St Mary’s College’s first XV rugby team celebrate Lancashire Plate success

St Mary’s College in Crosby has landed more red rose rugby silverware after winning this season’s prestigious Lancashire Plate event.

The school’s First XV recorded an emphatic 60-3 victory over Bolton School in the final, staged under floodlights by Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Club.

The road to the final included an excellent 36-26 win for the Crosby side over Manchester Grammar School at the last four stage.

The Lancashire Plate success crowns an excellent year for the senior team who also won the Rydal Sevens and finished as runners-up in the Birkenhead Sevens.

Their Plate victory also follows hot on the heels of the St Mary’s under 15 team bagging county honours by winning the Lancashire Cup competition for their age group.

St Mary’s head of rugby, John Armstrong, commented: “It’s been a remarkable season for rugby at the school and our First XV players deserve huge congratulations for ending the season on such a high with victory in the Lancashire Plate competition.

“All their hard work over recent months has paid off and playing a floodlit county final at a big club like Preston Grasshoppers was a very memorable way to finish the campaign.

“Thank you to our Upper Sixth players Tom Davis, Archie Kennedy, Dillon Smith, Adam Chapman, Freddy Addyman and Alex Edginton for whom the final was – sadly – their last game for the school. Their commitment has been a great example to their younger teammates.

Mr Armstrong added: “However, equally well done to the lads in the team from the Lower Sixth and Year 11 who played so well. We’re really excited to see how they develop over the next two years.”