This Thursday sees the annual Ryan Bresnahan Memorial Game take place as Clifton College hosts Kirkham Grammar School in a 7.30 pm kick-off, brought to you by NextGen Live.
The game is played in memory of Ryan, who was a pupil at Clifton College. In 2010, he died suddenly from Meningitis B, a tragedy that led to the creation of ‘A Life for a Cure’, a foundation set up by Ryan’s family to honour his memory. To date, the foundation has raised over £600,000 to help raise funds in search of the ultimate vaccine for Meningitis B. This annual fixture at Clifton RFC between Clifton College and different sides each year is a key date in the school’s sporting calendar and an important fundraiser for the foundation.
More information about A Life for a Cure can be found through their website, www.ryanbresnahan.org and through their social media channels, all @alifeforacure
To donate, please visit A Life for a Cure on Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aLifeforaCure
The game will be LIVE on the NextGenLive YouTube Channel and through the embedded video below.
The Game has always been a spectacle, and this year’s addition promises to be yet another outstanding game of rugby. For the last few seasons, Clifton College has been one of the very best teams in the country, while Kirkham have had great success on the national circuit in the last few campaigns. But how do the two sides measure up this time around?
Both sides have had interesting starts to the season, although one could say that their results have been on opposite ends of the spectrum. In Kirkham’s case, they have enjoyed 3 straightforward victories against the Wirral Grammar, Finborough and RGS Lancaster. The margins have been comfortable on each occasion, but Clifton will most certainly present them with their toughest test of the season. For Clifton College, their start to the year has consisted of one of the toughest runs of games possible. Harrow, Llandovery College, Christ College Brecon and Sedburgh have all been taken on by the Blue and White, with wins against the two Welsh teams and defeats away in London and Cumbria. They may not have the flawless record of their opponents, but the quality of their previous opposition can hardly be called into question.
The last 3 games in aid of A Life for a Cure have been remarkable. In 2022, the last time these two sides met on the 15s stage, it was an agonising defeat for the hosts as Kirkham Grammar School scored in the final play of the game to win 19-17, but in 2023 it was a win for Clifton College, which they earnt through a miracle comeback against Millfield, eventually taking a dramatic 43,-41 victory, Described in our report from 2 years ago as “one of the most extraordinary and spectacular games of school rugby there has ever been”. Normal service resumed last season when Kingswood of Bath came to town – it was a 52-5 win for Clifton – the largest margin of victory in the game’s history. This year’s encounter is unlikely to be so one-sided – it may well be just as unmissable as the last time these two took to the field in memory of Ryan Bresnahan.
Although the game will likely be an almighty spectacle, Thursday will remain a very special occasion regardless
Clifton College v Kingswood: Thursday 25th Sept, 7.30 pm KO | Ryan Bresnahan Memorial Game, LIVE on NextGenLive
