The Beacon U10A's at UCS Rugby Festival
A very well done to our U10A Rugby team who went to UCS last Friday for their annual rugby festival. The boys played brilliantly in the group stages, winning both of their matches with dominant displays, first against Habs and then against UCS. The team is a great mix of strength, pace and skill… plus they scored some excellent tries.
After progressing through the group stages, they faced Belmont in the final and delivered another outstanding performance to finish as festival winners. All of the boys were fantastic, but most valuable player was awarded to Hendrix K, who was exceptional at the breakdown, winning several rucks and making numerous tackles throughout the afternoon.
The Team:
T S-S, Edward B, Hendrix K, Quinn R, Barney K, Bertie H, Macsen T, Robert P, Harley G
Reported by Mr Barnett
The Beacon U9A's vs Haberdashers
The U9A team continued their exciting season with another fantastic afternoon of rugby against Haberdashers, showcasing not only their growing skills but also their infectious enthusiasm for the game. Every week these boys step up a level, and this was no exception. Apart from the first whistle, where Haberdashers scored inside the first 10 seconds but after that they relished the physical contest, tackling ferociously and charging forward with determination, but what brought the biggest smiles was the way they moved the ball through the hands with pace and confidence.
The tries were spread right across the squad, with several boys bagging multiple scores. Finn A got himself on the sheet with a storming finish after some powerful carries. Ollie C ran superbly, cutting exceptional lines and powering through defenders on his way to three tries. Matteo P, who only started playing rugby this term, had another top performance — not only did he score three excellent tries, but his tackling was brave, sharp and relentless. Daniel N produced one of his best displays yet, flying into contact, working tirelessly in defence, and racing away to notch four brilliant tries. Dion T showed trademark strength, barging over the line with defenders clinging onto him, much to the delight of his teammates. Charlie J marked his A team debut in style, crossing for his first try and capping a memorable day.
A special mention must go to Thomas M, who may not have scored himself but was instrumental in pulling the strings. His vision, timing and unselfish passing helped to create opportunities for those around him, proving once again how vital teamwork is to the success of this squad.
Defensively, every single player stood tall. Time and again, they tackled bravely, stopping Haberdashers in their tracks and turning defence into attack. It was inspiring to see all the boys working hard for each other, proving that this team is about so much more than just scoring tries.
Overall, this was another hugely positive performance. The U9As are improving with every match, combining power with flair, and showing that they are not only talented individuals but a fantastic team to watch.
Reported by Mr Robinson
Gayhurst Cross Country
On Saturday, boys from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 represented the school at the Gayhurst Cross Country event. With a large number of schools taking part, the races were packed and the start lines full of energy and determination.
The Year 3 race set the tone for the day, with Hector M running superbly to claim 1st place – an outstanding achievement! He was strongly supported by Henry F in 12th and Freddie F in 13th, securing an impressive 2nd place overall for the Year 3 team.
Year 4 followed with an even bigger field of runners. Our top three finishers were Daniel N in 11th, Charlie J in 18th and Archie N in 20th – all producing strong performances in a very competitive race.
In the Year 5 event, Peter C was our sole representative and ran brilliantly to finish in 21st place.
Finally, the Year 6 boys rounded off the day with some excellent results. Kit R stormed home in 4th, Aleem-Hassan F claimed 14th, and Henry J finished close behind in 16th, earning the team a fantastic 3rd place overall.
It was a day full of effort, teamwork and determination – well done to all the boys who took part!
Reported by Mr. A. Walker
The Beacon U13's at IAPS Football Championship
On Wednesday, our U13A football team produced a truly phenomenal achievement by qualifying for the IAPS National Finals. What makes this all the more impressive is that the boys have not played any football this term, having focused instead on rugby. To come away with third place overall is a huge testament to their talent, determination and team spirit.
We began with a tough opening game against Lochinver House, who eventually reached the final. Despite chances to win, we had to settle for a 0–0 draw. The second match saw us again struggle to find the net until Henry B’s powered home a thunderous header to break the deadlock. Moments later, the crowd witnessed something quite extraordinary – a sensational overhead kick, the first I’ve seen in over 20 years of school football.
Our third match, against Felsted, was not our best performance and we fell to a 2–0 defeat. However, with other results going our way, qualification was still in our hands. In the final group game, Rocco G stepped up with a decisive strike to secure the all-important victory that saw us progress into the knockout stages.
Throughout the tournament, every player contributed to our success. Henry MC was superb in goal, producing excellent saves, while captain Harry A marshalled the defence with composure and leadership – very much our own Virgil van Dijk. In midfield and attack, Hugo C and Seb S caused endless problems for opposition defences with their skill and energy, while debutant Barney G impressed hugely at the back, using his pace and reading of the game to snuff out danger.
The quarter-final saw us face St John’s College, winners of another strong group. It was a tense, cagey encounter that ended goalless and went to penalties. In the sudden-death shootout, up stepped Henry MC, who held his nerve brilliantly to see us through to the national finals.
In the semi-final, we met Aldwickbury, who went on to lift the trophy. Despite a brave effort, we narrowly lost 1–0. That result left us with a hugely creditable third-place finish overall – an incredible outcome given our lack of preparation.
A huge well done to all the boys for their skill, resilience and teamwork. To qualify for the national finals in such circumstances is a remarkable effort and we could not be prouder.
Reported by Mr Robinson
The Beacon U8A vs Davenies
The U8A team kicked off their first home fixture of the season with a thrilling local derby. Coming off a strong win last week, the boys had worked hard in training on their defensive line and ball-carrying support — and it showed in abundance on Thursday afternoon.
There was some superb rugby on display: sharp passing before the touch, clever offloads to players in space, dazzling side-steps, and excellent support lines. The Beacon edged ahead 4–3 at half time, but our boys came out firing in the second half. With relentless energy and teamwork, they pulled away to secure an impressive 11–7 victory.
A fantastic effort all round — well done to every player involved!
Reported by Mr. A. Walker
The Beacon vs Caldicott
They say a week in politics is a long time – well that’s definitely the case for Colt’s rugby too. From the highs of playing against St John’s Beaumont to the not so highs of playing against Caldicott… There was an element of the A’s being a little beaten before the game even started, as they seemed a little overawed by the opposition and unfortunately, we didn’t realise we could make a game of it until we were already 3 tries down. The score was 4 tries to 1 at half time and the next score was very important for getting any momentum into our game.
It was not to be – Caldicott scored two quick tries and the last bit of confidence we had drained out of us. The boys did continue to put in a shift but the difference in class shone through in the end, with the Beacon conceding a further 6 tries in the second half.
There won’t be many weeks where we come up against opposition this strong and I hope we don’t lose this opportunity to take learnings from the experience. We need to be more aggressive in attack and defence (especially at the breakdown), we need to get off the line quicker in defence and we need to keep our width in both attack and defence – so plenty to work on but we go again next week.
Reported Mr Powell