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Spotlight on Schools Floodlit Rugby
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The final of the UCLAN Schools Under 16s Floodlit Cup was played on Wednesday 29th February, Wirral GS beating Woodhouse Grove 13-10.
This was an exceptional match to finish a pleasing year at the floodlit cup. Wirral Grammar School has added its name to the Floodlit trophy for the first time in the competition's 22-year history.
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UCLAN's sixth year of involvement in the competition coincided with the RFU's newly announced kit sponsor, Canterbury becoming the official provider of equipment for the tournament, particularly supplying the match balls, referees kits and prizes for the man of the month.
This long-established platform for rugby-union-playing-schools throughout the north west provides great entertainment, sportsmanship and a high level of competition for its players and suppporters. It also offers much to UCLAN students. The Sports Therapy, Sport Journalist and Sports Coaching departments are an integral part of the competition. Students gain valuable opportunities to provide medical cover, written reports and video analysis of the matches.
The weekly-scheduled tournament grows from strength to strength as local support guarantees the experience for players and supporters.
Officers and volunteers from both Preston Grasshoppers and the Manchester Referees Society have an excellent relationship with the tournament, particularly apparent with the representation by a number of referees watching the final.
Once again from the outset in September, the supplying of three officials for each game has been constantly commented on postively by all involved.
UCLAN is already looking forward to 2012/13 and invitations will be despatched to the likely schools before the summer half-term.
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| Quarter Finals |
Semi Final |
Final |
WINNERS |
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For more information about the sponsors |
| Manchester GS |
29
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The University of Central Lancashire |
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| 11th Jan - 4.00pm |
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Manchester GS |
5
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| RGS Newcastle |
3
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25th Jan - 5.15pm |
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Wirral GS |
13 |
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| Wirral GS |
14
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| 11th Jan - 6.30pm |
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Wirral GS |
22
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Kings' Macclesfield 7
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FINAL at Preston Grasshoppers |
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Wed 1st Feb |
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Winners:
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7.00 kick off |
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WIRRAL GS
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| Hutton GS |
7
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| 16th Nov - 6.30pm |
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Woodhouse Grove |
7
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| Woodhouse Grove |
22
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25th Jan - 6.30pm |
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Woodhouse Grove |
10 |
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| Bradford GS |
0
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| 23rd Nov - 5.15pm |
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St Peter's York |
5
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| St Peter's, York |
39
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click here for
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Previous Winners |
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| Floodlights... |
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At the time of Liverpool St Helens withdrawing from hosting the competition, Preston's new floodlighting (for which funding was partly achieved through RFU support) was the key to the event progressing at Lightfoot Green.
With over 24 school teams now entering annually from across the North, from Northumberland to south Cheshire, and using the same pattern as previously followed at LSH, matches continue to take place weekly on Wednesday evenings through to Christmas with a mid-February final.
Not only is this a well-established competition, it has been well-supported by the northern county schools who were excited at the prospect of it moving to Hoppers. In recent seasons, rugby followers have been able to watch some entertaining rugby football on Wednesday evenings.
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| UCLAN step in to save the event... |
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In the current economic climate, the Grasshoppers' club, with its other extensive youth and community commitments, would have struggled to fund the tournament and there was some doubt as to whether the weekly event would go ahead.
After sponsoring the Floodlit Final in 2006/07, The University of Central Lancashire has become the event's headline sponsor adding an increased level of sponsorship, partly thanks to the University's Nick Passenger, himself a Lancashire squad coach with local club and school connections.
Dr Adrian Ibbetson, Academic Director of Sport at UCLAN, said “We were impressed with the competition when we got involved last season and think that it is most important to support sport in this age group to help ensure that youngsters continue to participate as they approach the end of their school years and move on. We intend to maximise our investment by involving other faculties within the University, giving students valuable practical experience. Preston Grasshoppers has great facilities and, as our local club, we are keen to develop relationships to mutual benefit.”
Preston Grasshoppers partnership with The University of Central Lancashire can be seen as of great benefit to both organisations.
Speaking at the time, Hoppers' Vice-President and event co-ordinator, Henry Porteous, added, “This is great news. This floodlit competition has proved extremely popular with the schools and gives Under 16s players an opportunity to experience different opposition in a professional environment. We are delighted to be working with UCLAN and will do our utmost to ensure that we justify their generous investment and, just as importantly, that the participants enjoy the experience.”
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ANNUAL UNDER 16s
SCHOOLS KNOCK-OUT
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sponsored by
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| Match Reports |
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October & November
December
Wirral v MGS
MGS v RGS Newcastle
Semi Finals
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September Highlights
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for a full screen version:
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| The UCLAN Rugby Club |
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Preston Grasshoppers
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Click here for:
and
website
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Previous Winners
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1989-90
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De La Salle School
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1990-91
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Merchant Taylors School
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1991-92
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Merchant Taylors School
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1992-93
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De La Salle School
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1993-94
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St Anshelm's College
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1994-95
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Stonyhurst College
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1995-96
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Stonyhurst College
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1996-97
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Stonyhurst College
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1997-98
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King's School, Macclesfield
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1998-99
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Arnold School
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1999-00
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Manchester GS
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2001-02
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Lancaster RGS
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2002-03
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St Ambrose College
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2003-04 *
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St Ambrose College
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2004-05 *
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St Edward's College
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2005-06 *
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St Ambrose College
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2006-07 +
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Lancaster RGS
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2007-08 $
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Hutton GS
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2008-09 $
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Lancaster RGS
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| 2009-10 $ |
Wilmslow HS |
| 2010-11 $ |
St Peter's, York |
| 2011-12 $ |
Wirral GS |
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Competition sponsored by SYSCO |
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Final sponsored by UCLAN |
| $ |
Competition sponsored by UCLAN |
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| Tournament Outline |
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The tournament runs from September to February and matches take place mainly on Wednesday evenings, kicking off at 5:30pm.
This season (2011/12), twenty-four schools from all over the North West entered, plus two schools from the North East and Yorkshire.
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Tournament Background
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For sixteen years, Liverpool St Helens hosted an Under 16s Schools Floodlit Tournament, throughout arranged by the Liverpool Referees Society's international match official, Dave Matthews.
In the early days, Lancashire and Merseyside schools formed the bedrock of the entries, but the successful format encouraged the inclusion of Cheshire schools, and beyond.
Wanting to rebuild their own Junior section with mid-week, evening training sessions, LSH’s Moss Lane ground became unavailable and the future of the competition was threatened.
Preston Grasshoppers were then persuaded to take on the event. Now, in their sixth season as hosts, the Wednesday night competition continues to be one of the biggest of its kind in the country.
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