Old Arnoldians v School
A bright and sunny morning greeted the players and spectators for the annual matches against the Old Arnoldians.
The rugby was a very close game with neither side managing to stamp it's authority on proceedings. It was credit to the 1st Team that they managed to cope with the power and speed of Messrs Beaumont and Brennand, both Fylde 1st team players, and that the score was always close. It is fair to say that the Old Boys' had two fortuitous tries, against the run of play, which School had to work hard to recover from. They didn't quite make it however, losing 27-23.
Meanwhile on the astro pitch the Hockey 1st Team were enjoying a close tussle with the Old Girls' for the first 20 minutes. After that early onslaught the School team put together a fine performance, with fast flowing moves that exposed the lack of pace on the Old Girls' defence.
For the first time in the history of the fixture three sisters were playing. Laura and Kate Oliver were playing for the Old Girls' against younger sister Sophie. Both still play club hockey and were hoping to get one over their little sister who is a Welsh International. Laura managed to score early on in the game and Kate made some telling tackles on Sophie in defence, but it was Sophie who had the last laugh, with the School team winning 5-2.
Old Arnoldians v Old Lidunians
Arnoldians did not have a comfortable day at Fylde on Boxing Day. In spite of some excellent play from our former pupils they found the opposition persistent and inventive and the match ended 10 - 29. Mr Evans, playing and scoring for the Old Lidunians, will no doubt receive an interesting welcome on his return to work in the New Year!
For a match report, pictures and video highlights of all of the tries on the day go to Fylde RFC -News-Archive.
Sporting Events Old Arnoldians v School
GOLF
Poor weather in the summer not only caused havoc with cricket but also golf.
The School Charity Golf Day was postponed from July until 28th September at Blackpool North Shore which was in fine condition and allowed for some very good scoring.
Three teams of boys were competing for the School Championship and the Ian Rose Trophy with James Cave winning the Championship and Lee Ashworth just beating James Hodson on a card play off for the Trophy.
A strong team of Fairhaven members assembled by the Foundation Secretary triumphed on the day. Adrian’s team comprised two OAs, until the end of term, Head Boy Edward Cam (1993 – 2007) and Robert Jebbett (1979-1991) plus Bob Thompson, Secretary at Fairhaven Golf Club.
Robert had won the Ian Rose Trophy himself in 1991 and was delighted to see it again. One of the School Teams (Sponsored by Save ’n Sail) were runners up.
The primary fundraising objective of the day was achieved to generate a Golf Scholarship for a Sixth Form pupil at Arnold and the first recipient of the award, Luke Olsson (currently in Year 11(the Fifth Form in old money) was announced on the day by the Principal. £500 was also raised for Brian House Hospice. There was a lot of interest at the Par 3 7th hole where the Club Professional, Andrew Richardson challenged players to double their wager if they could get closer to the pin than him, and at the 12th hole where the prize for Nearest the Pin was the use of a BMW Z4 for a weekend! The 2008 event will be held at Fairhaven Golf Club on Friday 11th July and tee times can be reserved by contacting Paul Oliver 01253 346391 or poliver@arnoldschool.com
The Summer Trophy and Leach Trophy, together with the Annual Match v School were also postponed, resulting in The Old Arnoldian’s Golf Festival taking place on Thursday 25th October at Blackpool North Shore Golf Club.
A field of 21 players competed for the Leach and Summer Trophies whilst also participating in a team event versus the School. The competition was fierce on a dry and bracing day which did not deter some brave souls from just playing in shirt sleeves.
Competition results:-
Leach Trophy Winner – Laura Senior
Summer Trophy Winner – Phil Jones
Winners of the Team Competition – The Old Arnoldians.
Next Year’s Events are scheduled on;
Summer and Leach Trophies – Fri 20th June 2008
OA’s versus the School – Fri 12th September 2008
Please contact Phil Jones 07786621072 or phil@nurseryworlde.com to book your place.
Cricket June 2007
It is rumoured that “Summer 2007” was so called because there were literally 2007 minutes of sunshine in the whole of BST.
Unfortunately the OA’s cricket match didn’t coincide with as much as one minute of sunshine, and by the time 30 overs had been bowled the rain had claimed yet another cricket match. Perhaps that wasn’t a bad thing for the OA’s this year.
The week leading up to the fixture had been plagued with more than 11 drop-outs and cry-offs. On the morning of the match we had managed to get 10 players, but then 1 dropped out during the morning and 2 didn’t show up! As frustrating as this was, it was equally comforting to welcome the 7 players who had made the commitment to turn up and have a game, and my thanks goes to them once again.
