Spirit of Worth shines through

Congratulations to this year’s 1st XV rugby squad who have achieved an excellent set of results, shown outstanding talent and also displayed the values which are so key to life at Worth.

As the final whistle blew on yesterday’s 1st XV National Vase rugby quarter-final, elation swept through the opposition after a deserved victory and heartbreak engulfed the previously unbeaten Worth boys as their Twickenham dream ended. At the end an opposition player lay injured, hurt in the final play of a bruising game; two Worth boys placed their personal disappointment on hold to pick up the boy and shoulder him off the pitch to waiting medical staff.

In a moment, we had captured what these boys are all about: they have achieved so much this term but have stayed humble and true to the values we live by at Worth. Some would say this is the spirit of rugby. Even more so, this is the spirit of Worth. In a moment of (sporting) darkness, light shone through.

The boys went into yesterday’s match with an unbeaten record of 13 wins and one draw from 14 matches this term. They were hoping to go further than any Worth team has gone before in this competition but, missing England U18 international Felix Bateman-Champain through injury, they found The King’s School, Gloucester, to be a disciplined, well-drilled and powerful team, as the opposition ran out 30-8 winners.

It was not the end of the season the boys wanted. In fact, they were hoping to extend their campaign with a semi-final and then a final at Twickenham in the new year, but this was a game too far. However, the result should not detract from what they have achieved this term which is a hugely impressive.

Well done boys, you have done the School proud in so many ways.

For more on rugby at Worth click here and read our sports document.