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It was surely  very fitting that the Peter Bush Memorial Match, immaculately organised by his devoted family, played between Bablake and Sedbergh, the two schools dearest to him, should witness exciting, flowing rugby and finish with the narrowest of margins- a single point win for his alma mater, Bablake.

The match between Bablake's 1st XV- which included a number of exciting U16 players-  and a Sedbergh team that had a mix of 1st team and development players was certainly competitive with neither side wishing to relinquish the honour of a win in Peter Bush's memory.

In the end, Alex Popplewell's short dash for the line with 20 minutes left sealed the 13-12 win for Bablake. That try was, in fact, the only score of a tense second half that Bablake controlled as Sedbergh made a number of handling errors under relentless pressure.

Even when Bablake was a player down in the final quarter of the match, the defence was resistant and nerves held firm. Harry Walker at scrum half never failed to push his pack forward with clever kicking and excellent distribution to his backs. Ben Cooper had a confident game at fly half, Dominic Ainsworth kicked well and Henry Chamberlain became increasingly influential in attack. In the pack, Josh Buggea and Alex Popplewell ran, supported and tackled strongly throughout and captain Max Goodyer ensured lineout ball was cleanly won. Will Thornhill and Ben Stansfield proved as tenacious as always.

The game had certainly not looked as if it would be that close in the first half. Despite going behind very early to an impressive solo try by centre Adam King, started just outside the Sedbergh 22, the visitors seemed to have gained an edge with 2 excellently worked tries to take an ominous 12-5 lead. From the first move of the game when they ran the ball out from behind their posts, Sedbergh's backs looked very dangerous and Bablake were pleased to change round at 12-8, having been kept in touch thanks to a Henry Chamberlain penalty.

Friends and family of Peter Bush visited Bablake's Memorial Garden after the game and were able to view the impressive bench donated as a permanent reminder in his memory.

Mr Jeff Ayling, Peter's best friend and fellow rugby coach at Sedbergh, had said before the game: 'It is a most appropriate tribute. Peter would have clearly loved the occasion- rugby, the sport he loved most, played between the two schools dearest to him. Everything in place, in fact, bar the post match curry!'

The game was, indeed, a fine toast to Peter, Sedbergh's Head of Economics and former Bablake pupil, who sadly and suddenly died last summer at the age of 46. He was an idiosyncratic rugby coach and the free flow of this game was an appropriate reminder of his spirit.

 For Bablake the confidence and the manner of the win against Sedbergh will go a long way to ensuring that the forthcoming annual fixture against KHVIII on Friday 12th at 7pm in the Butts Stadium is also an exciting, competitive game.