The OA’s batted first as is the norm, and we ticked along nicely at 5-per-over for most of the innings before rain brought a premature end to proceedings. Suggestions of a bowl-out or settling the game in the gym over a game of “Spud” were soon dismissed quicker than an LBW decision from Mr McKeown and the game was declared as a draw.
Thanks as always must go to Mike Butterworth for umpiring and to Mr Evans and Mr McKeown for their organisation and help. If anyone is interested in playing in the 2008 fixture, please drop me a line and we’ll keep our fingers crossed for some nice weather next year!
Many thanks to Dave Tracey, Sam Laycock, Mark Blackburn, Steve Whiteside, Nick Horne, Martin Hiberd and Rick Taylor. Email me for rugby and cricket at ed.mahon@tiscali.co.uk
L.O.B.A.G.S. 2007
This year’s competition was played at West Lancashire Golf Club on Friday 6th July.
12 teams of 5 from 11 schools took part. The conditions were very testing, although it was dry a force 9 gale raged all day, making it very difficult for all the players.
Our team of Simon Walker, Mike Farrer, Leo Coligan, Mike Brenannd and David Brenannd played well but were not in contention for the team prizes.
Team Prizes – Four best scores count
Best Net Score - Lord John Morley Trophy Waterloo Old Boys 124 pts
Best Gross Score – Alan Knipe Memorial Salver Old Liverpoolians 108 pts
Mike Farrer did manage to come 2nd in the best individual nett score, with a very creditable 34 pts
Next year’s competition will again be held at West Lancashire G C on a date to be arranged.
Simon Walker
Old Arnoldians 19 Old Lidunians 7
Boxing Day 2006
This was a great win for the OAs, on the day that Arnold seemed to take over Fylde RFC. The progress the OAs team has made in this fixture has made it a pleasure to be involved in. It wasn’t that long ago that we were just about persuading 15 lads to turn out to be annually humiliated by the OLs, but this was our 4th win in the last 7 meetings and it was very well deserved.
This year we definitely had the right mix of youth and experience, against a much younger OLs team than normal. Their Golden Generation now seems to have become an Olden Generation, and they didn’t seem to be up for the game as much as a confident OAs team…this was confirmed shortly before kick-off when they asked us to play with uncontested scrums because they didn’t have a full front row.
Considering the size of the pack we had, that certainly stifled one of our main attacking options, but our forwards still managed to dominate in open play, and we made an encouraging start, winning and retaining the lion’s share of the possession.
Danny Beaumont had a solid game at hooker and was backed up by his two club mates Johnny Sycamore and Neil Gyte who were solid locks. Danny clearly is used to throwing in to these two and found his men in the line quite regularly…sometimes he even managed to find them AND throw it in straight!
Our props each had a game to remember, Johnny Wild was excellent in the loose and put in some big hits, he seems to be growing into a promising prop. And speaking of promising props, Jasper Leaver (how many teachers remember some of Jasper’s promises?!?!) will remember the day with fondness as he scored our first try, pushing past two defenders as if they were hair restoration salesmen before touching down from close range for a most popular score. When he got home after a couple of pints he told his missus he had beaten 7 defenders before chipping through and skinning the full back (rumours that he also told his missus that they named Leaver’s Day after him are still to be confirmed)!
Our back row played like they knew that most of our subs also wanted to play back row, and didn’t disappoint. Boxing Day is always a big occasion for Jeavon Trend, (and for gyms and sunbed shops all over Blackpool who know they can take the day off because Jev will be down at Fylde) and he captained the team from No.8 with real passion and a solid physical performance. Flankers Sam Beaumont and Karl Wilkinson were tough in defence and also made good, hard yards with the ball in hand.
The backs performed well as a unit for most of the game (until the substitutions confused things a wee bit in the last quarter) and we all breathed a collective sigh of relief when Ballo and Wally both turned up on time and sober after each having a more sensible Xmas night than they have done in the past! Ballo even managed to pass in a straight line this year, and Wally ran the show from fly half with an excellent all-round performance, his kicking was particularly impressive.
In the centres Iain Hollingsworth was relieved not to be the oldest back for the 3rd year running, as his partner Mike Fielden took that dubious honour. Although Mike only lasted for the first 25 minutes he showed he is still a class act and put in some thunderous hits. He thoroughly deserved his Werther’s Originals and Horlicks after the game. Sadly Iain didn’t last until half time either, one particularly heavy tackle dislodged his nicotine patch and he showed an impressive turn of pace to leave the pitch and spark up before we’d even sorted a replacement!
