Rugby Report
Saturday 13 August – Final round vs The Scots College
The final Rugby weekend was upon us and Shore teams were looking to go out in style. Thankfully, heavy overnight rains did not result in cancellations and the Blue & White army would be on the march for the last round.
Our U13s had their initiation to the Christison Park grounds in Vaucluse, it is always tough out there due to the opponents we face and the sloping fields. Our U14s were at Northbridge Campus for their final games and whilst The Scots College got the better of us, matches were close and hard-fought. In the U15s and U16s, the honours were shared between the teams and even Rugby was played.
For the Scots Main Ground and the Shore Fourth XV we were going for an undefeated season. After a tight first half, the Fourths then played some superb Rugby in the second half and scored some brilliant tries. It was nice to see some of the Year 12 boys in and amongst the points – well done to Cheer Captain, Hugh Simpson, Jamie Nagle and Darcy Davies for being amongst the tries, as well as Ramiyah Tamu for kicking the final conversion. Well done on a great season, team.
Our Third XV were next and faced a determined Scots side. There were also many Year 12 boys in our Thirds determined to finish in style. The game was a tight one, hard fought and in doubt until the end. Unfortunately, Scots were just too good on the day and the Thirds went down. It was a see-sawing season for the boys. Riverview eventually shared the Third XV Premiership but we were the only team to beat them, however, we dropped games we perhaps should not have. Regardless, this was a fantastic Third XV side, full of great characters who developed a style of play which was more often than not ‘champagne’.
The Second XV were next and facing a Scots outfit who were going for the Premiership. The game was an excellent one and Scots took the lead early on, but Shore matched them for skill and physicality. To their credit, Scots showed us why they were in Premiership after contention and extended their lead into the second half. Shore, however, started to lift a gear and chased down the score. Could the boys pull it off and catch Scots? It looked like it, but we needed 10 more minutes of match time. In the end, Scots held on, providing themselves as deserved winners and Second XV Premiers.
And then the final game. And what a game it was! The First XV match was another thrilling encounter.
Having been defeated by Scots in the Trials at Northbridge Campus during our Indigenous Round, the Shore men were keen to reverse the result. The match started at a frenetic pace and Scots showed their hand by getting the ball out wide and creating havoc in space. Shore however, used the ball well and worked our way to the line for Archie Jackson to crash over for a try. Hutton then converted to extend the Shore lead. Scots hit back well though, and soon it was 7-7 through good play down the right side. Scots went in again shortly after on the left side and converted to take the lead by 7-14. Shore fought back and sustained pressure led to some clever play by Joe Hutton to pick-and-go and score next to the posts. He converted and took the score to 14-14. The rest of the first half saw Scots finish the more dominant side and they scored two unconverted tries to take a 14-24 lead into half time.
The talk at half time from Shore was confident, with young gun Tom Klem urging the players on, keeping the faith in their fitness and heart.
The second half started and it was dramatic. Captain, Jackson Stiel, took the lead and charged into the Scots defensive on numerous occasions. Galligan was ‘edgy’ and James McCreery was dominant in the lineout. The momentum was shifting. Henry Murray pounced on a well-weighted kick which turned the Scots team around and was fast enough to score his try. The score back to 19-24. The game pace lifted a level and Daimon Pin was kicking and organising the troops around the park better than any other #10 in the competition. With Leo Bass trucking the ball up from #12, Tom Klem returning well from #15, the advantage line was being breached and field position gained. Noah Holt and Marshall Le Maitre continued to be defensive workhorses and Ned Ritchens was everywhere, proving why he is one of the finest #6’s in the GPS.
More pressure was applied to the Scots line through clever kicking by Dougal Payne and Finn Baxter who went in for another try from a rolling Shore maul with a 24-24 kick to come. Alas, it just shaved the post and the scores were level.
I can’t really remember what happened next, except that no fingernails are now in the possession of the author.
