Photos of 1st XV and 2nd XV
Match report
The 1st XV hosted the national champions Hastings Boys’ High School in the weekend. Hastings were fresh from their successful trip to the Sanix World Invitational tournament, and we were acutely aware that this fixture would be a true litmus test for our development and our character.
The game started well for us with an early penalty handing us the lead after 5 minutes. Hastings then enjoyed an extended period of possession that tested our defence stringently. When we earned the ball back, we failed to capitilise on our wind advantage and so spent a large period of the game defending inside our half. Despite the defensive workload, Hastings made very few breaks and an intercept try to Ruben Love meant that we went into half time 8-0 up. Having made a fair few tackles in the first half we looked forward to having the ball in the second half and launching some attacking forays of our own.
Hastings continued their theme of backing their running game in the second half which put the spotlight on our defensive screen again. They scored a try early in the half to narrow the score to one point. We were then able to get into the opposition half and came away with a good team try of our own to extend our lead out to 15-7 with 20 minutes to go. Hastings again replied with a try of their own through an error and with 10 minutes to go we led by one point. Once again we went to work defensively and time and time again we repelled their attacks until with 30 seconds to go we won a relieving penalty. The decision was made to maintain possession and wear down the clock but, in doing so, we ended up being penalised when time was up. Hastings had a chance to win with a penalty kick which they duly converted. Final score 15-17.
For large periods of time we were the better team especially defensively when we didn’t have the ball. It’s ironical therefore that the game was then lost when we had the ball and thus were in control of the game. We can be massively proud of our performance and the heart shown, but this was not an unlucky loss: this was a case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. We will learn from this and be better for it, but jingos, sometimes the hardest lessons are the most painful.
Points Scorers:
Tries: Ruben Love, Nasser Tato
Conversions: Stewart Cruden
Penalties: Stewart Cruden