Our wingers Ryan McGurk and Dan Stacey had very different assignments for the day. The OL’s best player was on one wing and their worst player was clearly making up the numbers on the other. They both played well, although Dan may regret showing some respect to his opposite number and not skinning him in the first half. Mark Roberts started at full back before filling in at centre and he had another outstanding game. His tackling is technically excellent and when running with the ball in hand he has great balance, which is quite ironic as within 3 hours of the final whistle most Saturdays, his balance is the first thing to go!
Our second try (scored by Neil Gyte) early in the second half allowed us to introduce some of our subs, who all played their part in a superb team performance. Grant Armstrong was all over the OLs like a rash and he punched well above his weight in the tackle. Henry Pond made important tackles and contributed well in attack, as did Andy Tracey who was composed with ball in hand.
By the time Sam Beaumont had deservedly scored the 3rd try we were able to make more changes and get our remaining subs on the pitch and it was only during that period of change that the OL’s got a grip on the game. When they scored to make it 19-7 late on, it certainly woke up a large crowd and the closing stages were very frantic, although our defence held strong, as ever to see us through to a well-earned victory.
It seems appropriate that our three tries were all scored by forwards as that is where we won the game, our pack was bigger, stronger and seemingly more determined than the OLs, not to mention more organised (there was never any chance of us asking for uncontested scrums after all). Although we had many candidates for man of the match, it had to be a forward who got the nod, and it was agreed that Johnny Wild should get the honour. Unfortunately we didn’t get the trophy back from the OL’s (which probably summed their day up) so we couldn’t present the trophy to him.
This was a very satisfying win for all of the players, particularly for the organisers, Ed “I love it when a plan comes together†Mahon, Mark “Howling Mad†Worsley, Jeavon “I pity the fool†Trend and Grant “The Face†Ferguson. Once more the game was an entertaining spectacle for another bumper crowd. Many thanks to all the lads who turned up with their boots, it was a great team effort. Thanks must also go to all the spectators and to Fylde RFC for hosting the event, which is now an established sporting and social event for everyone to look forward to.
If you are interested in participating in either the Boxing Day fixture or the Easter fixture against the School 1st XV, please email me at: ed.mahon@tiscali.co.uk
Now where did I put those cigars…
The winning team:
J Leaver
D Beaumont
J Wild
J Sycamore
N Gyte
K Wilkinson
S Beaumont
J Trend
R Ball
M Wallwork
D Stacey
M Fielden
I Hollingsworth
R McGuirk
M Roberts
Subs:
C Ball
M Worsley
J Dean
G Armstrong
N Campbell
H Pond
A Tracey
E Mahon
P Donald
Apologies if I missed anyone, for some reason my memory was a little hazy the following morning!
OA v School matches 2007
News of the games that took place during the reunion weekend.
OA v School matches 2006
Match Reports
Old Arnoldians v Old Lidunians Boxing Day Match.
For a report and pictures please go to http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/main.htmand click on News.
Arnold 1st XI versus Old Arnoldians Annual Cricket Fixture
The annual fixture took place on Thursday 29th June and was blessed with good weather. The OA’ s won the toss and elected to bat and soon piled on the runs through Dave Tracey and Tim Phillips who had an opening stand of 70 before Mark Blackburn claimed the wicket of Tracey. However this brought John Ashworth to the crease and in usual fashion he despatched the ball to all ends of the field and the Astroturf pitch on one occasion. He retired on 55 and this let Ed Mahon and James Thornton take the score onto a total of 226 for 4.
In reply the school started very well with James Cain getting a quick fifty however he was not backed up by the rest of the team and the school struggled through to 111 for 9 after their allotted overs. The pick of the bowlers for the OA’s was Sam Laycock with 5-4 from his seven overs and Tom Muir with 2-14.
Old Arnoldians v School Golf Match
OA Golden Wonder
James Thornton wins Under 20 Commonwealth Fencing Gold in India
Old Arnoldian , James Thornton, won the Commonwealth Junior (Under 20) Men’s Epee Championship in Chennai India on Friday 27th January.
Chennai (formerly known as Madras) held the inaugural Junior Commonwealth Fencing Championships and the cream of Commonwealth Under 20 fencers were gathered together for a spectacular display of fencing. With a host of the World’s top hundred fencers on display a very classy field was assembled and it was difficult to predict which fencers would come out on top.
In James’ event, men’s epee, very strong squads had been entered by the host nation India, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as the Home nations. With each country limited to entering its best four fencers the field was tough and the room for error in the round robin qualifying pools was small.
