I cannot remember the game but I can remember the result. Kettering won. I only know that because Kettering U8s did not lose that year. Not strange that I should remember a young Will Skinner as even at the age of 6 he was a standout player. Will Bowley also stood out as he was already a lot taller than any other player. From very early I had to carry his Birth Certificate to stop other teams accusing us of fielding an over age player. If my memory serves me right Will S was a scrum half in those days and Will B was a centre, no lineouts until U12 in those days.

This rivalry went on throughout the mini age groups. I don’t remember Olney beating us but I do remember the game at U12 which was one of the closest and hardest fought games of mini rugby I have ever seen. Kettering won 7-0 with a try in the dying seconds which was down to a refereeing error. Though a Kettering home game I had organised a neutral referee as I knew it was going to be close. It did end in quite a heated discussion between Will Skinners dad, Olney’s coach, and me. A draw would have been a fairer result. Again Will Skinner was outstanding, he was playing hooker by this time and was all over the field seemingly doing everything.

Once they reached U13 and junior rugby Will Skinner moved to Bedford Blues. From this point on Kettering did not have the same success against Will Skinner. Bedford built a very good team attracting the best of the local junior players. From U13 to U15 we only won once and that was against a weakened side. At U16 Kettering finally caught up again and beat them. During this time the two Wills also played against each other for their respective county schools sides, Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

It was the first year of U18 when they finally got to play for the same side, East Midlands U18. Though both played for England U18 it was for separate teams. Will Skinner played for U18 Schools and Will Bowley for U18 Clubs, Will S was at Bedford School and Will B at the local comprehensive, Prince William School in Oundle. Fortunately things are less divisive these days. Will Skinner was still at Bedford Blues but Will Bowley had now moved to Northampton Saints so they still had two games a year against each other.

At the end of the U18 year Will Bowley decided to take the offer from Nigel Redmond to take up a place at Worcester Academy. At the same time Will Skinner moved to Tigers so they still ended up playing each other in the academy and 2nd XV leagues. Also that year they were both selected to play for England U19s for the Six Nations and the World Cup in France. They also played together for the England U21 team in the World Cup two years later in Argentina. Will Skinner played the Six Nations that year though not Will Bowley as he had glandular fever. They continued to play against each other for their clubs when Will Skinner moved to ‘Quins.

I think you will need to go a long way to find a rivalry going back for so long. As far as I can remember it has gone on unbroken year by year. Earlier in the season Will Bowley was out with his thumb broken for both the ‘Quins games. Hopefully they will both be fit for this Saturday so the rivalry can continue for yet another year. Perhaps they might even play in the same team again as well?

Rob Bowley

Will Skinner (left) with Will Bowley (2nd left), Mark Hopley – Saints, Neil Briggs – Sale Sharks & Dave Seymour – Saracens playing for England U21 in Argentina.

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