Rugby Report

Round 10 vs Scots | Saturday 17 August

What a season it has been. Rain and mud-stained jerseys… a thrilling Opens competition… welcoming our newest Shore boys in the Under 13s… great support at Northbridge… and a wonderful final weekend for the Third and First XV.

For the first time since 2006, Shore has come out on top of the GPS Rugby Competition. And for the first time since 1969, Shore has won that Premiership outright.

For the first time in over 70 years, Shore has won the Third XV Competition.

Achieving those two feats in the same year was extra special for all the boys of Shore and all the coaches who have been a part of the Shore Rugby programme for many years.

Competition Team Report

Third XV

Our Third XV (second on the table) faced First placed Grammar last weekend. It was a thrilling game of Rugby played in a true “Grand Final” way in which the defence of both sides was strong, and neither side ever gained a clear advantage. In a tight first half, Shore took the lead 8-7 thanks to a Gideon Kingal-Paia try and Matt Lotz penalty goal.

Shore would mirror its first half and score 8 more points through an Oscar d’Almeida try and another Matt Lotz penalty goal. Shore went up to 16 – 7 but Grammar fought back hard and made the score 16 – 14. Wave after wave of Grammar attacks were then held off by Shore and in two crucial plays from Rex Cambridge and Rory Cope, turnovers were produced to just stop Grammar putting the ball over our line.

The final whistle went and the score remained 16 – 14 to Shore. Grammar had an excellent season and was the team that set the benchmark in this competition. They were unlucky not to win the Premiership themselves. Their team is a credit to their school.

This time, the fortunes favoured Shore, and the Third XV became the 2024 GPS Third XV Premiers. Coaches Mr Byrnes and Mr Dobes have been a coaching partnership for a few years now, and they were delighted with the win and deserve great credit for their efforts. Well done men.

Bellevue Hill – 17 August

The scene was set for a massive finish to the season. The Scots Captain was out of the First XV clash but apart from that, Scots fielded one of its strongest teams of the year.

The Second XV took the field against a Scot team who had already won that Premiership. As has often been the case though, Shore started so well and scored under the post to take the early lead. However, Scots showed why they have been such a strong side in this competition and displayed an entertaining style of play to grind down the match. Though the Shore scrum was solid against a big pack, we could not catch Scots, and they ran out deserved winners.

The First XV then took to the field at 3.15pm in sunshine at Bellevue Hill. Scots came out on fire and were the first to score. They were here to spoil Shore’s party. However, Captain Reliable Marshall Le Maitre got Shore back on track with an opportunistic try he created by forcing pressure on Scots’ line. Shore in front 7 – 5. Shore scored again though, through a Felix Harvison crash over, and we hit the lead 12 – 5. Scots hits back again, and it goes to 12 – 12 at halftime. Nothing in it. The game has flowed from sideline to sideline and both sides looked forward to the rest and chat with their coaches.

Scoring first in the second half would be key… and it was Scots who went in first through a well worked team effort. Scots in front 19 – 12. Marshall Le Maitre stepped up again and caught the Scots team napping after a penalty. He crashed over and levelled the scores. 19 – 19.

A few minutes later Scots went on the attack and fed their dangerous backline. Rex Bassingthwaighte was up fast in a 1:1 tackle and performed an amazing strip to run away and score under the posts. Shore, now up 26 – 19. Could we hold the lead? Yes… but… Scots went in again after pouncing on a mistake. It was now Shore up 26 – 24.

The game continued to be played at a fast pace, and then Scots counter-attacked off a kick and, through a clever grubber, managed to cross Shore’s line. Two tries in a row. Had they taken the momentum? It was now Scots 29 – 26. Eight minutes left.

Shore battled its way into the Scots 22 and made a dash for the corner. The ball was dropped over the line. Scots lineout. Three and a half minutes left. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Scots win a scrappy lineout and look to clear the ball. Felix Harvison effects an incredible charge down and pounces on the ball in the corner. The Shore crowd goes wild. Henry Conick adds the extras, and Shore is ahead 33 – 29. Two minutes left.

Drama off the kick-off as Scots retain the ball. Will they ruin the party? Desperate defence holds Scots out, a turnover is obtained, and Jack Binnie does the rest and kicks the ball out. Shore wins.

For everyone at the game, people will know the result could have gone either way, and Scots played superb Rugby. The game was an illustration of what entertaining and enterprising Rugby can look like – and both sides should be proud.

And so closed the GPS Rugby Competition with Shore on top by themselves. It was one of the closest and most competitive competitions in the history of the AAGPS. Any team could have beaten anyone on the day, and each week, results were in the thinnest of margins.

Congratulations to Shore’s coaches, Strength & Conditioning staff and Physio team.

Thank you to the boys who supported Shore Rugby week in and week out. I hope you all realise that you are the “16th team member” of our teams. Never underestimate how your cheering and support can positively effect the boys on the field. Thank you, Shore boys, and, as always, Go Shore!

Mr D Mason-Jones
MIC Rugby

Individual Team of the Week: First XV and Third XV

Forwards	Backs
Charlie Cowdery (13B)	Angus Beggs (Thirds)
Harry Klineberg (13A)	Rex Bassingthwaighte (Firsts)
Felix Harvison (Firsts)	Sam Chick (13E)
Oli Thompson (14C)	Isaac Kasprowicz (14A)
Henry Plowman (13C)	Will Powell (16A)
Hugo Warburton (16D)	Uriel Clarke (13B)
Charlie Hawkins (Fifths)	Dylan Baxter (15A)
Dom Jarrett (Thirds)