Rugby Report

Friday 9 and Saturday 10 May

First XV Match Report, Barker – Friday 9 May

Thank you to all of the Shore boys and supporters who came out to Allianz last Friday night to watch Shore take on Barker as the curtain-raiser to the Waratahs vs Reds Super Rugby fixture. It was a wonderful experience for the players of both sides to be a part of. A huge stadium, playing under lights and the echo of the school crowds.

Barker started well and registered first points, but Shore hit back through a well-worked move and Ando Stock crashing over 7-7. The first half then see-sawed as both sides adapted to the slippery ball and conditions. On the stroke of half-time, Barker put a neat kick through and took the lead.

Shore were first to score in the second half, and the game was locked at 14-14 until Barker found their way over again. Another arm wrestle continued with both sides looking to make a break-out. Barker seized on a penalty and converted to take a ten point lead. 14-24. However, Shore was not done, and a well-worked lineout saw Max Garner steer the ensuing maul over for a try, 19-24. Shore was looking good. Just as it seemed Barker were tiring and cramping up, a lost opportunity from a Shore attacking raid turned into a length of the field scoring opportunity for Barker, and they executed well.

That was the game. An excellent exhibition of schoolboy rugby from both sides.

Saturday 10 May – Shore vs Barker – Northbridge

Last Saturday saw the Shore Rugby teams take on Barker and a mix of other schools. In 14 games with Barker, Shore won 11 and Lost 3. The Opens were particularly good on Saturday, winning all their games played on A Ground.

The 13A’s easily defeated Barker, but other Shore teams in the age group played a mix of St Joseph’s College (Joeys) and St Augustine’s College, which was tougher going. The 14A’s had a narrow loss to Barker, but the 14C’s were excellent, dispatching Barker B’s 53-12.

The 15A’s and B’s crushed their Barker opponents 43-12 and 82-0, respectively. Barker is strong from the 16’s and above, and Shore’s 16A’s had a narrow 7-22, but our B’s and C’s played great footy to record 33-7 and 67-0 wins.

Saturday 17 May – Shore vs Joeys, Northbridge. Round 1 of the GPS Competition – Indigenous Round

Tomorrow sees the long awaited start to the GPS Rugby competition, where we face Joeys at Northbridge. Always a highlight in the calendar, I wish all the teams well as we represent the navy blue and white jersey we love so much. It also represents an opportunity to acknowledge Australia’s connection with its First Peoples as we celebrate Indigenous Round at Shore. Rugby is a game based around connection – connection to our teammates, connection in the defensive line, connection to the history of our jersey, and connection to our playing fields themselves. This is the sort of connection we reflect on when we play our Rugby today and acknowledge the history of Australia before Shore started.

Go Shore!

Mr David Mason-Jones
MIC Rugby

Results