- Announcement 1/1: The Junior School is closed for Half Term from 11.55am on Friday 10th February until Monday 20th February.Have a great half term!!
- Junior Boys
- News
- Letters
- Weekly Bulletin
- Important Notifications
- Contact Details and Staff Profiles
- Departments
- Curriculum Brochures
- Information and Facilities
- Extra Curricular Activities
- Admissions
- Sports Reports
- Merchants' Community
- Weblogs
- Charitable & Community Work
- Key Information
- Term Dates and Diary
- Governors' Details
- Merchant Taylors' Company
- Swimming Clubs
Search Merchant Taylors'
2020vision Merchants Connected ArchivesMerchant Taylors' are the Champions!
The Junior Boys' Under 11 football team has won the AJIS knockout competition for the first time, defeating Bolton Boys' School in the final 2-0, both goals scored by Captain Sam Moore. This caps a great 12 months for the school with major successes in several sports. In the spring the boys won two rugby sevens titles; the AJIS Sevens and the Budge Sevens at Rossall. Last summer the swimming team were National Champions and the boys followed this outstanding success by being top AJIS Boys' school at the Sefton Triathlon.
The boys football team, many of whom also play in the rugby team, have been undefeated this year. On the way to the AJIS final they knocked out St Anselm's (3-2), Rossall (7-0), Arnold (4-1) and Stockport Grammar (2-0).
The team started strongly in the final again Bolton, dominating the early play, but creating few chances until a great move saw the ball swept out to Charlie Byrne, unmarked on the right flank. Charlie immediately picked out Sam Moore in front of goal and Sam took the opportunity to score with a simple tap in. The second goal came just before the half-time break.
After the boys had received their medals midfielder Sam Stubbs put the team's success down to, ‘great passing and movement, because when we did that it led to chances and some wonderful goals.'
In April the rugby sevens squad faced a gruelling week with three competitions in five days, but emerged with two trophies: the AJIS and the Budge sevens.
The boys travelled to the Grange in Hartford to compete with 14 other schools for the prestigious AJIS trophy. They were unlucky to have been drawn alongside Kirkham, Newcastle and Birkenhead in the 'group of death'. Squeaking through into the quarters, the team faced a lively Kings Macclesfield, who had won their previous three games. Always in control, the boys endeavoured to make a close game of it to go through 28-21. Westholme were more easily overcome in the semi-final (14-0) while Kirkham beat St Ambrose after extra time in the other semi. Kirkham soon had the upper hand in the final, leading 14-0 after Merchant Taylors' had again started slowly. A brilliant try by Harry Maitland-Titterton chasing Sam Moore's kick brought Merchants back into the game and Sam Moore with a try of his own soon put them back on level terms. The second half saw Sam Stubbs make a superb break from half way and they hung on to finish 19-14 ahead, our fifth triumph in this competition since its inception 16 years ago. Charlie Byrne deserves special mention, as it was his try-saving tackle in the final that prevented a winning score for Kirkham.
Two days later the exhausted boys travelled to Rossall for the Budge sevens with confidence high. Ten teams contested this tournament, which has been in existence for 34 years. Victories over Lyndon House, Birkenhead, Altrincham and St Ambrose saw the team emerge top of the group and facing old enemy Kirkham in the semi-final. Kirkham took the lead but once more the ‘never say die' spirit came upon the lads and they stormed back to snatch a 14-7 win. In the final they faced a skilful side from Stonyhurst College. This time there was to be no come-backs required as Merchants dominated the game from the start romping home 28-0.
The boys are now preparing hard for the cricket season and hoping to bring home more silverware.
