A New Wind

Shore’s Mightiest Heroes Break the Curse of the Bridge and Join the Fight

L. D. L. Banks

FOR SIX YEARS the northbridge playing fields (the ‘bridge’) have been ravaged by teams across the AAGPS, leaving the Blue and White Army undefended and vulnerable to the fullest extent of interschool witticism. After an incredibly close but, unfortunately, unsuccessful 2021 season, many had begun to think that all hope had been lost for the bridge. Many rumours began circulating, from undercover moles, to an ancient curse, nobody was safe from the scrutiny of devoted fans. 

You see, Shore men have never been the kind to back down from a challenge. Notoriously, hundreds of Shore boys filled grandstands across Greater Sydney every weekend, irrespective of the odds or their academic commitments. The Shore fanbase is full of devoted members, ready to drink the kool-aid at the word of any of their respective sporting captains. Subsequently, following the implementation of the exceptionally convincing ‘stack the stands’ campaign, combined with the ‘Cozzi’s for Scozzi’ initiative in honour of Shore’s beloved long-standing geography teacher and MIC of SLS, and the additional support provided by the Old Boys who came for the annual Old Boys Round – a perfect storm was brewing and it was no surprise that the Hawker Stand was at maximum capacity on 30 July.

With Dua Lipa’s ‘One Kiss’ echoing through the stands, the Blue and White Army prepared for the game of the decade, as the 1st XV set out to make history. Captain Jackson Stiel led the boys as they slowly marched through the Shore tunnel and out onto the field. With the Shore boys chanting from the stands, and the Old Boys chanting from the opposite side of the field, the Blue and White army had cordoned the field giving Riverview no escape. The cheer captains’ decision to implement the ‘Shore is hot-to-go’ chant was fitting as within three minutes, Shore had already made their way within 10 metres of the try-line. After a few clean phases, the pressure overcame Riverview as Shore forced a penalty, ultimately culminating in a thrilling opening try in the 4th minute by Jackson Stiel, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Following further tries from Tom Klem and Jackson, aided by the elite kicking of Daimon Pin and Joe Hutton, and notable performances from Leo Bassingthwaighte and Henry Murray, the boys secured the win 32-29.

A six year drought had finally been quenched. The bridge, once again defended. Shore Men and Old Boys united in celebration. A day that will certainly live in the minds of the Blue and White Army forever. 

However, there is an unfortunate reality to such a momentous win; the spectators expect a performance of similar caliber the following week. Subsequently, this past weekend, the pressure was certainly on. With a fresh supporters’ campaign ‘fill the hill’, the Blue and White army was eager as ever to watch the 1st XV go 2-for-2 against Newington. The bulk of the action began with the 2nd XV producing a convincing win 23-12 over Newington due to the prominent performances from Hugo Orpin and Ben ‘Footy’ Whatley producing some fast breaks and impulsive clutch plays and the brute offence produced by Lachie Clayton, Eoughan Killick and skipper Henry Oxenham. However the game was defined by the outrageous performance from Fullback James Kase; scoring twice, converting once and securing two vital penalty goals bringing his personal tally to 18 of the 23 points scored. The effort of these boys built the momentum for the following game, breaking in the crowd, and easing the nerves of the athletes in the game to come. 

As the Blue and White Army piled onto the hill, the 1st XV made their slow march as a squad past the crowd. The 1st XV made their way onto the field backed by the bellow of the largest crowd of Shore men and associates I have ever seen at an away game. In true Shore spirit, the game started fast, with Archie Jackson scoring the opening try in the third minute. After a fiercely contested try by Newington, the boys responded strongly, with Joe Hutton slotting a textbook penalty goal. The contest continued, until Leo Bassingthwaighte embarrassed the opposition, bulldozing Newington’s star flanker, opening up a channel through which he could secure the team another try. Following this, Newington responded with a significant shift in momentum, putting a few points on the board over the span of the second half and gaining the lead. Fuelled by the energy of the masses of Blue and White lining the boundary, Shore’s key forwards took control, proving Newington’s offence no match for our notoriously gutsy defence. This was particularly accentuated by the indispensable impact of prop Noah Holt making countless crucial tackles. Such clean phase play was destined to lead to opportunities for Shore, and as the second half progressed, my personal man of the match Archie Jackson grappled his way over the line scoring a second try, cementing this as what I’m sure was the game of his life.

Despite these efforts, with the clock running out the boys entered the 70th minute with the score against them. In such a situation, it’s not surprising to see other spectators filing out of the stadium. Not the Blue and White army. Once again the Shore crowd demonstrated their immense devotion to supporting their mates, win or lose. Even in the face of loss, not a single member exited the grounds before the final whistle blew. Not only that, the Blue and White Army continued to chant, letting the boys on the field know they hadn’t given up and neither should they. Personally, I’m skeptical of things such as divine intervention, but after Saturday I have no doubt that Finn Baxter’s birth was specifically planned out by a higher power in order to provide us with one of the most exhilarating moments I have witnessed in schoolboy rugby. Shore’s clean phase play led to the team gaining a lineout, less than 10 metres from the try line, as the game entered the 73rd minute (Overtime). Unfortunately, I don’t understand line-out jargon, but my best translation of the call made would be, “Finn, get over the bloody line!” and over the line did he go. After playing a full game as a critical member of the 2nd XV, Finn Baxter backed up the 1sts with one of the most clutch plays ever seen, which I’m sure has been the highlight of his season. Breaking off the back of a rolling maul, Finn crashed over the line, ending the game and securing the victory.

Such a moment defines the culture of Shore. Regardless of the noise from the Newington crowd, Shore men banded together in support of their friends, proving once again the value of Shore spirit. It is important to acknowledge the efforts of Cameron Johns, a devoted player who did not walk away unscathed, rounding off his season with another admirable display of quality rugby. 

So what next? Well, this weekend the boys have another tough battle ahead of them, squaring up against Scots. The weekend will give the boys an opportunity to showcase their growing chemistry and make use of their newfound confidence. Saturday will also provide a chance for the team to paint over the hard-fought loss of the sixth pre-season trial game. So, Blue and White Army, it’s clear you’ve got to get out to the footy for the last game of the season, and cheer on the boys as the Year 12s play their final GPS rugby game as they round off their schoolboy sporting careers.