gresham's Prep in the Shield Final where we lost 7-14. This was a game too far! Against a side with some big, quick and talented boys, we let Gresham's in for two early tries but the boys were by now exhausted and left themselves with too much to do. A very fair result but disappointing nonetheless.

 

It was a 'nearly' day. We didn't play our best - our strength all season has been our handling, pace and link-play but we didn't get the chance to play like we wanted. The boys will have learned much from a day like this but above all, I hope they enjoyed it.  SJSC

 

This was a rather scrappy game with a number of injuries, knock-ons and black clouds slowing things down. The boys tackled well in this game, scored some very good tries and certainly deserved the win. One game to go - let's finish on a high.  SJSC

 

A cracking game to finish the season, played in perfect rugby conditions. After some frantic early morning telephone calls, Keir M and Joseph B nobly stepped in at the last minute to play - thank you to both of them. It was also pleasing for some other boys to get a chance and to allow a number of boys to play in different positions.

 

This was a real team effort and it took a good deal of hard graft in working Bedford Modern over before the points started to mount up. The forwards really had to play as a tight unit. It was fitting that James K, who has led the team by example throughout the season, and Adam W scored a 'proper forwards try' each. They have both worked tirelessly in the front row while others take the glory - the lot of a prop forward! Kieran L, Charlie M and Chris B have also given much to the team and their tackling and ball ripping has been a real force. Jonny B had a great morning filling in at scrum half and his solid service set up two of the tries. His converting throughout the season has been Jonny Wilkinson-like - he rarely misses. Fraser R has an acute eye for a gap. He makes the break every time with superb running lines, creating space for his centres to exploit. Wills L is probably the most improved player of the season. His tackling is very strong and his running at the opposition, equally strong. Connor W, Joseph B and James A all made some incisive runs in this game - they each have pace and just need to look to give a pass fractionally earlier. Hamish M is a tremendous player. His vision, determination, side-step and sheer pace have been too much for most of our oppositions this season. He has had a super season and was regularly picked out by opposition coaches as a fine player. His try in this match put 'daylight' between the two sides and the result was then never in doubt.

 

It was a shame that Tommy L and Tom B were unable to play in the last fixture as both have given so much to the team. It is often their pace and step that is talked about, but their defence is second-to-none. They are in the opposition's faces and making tackles so quickly that their opposite numbers just do not have time to play.

 

This has been a highly successful season as the results above show. The boys have been a great bunch to work with and they will go far. Next year they will play for the 1st XV or 2nd XV and I look forward to seeing how they progress. Well done boys - a super season...   SJSC