Important Announcement

Over the last nine seasons, we've brought you all the action from Bangor Grammar 1st XV matches here on Gryphiti. Unfortunately this year just passed, will be our last.

Since we began in 2011, our aim was to raise the profile of the BGS 1st XV players and keep the fans in the loop through our match programmes, match updates, photos and video highlights. I'm incredibly grateful to all who have given their time selflessly to help us through the years; particularly Giles Strutt, Zach Kerr, Ken Best, Stephen McCrossan, not least the coaches and players themselves.

Looking back gives a great opportunity to share some personal highlights. It all began for us just before the 2011 Schools' Cup, and while our cup campaign ended that year to Belfast Royal Academy, we had a second chance in the Subsidiary Shield.

The semi final that year was firstly away against Wallace High, a much fancied team. Stuart McCloskey was in his final year at BGS, and with just minutes on the clock stepped up to kick a penalty to save a draw. His kick, amidst the most intense pressure was absolutely perfect. That kick forced the replay at Ballymac, where we would go on to win.

The 2011 Subsidiary Shield Final was at Ravenhill where we played Ballymena Academy. Unfortunately we were outplayed, but I think its fair to say that this match marked the start of a BGS rugby renaissance after years of under-performing.

The next milestone that springs to mind came in 2013. We faced Campbell College, then Schools' Cup champions at the new Gransha Road facility. It was a very scrappy match, in very windy conditions. Of course we all remember Ross McCloskey's magic penalty. Almost six years later, I still think that kick is going to miss anytime I watch it back. It's almost like God himself pushed it back on target! Amazingly the video of Ross' kick has now amassed 7341 views on Youtube.

One man short, thanks to a fit of rage from Jamie Neill, we hung on to win. Giles Strutt was photographing the match for us, and his photographs of the 'tunnel' as the players made their way off the pitch showed Campbell players on the verge of tears.

At the end of that season, our Medallions broke a 25 year trophy drought by winning the Medallion Bowl. This was repeated five years later. In 2017, our 1st XV won the Schools' Bowl by beating Regent at Pirrie Park. A great achievement, but we shouldn't have been there - the referee had done us out of a perfectly legal match winning try in the Schools' Cup at Grosvenor!

It's been a pleasure to watch so many young players grow and mature during their seven year spell at the School. It's also been great following some of their rugby careers continue over the fence at Bangor RFC. The three players I've payed closest attention to from the beginning have been Zach Kerr, Ben McCrossan and Aaron Sexton - all three representatives for their province at junior level. All three deserved to be much more than just Schools' Cup quarter finalists. Maybe one day all three will be playing together again in the Ulster senior team?

This season brought new coaches, and a slightly new coaching philosophy. After a bit of a shaky mid-season, it all came together in the Subsidiary Shield and the groundwork is there for future success.

Fittingly our tenure ended as it began so many years ago - a Subsidiary Shield final. Incidentally, that match played out almost identically to the 2011 final.

For me, increased work commitments unfortunately make it impossible to continue with Gryphiti. All being well I'll continue to remain involved at Bangor RFC as a cameraman.

Hopefully you've all got as much out of this as I have. Hopefully what we've achieved on Gryphiti has inspired others to get involved in either rugby or journalism.

Thanks again for your support over the last 9 years. It's been an absolute blast, and I'm as proud of my school now as I was when I joined in 2004.

Floreat Bangoria

Simon Hull