India had been able to prepare its fencers at a two-month-long training event prior to the Championships and with a mighty Team Australia out to show the Poms a thing or two, life was going to be tough for the Northern Hemisphere fencers in the heat and humidity at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, in the shadow of the Test Cricket Ground. As the results of the round robin rounds came through James was down in 11th place stuck in the chasing pack with his work cut out if he was to make the medals.
Australia’s Martin Camilleri was top seed having cruised through his round robin pool winning all five of his fights. India was looking well placed with two of their fencers also topping their round robin pools. As the direct elimination phase of the competition got under way it looked as though the final was going to be a showdown between the hosts India and Team Australia. All of the elimination fights are fought to the best of 29 hits.
As the draw for the last 16 was displayed it became clear that if James was to even get a medal he was going to have to up his game. He was faced with a tricky Round of 16 fights against Northern Ireland’s Stevie Fenwick, and if he got through that, a quarter final against Wales’ Jamie Melia, the third seed.
England’s Fencing “Barmy Army” of supporters were whipped up into a frenzy of support by the England management and James arrived on the piste to a mighty roar. James was still not at his best but squeezed through 15 hits to 13 to earn his quarter final shot at a medal.
Ahead early in the quarter final James conserved energy and closed out the fight, winning by a comfortable margin of 5 points. By now, James’ dad and coach, Mike Thornton was cup tied from the referee list for the event and so took up his place in James’ corner. This involved some delicate diplomacy as Mike was in India as Scotland’s referee, but the true spirit of Commonwealth Games prevailed.
With a bronze medal in the bag the semi finalists came into the arena in front of a packed crowd of home supporters to play out the final drama on live television. The final four pairings were Tom Bennett (England) against top seed Martin Camilleri (Australia) and local favourite Sumeeth Sainatha (India) against James. The first semi saw Camilleri edge out Bennett by one hit and as the second semi got under way it looked as though England were going to have to settle for two bronze medals.
James had lost by one hit to Sainatha in the round robin pool and was quickly behind. The Indian was very strong in defence and played a careful game, punishing James for some tired attacks and capitalizing on his increasing frustration. At the minute rest break after the first period James was losing heavily and his father had his work cut out in his pep talk.
In the second period the “Barmy Army” chanted their heads off and to a rousing chorus of “There’s only one Jimmy Thornton” out he came to try and pull off a remarkable come back. With the score at 11 hits to 5 against James, India were already starting to savour the prospect of their first Commonwealth Junior Fencing finalist.
James stretched the distance between himself and Sainatha and started to really try and express himself, mixing up his attacks and running through a much more fluid repertoire of actions. The hits started to flow James’ way again and suddenly the Barmy Army were making more noise than the bigger Indian crowd. Pumped up by the support and wearing his heart on his sleeve James scored ten hits to Sainatha’s one to run out winner 15 hits to 12.
In the televised final the roar for James was enormous; he seemed to have won over the hearts of the Indian crowd with his emotional showmanship and gutsy determination in beating their local hero. But the final was not to be a one way show.
In the first period James went two hits down as he and Camilleri probed each other’s defences, before ending it 6 hits to four up. Far from having to pick him up at the break now it was time to keep his feet on the ground. James then controlled the fight keeping ahead until Camilleri started a late surge making up the deficit and tying the match at 11 all.
James was clearly tiring and coping less well with the heat and humidity than Camilleri. James waved his sword to the crowd urging the now hoarse supporters to will him on for one more push. Amidst deafening roars he came out like a bull, stretching Camilleri to the limit, controlling the timing and distance of the fight. James picked him off as he surged forward to attack, to re-establish the lead. Twice more Camilleri came forward and again James hit him as he was trying to develop his attack.
The Australian wasn’t going to just roll over and he launched one last furious attack evading James’ blade and thrusting in deep to body. James pulled out one last parry, landed the riposte and ripping off his mask leapt into the air to celebrate as the crowd roared “Champion, champion”.
Arnold lose out in annual Boxing Day fixture.
One of the biggest crowds of the season so far watched a great contest between these local rivals, and witnessed a game played in the true spirit of the occasion.
For a full report and pictures please go to http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/main.htmand click on News.
Champion Zara
Chris (CJ) Glover (1957-1963) emails from Turramurra, New South Wales with the progress of his niece, Zara Glover (1989-1998) and her most recent successes in the World of Ten Pin Bowling.
Zara is a former World Champion, winning three Gold Medals and one Silver in the 2003 World Championship in Malaysia. In August she won Women’s Open Masters Final of the Indonesian Open and followed this up with a win on the 2005 European Bowling Tour at the San Marino Open. She certainly looks happy with the 10,000 Euro first prize. Well done indeed.
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