Stopfordian 2010–2011 - Stockport Grammar School

The Stopfordian 2010–2011
Certain individuals are worth mentioning for their consistently
good performances. Jones was indefatigable, while Wetters,
Ward and Webster formed a formidable front row that
dominated every opposition front row. Gaskin and Cawthorn
made real nuisances of themselves in the loose, while in the
backs Fraser was outstanding at centre.
As always the new season provides new challenges, emerging
players, and optimism. Long may it continue.
P. A. Urwin
SGS BOYS PLAY REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL
Having regularly won Cheshire ‘County’ U15 and U16
honours, both James Webster (5Z) and Andrew Ward (5Y)
(loose and tight-head props respectively) went on to trial for
North of England U16 ‘Divisional’ honours, with Andrew
further trialing for England U16s. Both boys were also later
selected to represent the North of England at the Wellington
College International Rugby Festival 2011, last April.
Pictured Andrew Ward (Red Shirt No3) and James Webster
(unsighted), settling down to scrummage for the North of
England against England U16s in a gripping encounter with
England, finally running out 27 v 5 victors.
Both boys now regularly play 1st XV rugby for SGS and are
looking to progress to later stages of U18 Daily Mail Vase,
having reached the seventh round (Northern Regional Final) at
SGS U15s.
UNDER 15 RUGBY
The season proper always starts with games against our local
rivals Cheadle Hulme. This year group had never beaten
Cheadle in three years of trying and it was difficult, after our
preparation, in seeing them reversing the form. On the
positive side all 20 players were fit and well and they had
trained hard in the week leading up to the match. The
Stockport forwards were aggressive in the early engages and
this produced some good quality ball for captain Tom Morton
to apply territorial pressure. A very impressive team
performance saw SGS run out convincing 37-14 winners. This
gave the team a well needed confidence boost and they
followed up the win against Cheadle with 2 other wins against
West Hill 37-10 and Newcastle-U-Lyme 45-19.
PLAYED 15 WON 9 DRAWN 0 LOST 6
My coaching philosophy over the last ten year of running
U15s squads is that you need three things to be successful; a
group ethic to work hard in training, a competitive edge and
a will to win. I was therefore apprehensive that this season
would yield the 50% strike rate we set as our benchmark.
Limited numbers attended pre-season training at the end of
August and then over half the squad were involved in a Duke
of Edinburgh expedition the following week, meaning our
warm–up game against Sandbach had to be cancelled.
Hardly the best way to prepare for our first game.
A bad cut for Jed Holloway, an arm injury for J.P. Tyrrell and a
leg injury for Courtney Howell in the first ten minutes against
Manchester left the pack very light and eventually M.G.S. won
20-10. Four days later on a very wet and windy day Stockport
put in a determined performance to beat Bramhall H.S. 15-0
to go through to round 3 of the Daily Mail Cup.
Numbers at training again began to drop off and 2 really poor
performances followed. They lost 29-7 to Wirral and were
completely outclassed by a very strong St. Ambrose side, who
would go on to the quarter finals of the Daily Mail Cup.
The October half-term was a welcome break and enabled the
players to rest whilst also getting some players back from
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