66
O
ur season began with a
desperately tight defeat at Clifton,
but we were to suffer defeat only
once more in Saturday block fixtures.
We took a 10-0 lead through a Gabriel
Counsell try, a conversion and a penalty.
However there were signs of rustiness,
and Clifton were able to score two late
breakaway tries, the last, agonisingly, on
the final whistle.
In an excellent high-scoring game against
Wellington though, we ran out worthy
winners, 39-19. Try scorers were Joe
Cooke (2), Rory Nixon-Eckersall, Gabriel
Counsell, Jonjo Wring and Ed Denton.
We were then to lose for the second (and
last) time away at Blundell's. We went
5-0 up through a Rory Nixon-Eckersall
try, but injuries to Harry Thomas and
Sam Underdown allowed Blundell's back
into the game. Despite spirited tackling,
they managed to score three late tries as
we went down 15-5.
The following Saturday though we started
with intensity and skill against
Cheltenham, leading to a superb try
finished off by Liam Redrup. Rory NixonEckersall
controlled the match at fly-half
and Jonjo Wring scored a late try to seal
a memorable victory.
It was champagne rugby the next week
against Bristol Grammar School, when we
scored a total of eight tries. There were
outstanding performances from Ed
Denton, Harry Thomas and Alex Madge in
our 40-0 win. Despite five injuries, we
dominated against much fancied Canford
opposition. Alex Madge and man of the
match Gabriel Counsell scored our tries
as we ran out 15-5 winners.
At Queen's we lost two players to injury
in the first 30 seconds, but regrouped to
enjoy the lion's share of the possession.
It was hard work breaking down the
Queen's defence, but Ed Denton
eventually scored - Sam Underdown was
man of the match after stepping in at
scrum-half.
For the second week in a row, we had to
work hard to secure victory at Taunton
School. Man of the match Gabriel
Counsell scored our try in the 13-10 win,
while Liam Redrup slotted two penalties
and a conversion in a pleasing end to a
terrific season.
S
erious injuries led to the Bs' game
against Clifton being abandoned
after we had put in a terrific firsthalf
performance with two tries by Jamie
Turvill. But the following week we were
comfortable winners against Wellington in
an excellent display of running rugby
orchestrated by fly-half Jamie Turvill.
Tries came from Henry Breeze (5), Royce
Tooth (2), and one apiece for Henry
Dufosee, Will Mayor and Dan Dobie -
Callum McPhee added four conversions.
At Blundell's we earned ourselves a very
creditable 22-22 draw against large
opposition. Our try scorers were Jamie
Turvill, Henry Breeze and Charlie Niekirk
(2), his second a brilliant solo effort.
We were a bit outmuscled against
Cheltenham, but we enjoyed a gutsy win
against Bristol Grammar School - our
tries came from Henry Breeze (2) and
Ed Blowers, while Callum McPhee added
the extras in our 19-0 victory.
It was a frustrating afternoon at Canford,
where we were severely under-strength.
We enjoyed lots of possession though and
could have won - tries came from Huw
Vaughan-Johns and Royce Tooth.
But we really turned on the style against
Queen's to win 58-5. Good handling and
support work were the foundation stones
of the victory, Dan Mead, Royce Tooth
and Callum McPhee the stand-out
players. And though we lost our final
game against Taunton School, we can
look back with a lot of pleasure on a
thoroughly successful season.
Rugby
Senior Colts
Gabriel Counsell celebrates his try as the Senior Colts beat Wellington 39-19