Sports News 1st XV Rugby
Under 16 XV Report – December 2010
At the start of the season scepticism was at the forefront of many minds. The path ahead looked an uneasy one due to a lack of depth in the 1st XV squad. However, with the recruitment of several talented, keen and energetic Year 11s the season got underway at the Brentwood Pre-season Festival. With less than half of the team having played at this level before, this relatively inexperienced and unorganised 1st team was never expected to achieve greatness from the outset. Despite this, the squad came away with a respectable two wins two losses record, a great sign for the weeks ahead.
This has been a challenging but satisfying season for a very talented and hitherto successful year group. Losing a total of six stars to the Firsts meant that fringe players in previous years had the chance to prove themselves, and they did so with gusto. The squad scored an impressive total of 39 tries in nine matches. Four wins were recorded including a tremendous demolition of Bishops Stortford College and only one of the losses was by a substantial margin (against Wymondham); it could indeed be argued that we should have beaten Coopers, Norwich and Bishops Stortford HS.
From here the season went slightly downhill. Our losses to Coopers and Wymondham were not down to lack of talent, because a victory in both of these games was in sight having been comfortably leading at half time in both. Instead, it was merely a lack of ruthlessness and discipline that allowed these games to slip from our grasp.
Front row regulars Guy Sullivan, Henry Turner and Josh Alcock put the squeeze on opposition packs and between them scored seven tries (an unheard-of feat for the ABC club); they were ably understudied by Henry Theeman, Jacob Murray and Matt Stoker. Will Dalby was a revelation in the second row, mobile and aggressive, and played regularly with Aran Uner. Jay Singh alternated between second and back rows, where Pat Geddis, Louis Blaxill and (when not training with Northampton and England) Sam Harry could be found creating their usual mayhem. Substitutes in the pack included Dan Macdonnell, Matt Wills, Jack Wilby, Nick Adams and, converting from crazy-legged winger, Rob Eveleigh.
Not disheartened the team decided to improve our game on and off the pitch, attending many curries where we discussed where we went wrong, or, in the case of the 40 point victory against Culford, what went right. It was clear that we were a team who played well both on and off the pitch. The pivotal game of the season was against St Joseph’s College, with an unbeaten season and the remnants of respectable teams lying in their wake, it was expected to be a one-sided contest. It was in essence a David vs Goliath affair, and as history repeats itself, we came the closest anyone has ever come to slaying the giant. It is tribute to the spirit of the squad that a good defeat was turned quickly and seamlessly into an incredible victory; it was precisely the jump start that was needed. From then on we won the majority of our games, falling short narrowly only to Ipswich and Bishops Stortford College I would like to congratulate all of the Year 11s who made appearances for the first team this year; they all made valid and vital contributions to the squad and it is hoped that in doing so firmer foundations are laid for the years to come. The past season may not have produced the best results seen by the school, but the people who produced them are right at the top. Playing as part of such an enthusiastic team has been a pleasure, and so I thank everyone who helped make this year so enjoyable.
We were blessed with three agile scrum halves in Ollie Stead, Alex Enright and Andy Cheng who shared the season between them. Reuben Dewa stepped in to play fly half with aplomb; Jack Bullock and Ben Stanton also appeared in this slot. George Shephard and Tom Hodder were fixtures in the centre, supported by Ben Pearey. Back three positions were filled by Nathan Macabuag, Ali Haines (until injury), George Turner, Niall Wishart and James Frost. The find of the season in the backs was Myuran ‘The Devastator’ Devaraja whose try-saving tackling swiftly became legendary. Unusually for Year 11, we also fielded a B team against Coopers which featured Fred Ashcroft, Alex Elder, Sam Griffiths, Ollie Harrington, Will Hodges, Tom Koziarski, Dan Lennard-Jones and James Mayes. Many Year 11 players also appeared for the Second XV and contributed substantially to their victories. Mr Hardy and I have been delighted with the enthusiasm and commitment shown by every player this season; we thank you for your efforts and wish you all the best as you move up to the senior squads.
Mr S Dowling
Jonathan Roome, 13Wh (Captain 1st XV) Under 13 Rugby Tour to Portugal The October half term holiday saw 31 year 8 rugby players fly off to Portugal. The outstanding Browns Club (England Rugby’s warm weather training base) in Vilamoura provided the base for 3 days of rugby matches and training. The centre piece of the week was the Algarve International Tournament which saw touring teams from England vying with the strongest teams in Portugal to be crowned as champions. Throughout the tournament the rugby was of a high standard but Colchester RGS proved to be the equal of all and were deservedly crowned as Champions at the end of Day 2. All in all it was a fantastic experience for the boys who were a credit to the school.
Mr N Murray