Shore Rugby Report – Riverview

Shore Rugby Report – Riverview

In a shortened week due to the King’s Birthday long weekend, the Shore First and Second XV’s
squared off against Riverview on a Thursday afternoon fixture at Northbridge. 

The Second XV were looking to continue their good form from the previous week against Newington. Unfortunately, one of the form players from the previous week, Harry Longes, departed the field in the first five minutes after a heavy knock to
the throat.

The team’s resolve did not diminish, and the first half turned into an arm wrestle, with both sides having some genuine attacking opportunities but unable to breach defences. 0-0 at half-time. At the start of the second half, Riverview attacked early, and unfortunately, Shore received a yellow card for an infringement on the line, and the first Riverview try came through an error from Shore. Felix Harvison continued to run the ball up hard, making metres all match, but another try came to Riverview, and the score was 0-14. Shore then began to throw the ball wide and looked dangerous. Harvison crashed over after some excellent attacking raids to make it 5-14. That was to be the end score, though and a well-deserved win for Riverview, but very clear to Shore that the team can prevail in Round Two.

The First XV started their match at the usual time of 3.15pm, and thanks to the encouragement of our
Cheer Captains, a flood of Shore boys descended on the “Bridge” just before kick-off. This amazing support would prove to be crucial as the game unfolded.

The early noise of the crowd was electric, and along with a huge first-up tackle from Angus Molchanoff, this spurred the team to score the opening two tries of the game. James Warner was first and then came along

Hugo Orpin with some amazing leg drive to get over the line. Orpin converted both tries, and Shore was up 14-0. However, Riverview is not one of the form teams of the GPS competition for nothing, and they struck back to bring the game to 14-10 at half-time. The crowd sensed something special was in the air.

As is the case with Shore-Riverview matches, the game was to unfold into tension and excitement. Riverview crossed first in the second half and made the score 15-14. They had hit the lead for the first time. Shore came back, though in dramatic style. After pressing into Riverview’s 22, Shore was awarded a penalty and decided to take a shot at goal. The kick hit the post and came back into play; however, an infringement from a Riverview player resulted in another immediate penalty. Ed Baxter took a quick tap, and Marshall Le Maitre showed great vision to put Henry Conick into the corner for a try. Shore was back in from 19-15.

“How much time is left?” was the question being asked around the grounds, but before it could be answered, Riverview attacked once more and looked to break Shore’s hearts, crossing for another try. They were in the lead again, 20-19.

There was plenty of the game left, and the Shore team dug deep, knowing they are one of the fittest teams in the competition and that was on their side. Shore attacked, Tom Klem injected himself into the line more often, and the iceman Marshall Le Maitre crossed for another try to Shore, and another iceman Hugo Orpin converted. It was 26-20, and the tension was growing.

With minutes left in the game, Riverview had all the territory and was on the attack. In what could only be called monumental, Charlie Bowditch stepped up on various occasions to make try-saving tackles. He and Tim Bannister combined to stop the Riverview 15 from scoring under the posts in one of the biggest “clutch” moments of the game. Le Maitre and Oprin combined for another try-saver, and Shore scrambled and scrambled, and eventually, the referee blew full-time.

Phew! Shore came out on top 26-20.

The game was a wonderful display of schoolboy rugby. Both teams gave it their all and represented their schools with great distinction.

It was an afternoon to remember. And the Shore crowd was simply immense. It is often written (and it is true), but the crowd really gave the boys that extra effort when needed. As a school and community, we were truly “all-in”.

Let’s see the same tomorrow against King’s as we defend the Bridge once more. A huge Shore crowd will really bolster the boys.

Mr D Mason-Jones
MIC Rugby

	Shore		Opponent
First XV	26	SIC 1	20	W
Second XV	5	SIC 2	14	L