QEGS Wakefield continued their unbeaten start to the season with an impressive 36-10 away victory over Hill House in the opening round of the Continental Tyres Schools Cup.

The 1st XV arrived in confident mood following back-to-back wins over King’s School, Macclesfield and St Peter’s, York, and had the perfect preparation for their first cup outing.

Having faced the same opponents at a similar stage last year, QEGS knew the threat Hill House posed, and it was the hosts who struck first. Controversy surrounded the opener, with a five-metre scrum awarded where a goal-line dropout might have been expected. Hill House capitalised, winning the ball against the head and racing clear to touch down unopposed.

QEGS, however, hit back in style. Fly-half English saw a kick partially charged down, only for lock Tetteh – alert to the law that a charge-down played him onside – to gather 20 metres ahead. Showing both power and agility, he beat the final two defenders to score. Captain Hunter converted to edge his side into a 7-5 lead.

Hunter was soon at the heart of things again, slicing through the Hill House defence before releasing English to finish off a second try, giving QEGS a 12-5 advantage at the interval.

The visitors asserted their dominance after the break, crossing four more times through vice-captain McCann, Whyte, Walsh and Kalambay. Hill House registered a consolation score before Kalambay’s effort, but by then QEGS were out of sight.

The 36-10 win maintains QEGS’ 100% record this season, with three victories from three, and offers encouragement given that head coach and players alike believe there are still areas to improve.

Next up is a testing trip north to face Durham on Saturday, and with Open Morning and Kirkham to follow that, St Joseph’s Festival will soon be on the horizon!

📸: The QEGS Sports Reporter (STILL!!), Mr Mark Bailey

Squad:

1. L Candler
2. O Whyte
3. S Dobson
4. J McCann (Vice-Capt)
5. R Tetteh
6. O Bostwick
7. H Powell
8. M English
9. T Taylor
10. M English
11. J Kalambay
12. E Walsh
13. S Wood
14. L Wright
15. W Hunter (Capt)
16. B Mattison-Smith
17. H Millican
18. B Smith
19. D Cooper