Rugby Report Year 7 and 8 Spring 2017

After an inspirational visit from the New Zealander and Hurricaines star, Brad Shields, just before Christmas, the Year 7 and 8 squads were keen to get back to training in preparation for their forthcoming league fixtures and County Emerging Schools Tournaments just before Easter.

Training has been excellent this term, with strong numbers from both 7 and 8 squads and a strong will to improve shown by all players. The addition of the GCSE PE Leaders has had an integral role in the quality of these sessions as they have planned and delivered nine sessions, each as part of their GCSE assessment. The quality of the sessions has been superb, and the following boys should be recognised for their efforts: Freddie Lewis, Kyran Townsend, Patrick Boland, Will Wright and Charlie Parry.

With training going well and numbers strong, Aylesbury Rugby Club provided the perfect venue to put the team skills to the test on their new £1.2 million pound 4G astro facility. Every 3rd week each team, from 7 and 8 respectively, would travel across and play league fixtures against the other South Bucks Secondary Schools. The pitch suits the GMS rugby style with the ball moving across the park in a very flowing way, which keeps opposition guessing where the ball will be going next. The fixtures at Aylesbury have facilitated significant progress in the student’s ball handling skills and ability to control the game through communication at the break down. Additionally, it has also highlighted key areas of the game that need development on the training field.

The fixtures for both the 7 and the 8 teams have gone very well, with only one game being lost out of 18 played between the two teams. Opposition sides have struggled with the quality the GMS teams display across the breadth of skills. The game that was lost was marginal and there was only one try in it, as GMS played a combined (Barbarianesque) team from three other schools.

The Year 7 team have played in their County Tournament and performed superbly well. They were placed in the highest league based upon their performances in the league fixtures. Here they did battle with teams from mainly north of the county and Milton Keynes, with the one exception being Misbourne. Of the six fixtures GMS were deserved winners of five, where they out passed, tackled, rucked and mauled all of their opposition players. The one fixture they did lose, again was only marginal: one try.

GMS met Ousdale School, next, whose entire squad play for Olney Rugby Club. In open play GMS were the better of the two sides, but we couldn’t match their defence and attack skill. Although it is clichéd to say, you cannot win a ball game if you do not have the ball. Subsequently, the team worked hard on this and are already looking forward to a rematch next season.

The Year 8 squad will be playing in their County Tournament two days before the end of the Easter Term. This strong squad, who won the competition last year, will hopefully find that form again!

Steve Goodright