Running Lines: Volume 7 2025
That’s the wrap of the 2025 rugby season. What a great send off it was for our Year 12 boys who have been instrumental to our program all season. A wet day at Oxford Falls proved rather entertaining for players and spectators alike.
Our results were:
| Team | Opposition | Result | Win/Loss |
| 1sts | St Pius X | 24-19 | Win |
| 2nds | St Pius X | 12-26 | Loss |
| 3rds | St Pius X | 10-5 | Win |
| 4ths | St Pius X | 44-0 | Win |
| 5ths | St Pius X | Cancelled | – |
| 6ths | St Pius X | Bye | – |
| 16A | St Pius X | 28-0 | Win |
| 16B | St Pius X | 5-12 | Loss |
| 16C | St Pius X | Bye | – |
| 15A | St Pius X | 19-0 | Win |
| 15B | St Pius X | Cancelled | – |
| 15C | St Pius X | Bye | – |
| 14A | St Pius X | 0-46 | Loss |
| 14B | St Pius X | 22-42 | Loss |
| 14C | St Pius X | Bye | – |
| 13A | St Pius X | 34-10 | Win |
| 13B | St Pius X | 25-28 | Loss |
| 13C | St Pius X | Bye | – |
- Player of the Day – Junior Teams (13s, 14s & 15s): Oliver Pietor
- Player of the Day – Senior Teams (16s & Opens): Otto Cumming
- Rugby All Rounder of the Day (for effort/attitude on and off the field): Baxter Torrance
- Team of the Day- 1st XV
With many games being cancelled of late, it was looking hopeful once again that the games would go ahead at Oxford Falls. Unfortunately, the home games at Woollahra were called off (15B & 5ths).
The swimming pool gates opened at 9:30 am with the 14B boys taking to the field. These boys didn’t want to get too wet and muddy during the warm up, but they quickly realised that it was inevitable. The boys conceeded two tries early on as they needed to realise that this game was actually going ahead. Our boys eventually took their snorkels off and got to work. Some well worked tries by Johnny Hancock and Ethan Sweeney kept our boys in the game. 29-22 down at half time, we were within a whisker. The boys got stuck in the second half but similar to the Wallabies against the British & Irish Lions in the last first two tests it was too little too late. With a yellow card issued, our boys were unfortunately unable to orchestrate a second half comeback.
The 16Bs kicked off proceedings on the main field and showcased a rather scrappy but willing attempt. Early back and forth kicking saw teams trying hard to play for territory. Eventually the game hit its straps with some good running rugby and physical collisions. Once again, our Cranbrook boys are to be commended for their willingness and physicality. We were showing encouraging passages of play, but the scoreboard was not going our way.
Pouring with rain, muddy underfoot and a bar of soap to fight over- the U16As hit the field. The scoreline suggests that the conditions were perfect for running rugby. These boys have come a long way this year. The learnings along the way have enabled them to adjust to the conditions on the day. The forwards were clinical at set piece and work tirelessly around the corner at every breakdown before setting the backs to either kick for territory or move the ball around a bit. A fantastic season by this group of young men. The confidence that teams take on to the field when our team wins before is a small win before even taking to the field.
The 4ths took the field which now looked like a pig pen. They were once again on top of the opposition in all parts of the game. Zain Rashid controlled the game well behind the scrum and breakdown area distributing some accurate passes to the heavy ball runners. Felix Sheldrick was once again full of running. I had a good chat to him in the week before as to why he always found himself playing down in the 4ths when he could quite easily play up in the 3rds. His response was “Sir, I’m just loving the time on the field and I might be good at running but I’m hopeless at tackling”. Funny he mentioned that- as I walked up to the main field Sheldrick executed a sensational tackle and put the attacker over the sideline. Clearly loving his rugby is the only truth in his comment. Jackson Smits was also a stand out player on the field. His polka dot head gear was just about the only noticeable feature of his on the field, as it became very difficult to identify players on the field. A well-earned 44-0 victory.
The thirds didn’t have it all their way. The wet and muddy conditions didn’t help the cause. The game was filled with pressure situations, with the score always being within reach. Test match footy at its best, our thirds came out with a narrow 10-5 win.
