AKS U12A Rugby team overcame a well coached and ambitious Manchester Grammar School team with some serious grit and determination. Smyth came away with 3 great tries, but the team effort in defence won the game with the final score 35 -10 to AKS
AKSU12B team also took the spoils in an entertaining match which was in stark contrast to the A team game. The ball was flying around the pitch with Croft, Jackson and Riley seeing plenty of ball. Special mention to Holmes for his defensive effort with the final score 30 – 20 to AKS.
AKS U13 also came out on top against Manchester High with a 15 – 11 win. We played 3 x 20 mins, so that everyone got plenty of game time, at least 30 mins rugby for everyone. We agreed with MGS to go strong in the first 20, development in the second 20 and whoever was still standing in the third 20. In the first 20 mins, we were behind 4 tries to 1 due to not tackling their big, strong runner. The second session saw us get infront with a 7-3 win and then a 7-4 win in the last twenty was a great response to our start, as we finished strong and our match fitness and great hands won us the game. Great squad effort, with lots of notable performances.
AKS U13As also faced a strong challenge from Lancaster Grammar School and displayed incredible character, skill, and resilience in a highly competitive fixture against a physically imposing Lancaster side on their home patch.Facing a much larger and stronger opposition, AKS found themselves under early pressure. While flat in attack and lacking a cohesive defensive press, the boys continued to showcase high-level core skills and refused to drop their heads despite the halftime deficit of 20-0 to the home side. The half time huddle drew a phenomenal second half response. A player-driven turnaround saw the team lift their energy significantly, sharpening their defensive alignment and moving the ball with purpose. Tries from Henry C, Ben J, Joseph L, and Sebastian P brought AKS within touching distance of a remarkable comeback, with the boys pressing hard for the winning score until the final whistle.
Outstanding courage, heart, and adaptability. The halftime adjustments were driven by the players, reflecting fantastic leadership on the field.Although time ran out on the comeback, the proud and positive dressing room after the match said it all. A truly fantastic effort against top-tier opposition.
Well done to the team for an inspiring second-half performance!
AKS U14 faced a tough start against Manchester Grammar, who came out strongly and scored two early tries. With AKS short on numbers, Manchester kindly lent us a few players to make it 15-a-side. Unfortunately for AKS, some of the MGS players were incredibly physical and proved extremely difficult to stop.The first half continued to be a real battle. AKS came close to scoring but just couldn’t quite get over the line, with Manchester taking their opportunities and leading 38–0 at half time. The lads were understandably feeling pretty down in the dumps at the break. However, the response after half time was excellent. With the more physical players now joining the AKS side, we began to match Manchester physically and started to play some really good rugby. The lads went back to the basics, moving the ball well through the middle, supporting each other and took our opportunities, and the tries started to come.
AKS fought all the way to the final whistle, scoring 33 points in the second half and turning what had looked like a one sided game into a really competitive contest with the score 33 – 45. The character shown by the AKS boys in the second half was excellent and made for a really enjoyable game in the end.
AKS U15 lost 52-5 playing a 14v14 game having to borrow a MGS player. The lads again played some fantastic rugby and moved the ball really well but lacked go forward at crucial times. Play slowed whilst the referee came off with a quad strain but was quickly resumed. Toby S made an outstanding break down the right edge beating 9 defenders but was brought down short of the line. AKS kept on knocking on the door and the ball landed in the MGS players hands who was playing for AKS and touched down.
AKS girls continued winning ways on the hockey scene with some impressive cup performances seeing the U16 & U15 teams march on.
AKS U16’s faced old rivals Kirkham Grammar in the National School Cup competition and after an impressive display came away with a 5 – 0 win. From the first whistle we attacked at pace with Charlotte R, Evie G and Alyssa W linking well on the right to put the Kirkham defence under constant pressure. Captain Camilla W was always dangerous up front with her direct running and dangerous reverse stick shot and Kirkham were soon on the back foot and we were on the score sheet to take an early lead. Captain Lauren M controlled the centre of the pitch superbly and Kirkham struggled to create many scoring opportunities. Great passing hockey from all the team saw us deservedly add to our tally with Camilla W scoring two, Alyssa W two and Sophia T one and by the final whistle we were celebrating a well deserved 5 – 0 win and progression in to the next round of the cup.
AKS U15’s also progressed to the 3rd round of the Independent Schools Cup with a superb win against Stonyhurst. It was another fantastic performance from the AKS U15 girls against a strong Stonyhurst side where the girls showed incredible determination, teamwork, and effort throughout the match. Every player contributed, whether it was attacking, defending, or working hard in midfield, and the team never stopped pushing.
Alyssa W, Charlotte R, Sadie A, and Sophia T scored the goals to secure an impressive 5-0 victory but overall it was great passing hockey from every player that led to the chances being created and converted. A special mention goes to Faye J, who was outstanding in goal. She made some brilliant saves and showed fantastic communication with the defenders and players around her, always encouraging everyone in such a positive way. A well-deserved Man of the Match. Special mentions also go to Year 9 Amelie Y, Freya W and Penny A who stepped up and played up an age group in the second round of the cup. They showed great confidence and worked brilliantly with the team. The team now look forward to the challenge of the third round on the cup.
AKS U14’s were also in action in the first round of the National Schools Championships against Sedbergh School. Both teams started the game nervously giving possession away easily but we slowly gained composure and started to dominate play and create a number of scoring opportunities but could not beat the Sedbergh keeper. Against the run of play Sedbergh took the lead in the first quarter but we re-grouped and again started to attack at pace down the right with Freya W a constant threat and Winne v-R saw her shot fly just wide and we went in to half time with the score 0 – 1.
After the break we raised our game passing with more pace and we continued to enjoy a lot of the ball and we deservedly got on level terms when a driving run and shot by Penny A was deflected past the GK by Emily B to make it 1 – 1. Lifted by the goal we started to play our best hockey of the match with Penny A, Amelie Y, Quinn E and Freya W linking well to dominate play and Ella B nearly took us in to the lead when she just failed to get on the end of a superb cross by Quinn. Sedbergh had several very skilful players and were always a threat and they went ahead again when a lack of defensive cover allowed one of these players to dribble through the pitch and give Harriet B in goal no chance. The team showed great character to raise their game again with everyone working hard for each other and we again drew level with minutes to go after another superb effort from Penny A. The final whistle saw the scores level and the result of the match being decided on shuffles. Despite having never been involved in shuffles before great credit to the three brave souls Freya W, Amelie Y and Ella B who put their hands up to take a shuffle. A nerve racking experience saw the scores level after the first three shuffles so we went to sudden death and we just missed out on a place in round two but look forward to our next game in the Plate competition. Opposition player of the match was Winne v-R with coach player of the match Freya W.