Standish High School 32 – 16 St Edmund Arrowsmith

The Y8 rugby team produced a spirited and courageous performance against a strong Standish High School team on Friday evening in the NWC competition, eventually falling to a 32 - 16 defeat.

Coming into the fixture as clear underdogs against a team with significant rugby pedigree, the boys showed no signs of intimidation. From the outset, they played with confidence and purpose, taking the game to Standish with some excellent attacking rugby. Their early pressure was rewarded with consecutive tries, giving SEA a deserved lead and stunning the home side.  The team continued to battle with determination and organisation throughout the first half, matching Standish physically and tactically. Their efforts were fully deserved as they went into half-time with the lead which was an impressive achievement given the pre-match expectations.

However, the second half proved to be a sterner test. The well-known Standish hill began to take its toll, sapping energy levels as the match wore on. This was further compounded by a number of injuries, which significantly reduced the number of available interchanges and meant several players had to dig deep and continue despite fatigue.

Despite this, we were far from outplayed. In fact, for large periods of the game, we were the better side, showing greater organisation and intent. Ultimately, the difference came down to physicality, with Standish benefiting from two particularly large players who were able to make powerful carries and break through tackles at key moments.  

Whilst the final scoreline may suggest a comfortable win for Standish, it does not reflect the true nature of the contest. The commitment, resilience, and team spirit shown by the Y8 SEA players were outstanding throughout.

Both Mr Hind and Mr Lindley are incredibly proud of this performance, particularly the heart, determination, and togetherness displayed by the group. This was a performance that sets a strong foundation moving forward and reflects the growing potential within this squad.  A big special mention to Kian Gordan who was the Player of the Match