Northern Champions aim for National Title

14 Feb 2022 11:59
Published by: Scott Callan

The King's School's power-house under-14 rugby side is just one step away from a national final after blazing their way to the North of England title.

Under former Macclesfield RUFC and England under-16 national coach Steve Burnage, the boys in blue are being heralded as one of the best rugby teams ever to come out of the top Macclesfield school in over 90 years of rugby.

The Northern final saw a convincing win against Shropshire's Ellesmere College in a rampaging 48 - 7 romp as the Macc' lads were never off the front foot.

The earlier rounds saw the young men beat a who's who of the Northern schools' circuit with a 39 - 12 win against Kirkham Grammar School in the semi0final and a 30 - 0 against Queen Elizabeth Grammar School Wakefield in the quarter-final, making up for their one defeat in 20 matches this season.

Earlier there was a stunning 60 - 15 win against local rivals St. Ambrose College from Hale Barns, with a 55 - 5 win against Bishop Heber School from Chester in their first game.

The team play total 15-man rugby but based on solid, unrelenting defence. A stunning 12 members of the squad have been selected for the Sale RUFC Player Development Pathway.

At the heart of their success has been the leadership of inspirational captain and hooker Millar Anderson, a tough front row man with the modern forward's handling skills and their muscular Number Eight, Charlie Kaye, a no-nonsense ball winner and ground maker.

While in the centre the team is blessed with two superb runners in Sam Keep and Christian Smith, who combine robust defensive tackling with both the rapier and bludgeon in attack.

Steve Burnage, who played fly-half with Orrell, the Fylde and Macclesfield, and after a career in topflight teaching has taken the team in his retirement, said: "This team trains hard, works hard and plays hard and are a pleasure to work with. We have wonderful parental support, essential in schools’ sport, and great back up from above in King's Head Coach Giles Hetherington."

Giles Hetherington added: "These young men are doing themselves and the school proud and we look forward to the national semi-final away against the Midlands' Champions, a title still to be decided, against either Northampton School for Boys or Uppingham School."

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