Rugby Match Report GMS v RGS

Undoubtedly, the Great Marlow School’s Year 9 rugby team’s biggest challenge occurred recently. They were defending a 12 game unbeaten run, so the pressure was on.

The long anticipated game took place at GMS, on their superb pitch.

The opponents, The Royal Grammar School (RGS), normally play a mix of their A team with their B team, but for this important match RGS brought their fully fledged A team: their choice was recognised for what it was, a mark of respect for the reputation GMS have in the rugby fixture’s league.

Marlow began strongly, taking control in the first five minutes. However, weak tackling allowed RGS to score three times. Marlow were determined to fight back though, and, certainly, dominated the scrum throughout the entire game.

Outstanding play, deep in the RGS half, saw Kyran Townsend finish his own kick and chase try, All Blacks style.

Despite moments of brilliance, the first half finished 5-25.

Coming out onto the pitch for the second half the teams, their coaches, and those watching knew there was going to be a demonstration of resilience by both sides.

Up to this point in the fixture’s calendar, RGS had several of their games stopped at the half way mark, or shortly into the second half, due to a 50 point deficit. This scenario was never going to be the case in Marlow.

The forwards in the home team upped their game, while the backs started tackling like possessed men; RGS struggled to dominate. The game turned into a classic rugby battle, neither side giving an inch, but with GMS having to make up lost ground conceded in the first half.

Once again, outstanding support play saw Captain Kyran Townsend finish a superb running rugby try.

The final score was a 12-43, a win to RGS.

The coach, Steve Goodright, believes that if the team had played as they did in the second half all the way through the game they would have won. His wise words gave comfort to the boys who proved, in the second half, they were a match to one of the best A teams in the area.

The GMS rugby team now have a greater understanding of the game and how to respond to a skilled opponent: resilience, commitment and a determination are required to secure a win: from every one of the boys, for every minute in the game.

Where to next? The team and their coach are keen to meet and defeat the team tipped to be National Champions next year.

The coach believes that if the Year 9s continue to play with the sort of determination they displayed against RGS in the second half they can be top of the league.

In a wider context, he believes playing to win when the odds are challenging gives all participants a life skill: a belief that when the going gets tough in life they can battle against the tide to become strong, successful people.

The GMS thank the team, who were: Alexander Dixon, Alfie Griffiths, Lewis Highgate, Finlay McIndoe, Charlie Parry, Oliver Rees, George Setford, Jack Stroud, Kyran Townsend, William Wright, Adam Sullivan, Charlie Bonwick, Jack Brown, Ben Roddick, Freddie Lewis, Aaron Faulkner, Ben Robinson, Henry Macpherson, Patrick Boland, Max Bowles, Will Drewett and Morgan Thackwell.