Rugby Results August 2011
Gutsy Effort in U14 A Final
20 August, 2011
Making the final against Hamilton Boys’ High School was a major achievement for this year’s U14 team. Nine boys came back from Tihoi in a great effort to defend the Steve Gordon Shield, which St Paul’s won last year.
SPC had lost 24-7 to this team in round-robin play, so needed a solid game plan to counter their fast and flashy backline. HBHS scored first on a brick hard ground which was mud a week ago. SPC replied with ‘pick and go’ play which went 20 metres and Tom Gordon muscled over the try line. Dillon Kelliher was the next to score after the team put him in the clear. HBHS came back to make it two tries each and 10 all at the break.
SPC shared the try scoring one each in the second half. Schneil Singh went in close to the posts after a superb lead up by the forwards playing close pods. Unfortunately the conversion was missed, which in retrospect would have won the game.
15 all at full time and we would have been happy to have shared the trophy, however Waikato Rugby Union rules meant we had to play 20 minutes of extra time. Injuries and cramping took their toll and HBHS managed a try and a drop goal to take the title.
Legendary lock Steve Gordon presented the trophy to HBHS and praised our boys for their gutsy effort of coming out of the bush at Lake Taupo on Friday to play rugby on Saturday. Tom Gordon was awarded player of the day for his superb understanding and execution of the number 7 role. Every player played until they were dead on their feet. There was nothing left in the tank.
St Paul’s 1st XV v’s St John’s 1st XV
13 August, 2011
On Saturday the 1st XV played off for third and fourth position
St John’s opened the scoring from a set move to score a try. St Paul’s came back strongly scoring two tries, one from Robbie Leon Guerrero and the other from Jonty Rae. This was a result of the forwards and backs combining well and showing their good ball skills. Unfortunately, right on the half time whistle Pearse McGougan scored a try which was disallowed, which may have cost the St Paul’s the game.
The half time score was 10 – 5 to St Paul’s.
Against the run of play St John’s scored again from their half due to some poor defence. St John’s with the momentum scored again. However St Paul’s lifted their intensity and crossed the St John’s line not once, but four times, however unfortunately tries were not awarded – St Paul’s played good rugby building a number of phases. Finally with 4 minutes remaining, Josh Fawcett sliced through the opposition defensive line and scored. Josh converted his own try. St Paul’s tried hard to score again but failed to hold on to the ball.
Final score 19 -17 to St John’s.
St Paul’s 1st XV would like to thank the staff and students for their support over the year.
St Paul's 1st XV v's St John's 1st XV
Click an image to enlarge
St Paul’s U14 A Semi Final v’s Matamata
13 August, 2011
Forwards are called forwards because they are meant to go forward. Our pack spent the whole first half spreading out in the backline as a smaller, more structured and skilled Matamata team shunted us around the paddock. We went to half time 5-3 down.
Some stern words from Mr Morton at half time urged the team to play the patterns we had practiced all season. As we slowly emptied the reserve bench: Andre Stokes, Salesi Leota, Lachlan Lee, Riley Chick, Ibrahim Ibrahim, John Deroles and Ryan Cooksley, the game plan re-emerged. The last 15 minutes represented the best quarter we had played all season as pods, pick and go and structure returned to our game.
St Paul’s went on to win 25-5.
Dillion Kelliher, Tyrell Martin and Liam Jackson scored tries. Tyrell Martin was our player of the day who added a conversion and a penalty to his try.
We play HBHS in the final next weekend
St Paul’s 1st XV vs. St. Peters 1st XV
6 August 2011
On Saturday the 1st XV played their semi-final against St Peter’s.
St Peter’s opened the scoring through an early penalty. St Paul’s contested well and followed up with a penalty to Jonty Rae. Although the score changed on a number of occasions, St Peter’s made the most of the opportunities that came their way and lead at half time 13- 9. On the other hand St Paul’s failed to capitalise on their field position and only scored three penalties from Jonty Rae’s boot.
In the 2nd half St Paul’s took the early initiative with the forwards working hard to get into the opposition 22. This resulted in a penalty which was converted by Jonty Rae, making the score 13-12. St Paul’s came back into the St Peter’s half but again failed to penetrate the opposition line or to score points. Unfortunately towards the end of the game St Peter’s took control of the game through a number of penalties, good tactical kicking and some St Paul’s errors.
St Peter’s scored two tries in last 12 minutes to finally win the game 23 – 12.
St Paul’s Under 14 vs Huntly
6 August 2011
Despite a much bigger and older opposition the Under 14’s gave a courageous performance against Huntly.
With 12 boys gone to Tihoi, the team, made up mostly of year 9’s, had to step up. Dillon Kelliher playing in an unfamiliar 1st five eight position scored two very good tries which Wade Paniora converted with two excellent kicks. Andre Stokes, one of the teams smallest players made a gutsy tackle on a massive opponent. Tom Gordon, our new captain led the team well with a tackle count that would match Ritchie McCaw. He was unlucky not to score a try when he placed the ball on the try line.
Final score Huntly 22 – St Paul’s 14