The 2nd XV took to the field and defended their own try line for the first 10 minutes, putting some great shots onto the Pius ball runners. Johann Ah Colt who was returning from injury was getting some positive hits onto the shoulder. Really rising above and showing his value, Jadon Perumal also tucked in to tackling the one-off runners. We would turn the ball over but couldn’t escape our own 22m line. Defending for so long took its toll and we conceeded two tries in the first half. The playing field had changed, the conditions had changed. We needed to adjust to the conditions. We managed to score two well worked tries early in the second half. One by Toby Lane and the other by our big ball runner Matty Downes. Fatigue from the first half may have set in. Pius rallied and registered a couple of tries to nudge ahead. Nonetheless another great occasion with this group of men. They have been exceptional this season and have really shown up to the big occasions.
Time for the 1st team boys to have their final show. On the field they go, in their bright white playing gear which stood out beautifully in the mud. Let’s see how long this lasts… our boys came out the blocks hard and fast. Levi Funa-Iuta took the field with immense controlled aggression and will to dominate the collision. He was like a brick wall at the breakdown and clearing players out of the way. Co-Captain Baxter Torrance set about controlling the game calmly and engaging his forwards runners. The tough nature of our co-captain saw him relish the opportunity to display his leadership skills. His passing was pin point accurate, his decision making clear and most noticablely his tactical kicking on target, turning the St Pius back three back around. Cruz Cronan– play him at 6, play him in the second row. Put him at hooker. He will give you everything. Ask him to score a try and he will score three. Which is exactly what he did. His powerful runs saw him charging to the line in difficult conditions. With defenders on his back, holding onto his legs he was not letting anyone get in between him and the tryline. Tighthead prop James Jackson covers so many positions on the field. He does his basics well and scrums, throws in the lineout, stands as first receiver, carries hard, throws back door passes, kicks for poles. We still talking about our loosehead prop here. He has been instrumental this year. The pack was filled with Year 12 leavers and the conditions suited their physicality. Aymeric Schmidt does not tire, nor get bored of man handling defenders out of his way. He has had such a physical presence this season and I am surprised that his body has survived the collisions that he has given and received. A true ‘stalwart’ of Cranbrook rugby. Taj Aufai Farani playing in the centres was powerful in defence and some really dominate tackles stopped all ball runners in their tracks on many, many occasions. Co-Captain Jack Weeks once again showed his good understanding of the game. He has a natural feel for the game and transitions easily when to take contact, or when to distribute on attack. Similar on defence, he is not shy of fronting up and also reads the opposition well and often disrupts their attacking systems. John ‘Giraffe’ Dulhunty who struggled through a back injury in the beginning of the season was a massive addition to the 1st XV squad. He is a player that gets so much unnoticed work done on the field. It was really hard to identify players on Saturday as their jerseys were now all black and numbers completely camouflaged in their mud ridden jumpers. John Dulhunty was always in the action, sky high in the lineout, and down low making shots on the big Pius ball runners. Vinnie Tagg who recently made the transition from the wing to the back row. He made up for all the quiet time spent on the wing earlier in the season. He loved putting a shoulder on and never shied away from contact. Vinnie unfortunately sustained a knee injury near the end of the game. With the score at 24-12, the game was in our hands. Complacency and prioritising defending the lead was noticeable. Pius came back with a well worked try. 24-19… 5 minutes to go. We conceded many penalties from the opposition 22 and all the way into ours. Level heads were needed. Captains Baxter Torrance and Jack Weeks needed to take control here. A win here would surely be a fantastic send off for the season. “to finish first, you first have to finish”. Alas, a knock on by Pius sees Baxter pop the ball into touch. A great win for our brave men.
A season filled with ups and downs on an off the field. Injuries, narrow loses, superb victories, heartbreak, moments of brilliance, friendships and the Afrikaans word ‘spanbou’ comes to mind here. Meaning togetherness or a deeper feel of teamwork. Teams have stood together, age groups have supported one another. As we close the curtain on the 2025 rugby season, we must give thanks to our dedicated coaches and managers who guide us through the season. Our parents who get their sons to their fixtures and shout for the team on the sideline. The opportunities are endless.
Brent Crossley
Master in Charge of Rugby