What I do remember is that Shore really looked the fitter side and seemed to have the running of the game. The clock was ticking down and Shore was on the attack. A penalty advantage went to Shore from a kick-able distance 40 metres out! Shore then used this advantage to attack but were held back by the gallant Scots line. Cometh the hour, cometh the man. Daimon Pin received the ball 40 metres out and 10 metres in from the sideline. In what was possibly the sweetest strike of a field goal I have seen, his drop goal attempt sailed through the posts and Shore hit the front 27-24.
The scoreboard clock showed that time was up and the Shore crowed erupted. However, the referee still had three minutes on his watch and that’s the watch that matters. Both sides were tired, but the next three minutes were heart stopping. In the final play of the day, the Scots winger made a break down our left side and it looked like he was in. Cometh the second hour, cometh the second man. Henry Murray charged across the field and with the assistance of Noah Holt, snuffed out the try … and to the relief and joy of the Shore crowd, the final whistle blew.
This was another fantastic game of schoolboy Rugby and congratulations to all the Shore and Scots players involved.
It was a fitting farewell for our First XV coach, Mr Hadley Jackson, who leaves Shore to pursue coaching opportunities in Europe. He helped shape a wonderful season with the First XV finishing as GPS Runners Up.
Special mentions – 13 August
- Fourth XV undefeated in 2022. Well done men!
- Sebastien Cheers, Oliver Dorney, Alex Ryan and Jaxon Bishop for winning coaches awards in the U13E’s. Coaches Murray and Austin (two great Old Boys) were very proud and want to take the 13E’s again next year.
- 15A XV for a great final win on the McKay Oval vs Scots. The 15B’s had their third (maybe fourth?) Draw for the year. A new record, I think.
- And to all the Year 12 boys who have played their final game of Rugby for Shore – thank you for your wonderful service and I hope you all loved your final year. You put your bodies on the line week in and week out and I am grateful for what you have down for the Blue & White.
Team Awards
Second XV
- Best Back – Ben Whatley
- Best Forward – Harry Stiel
- Best & Fairest – Eoghan Killick
First XV
- Young Gun – Marshall Le Maitre
- Workhorse (most tackles) – Marshall Le Maitre
- Hardest Trainer – Leo Bassingthwaighte
- Metre Eater (most metres made in games) – Jackson Stiel
- Defensive Axe (hardest defensive player) – Jackson Stiel
- Most Tries in Competition Rounds – Archie Jackson
- Most Points – Joe Hutton
Mr D L Mason-Jones
MIC, Rugby
Top Image Credit: Henry Murray, First XV
| Team | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 13A | The Scots College A | Loss, 7-36 |
| 13B | The Scots College B | Loss, 0-40 |
| 13C | The Scots College C | Loss, 19-26 |
| 13D | The Scots College D | Loss, 12-32 |
| 13E | The Scots College E | Loss, 5-27 |
| 14A | The Scots College A | Loss, 14-29 |
| 14B | The Scots College B | Loss, 0-36 |
| 14C | The Scots College C | Win, 22-14 |
| 14D | The Scots College D | Loss, 19-22 |
| 14E | The Scots College E | Loss, 7-29 |
| 15A | The Scots College A | Win, 33-5 |
| 15B | Oakhill College B | Draw, 19-19 |
| 15C | Oakhill College C | Loss, 12-24 |
| 15D | – | – |
| 15E | Oakhill College E | Loss, 12-17 |
| 16A | The Scots College A | Loss, 14-24 |
| 16B | The Scots College B | Loss, 0-10 |
| 16C | The Scots College C | Loss, 10-15 |
| 16D | The Scots College D | Win, 12-10 |
| 16E | The Scots College E | Win, 24-5 |
| First XV | The Scots College First XV | Win, 27-24 |
| Second XV | The Scots College Second XV | Loss, 19-31 |
| Third XV | The Scots College Third XV | Loss, 5-14 |
| Fourth XV | The Scots College Fourth XV | Win, 35-14 |
| Fifth XV | The Scots College Fifth XV | Win, 7-5 |
| Sixth XV | The Scots College Sixth XV | Draw, 17-17 |
| Seventh XV | The Scots College Seventh XV | Loss, 17-28 |
| Eighth XV | The Scots College Eighth XV | – |