Re-live some of the action from round one brought to you by our official Junior Reporter team!
Knox Grammar 23 defeated Shore 7
Match report by Matthew Taylor
A vigorous Knox Grammar side was too good for a sturdy Shore team in the first round of the inter-association trials. With some dominant results by Shore in the earlier games, the Knox 1st XV were evidently very keen to bounce back, with the black and blue getting a convincing 23-7 win.
A cool, sunny day saw an immense crowd turn up to watch some quality schoolboy rugby. Both teams began with some steaming runs from the forwards who set the pace for the initial stages of the match. However, it was Knox who capitalized on the forwards commanding display, with fly-half Sam Piper presenting a show and go, misleading the Shore defence to leap over the line and grab the first points of the match.
After some heavy contact and strong runs from the forwards from both teams, Knox were the first to have some inventiveness and start throwing the ball out to the backs. Sam Rechner and Dylan Glassie were particularly difficult to contain. A penalty to Knox close to the try line saw the black and blue being lured to take the strategic penalty goal option after some tough Shore defence. Sam Piper slotted the kick nicely to bring the score to 10-0.
Some faster, tough runs from Knox, lead by Bill Pan and Oscar Cheal, saw Knox come very close to the try line yet again. A pick and go from the Knox forward was too difficult to stop from going over the line, bringing the score to 15-0. Once again, Knox found their way back into Shore territory. A clear overlap saw the Knox backline spread it out wide to Charlie Candrick on the wing, planting the ball down with half-time approaching.
An incredible try-saving tackle from Tom Gratwicke defined Knox’s tenacious personality. Knox were up a convincing 20-0 at halftime.
The second half began with both teams using the backs more often, with speed to burn. Knox brought on fullback Oli Griffiths, who was exceedingly energetic and difficult to stop. But it was Shore who struck first in the second half after a quick play down the left sideline to score. A nice conversion made the score 20-7 with the Shore team beginning to look ominous.
A tight, strong second half from Knox and Shore saw both teams’ players beginning to look understandably fatigued. Knox were benefited with a penalty from far out and opted to have a kick at goal. The kick was hit well and did not look like missing.
With the score now 23-7, the time was ticking down. Both teams had chances close to the line, however, impressive defence prevented any more points being scored in the match.
The referee blew the whistle for full-time, with Knox winning 23-7. Knox were just too good for a respectable Shore team. Knox didn’t show any signs of complacency, after a huge lead at half-time. Shore’s strong defence in the second half wasn’t enough to win the match. Overall, a great day of footy, with both schools showing promising signs for the upcoming season.
Newington College 36 defeated Oakhill College 7
Match report by Oscar Nowar Allcorn
Newington College hosted Oakhill College on Saturday 5 May 2018 on a beautiful, sunny Sydney autumn day with temperatures in the mid-20’s. The game was officiated by referee Max Hearn-Sarchfield.
At 3:15, Oakhill College kicked off to Newington with a try scored straight away by Newington’s Tom Ball. He followed with a second try of the afternoon, taking the game to 12-0.
Simi Afeaki (Newington’s no.14) sprinted to the try-line but did not make it when he was tackled by Oakhill’s Zane Dean-Matthews. He then offloaded the ball to Saul Lewis, who added points to the scoreboard for Newington.
Newington dominated the first half with strong scrums and looking for opportunities on the wing. They scored another try by Tom Latu out on the wing, who sprinted for his life for another five points, taking the scores 22-0.
Newington kicked off the second half but the ball did not carry over the 10-metre mark. Oakhill elected to take a scrum, setting up Mark Riemac to score after three to four phases and bring up the score to 22-7.
Oakhill was really stepping up the game now and looking for opportunities. They tried a grubber kick to Dean-Matthews, but a player from Newington grounded the ball in the in-goal area, resulting in a scrum on the 5-metre line.
From one side to another, Newington scored against Oakhill twice in four minutes to reach a score of 36-7.
In the last five minutes of the game, Newington was hungry for another try, winning their lineout five metres from Oakhill’s try line and quickly forming a maul to drive the ball over the line. Oakhill successfully held up the ball preventing Newington from scoring in the final seconds of the game.
Newington won, with the final score being 36-7. Well played to both teams!
The Scots College 20 defeated St Stanislaus’ College 7
Match report by Zachary Cambridge
What a cracking Autumn’s day to kick off the inter-association trials 2018. Setting the scene, The Scots College vs the boys from Bathurst - St Stanislaus.
The travelling side was well supported and as the Scottish pipes rang out, the city locals could also be heard.
Nerves were evident early within both teams as error-after-error occurred. After numerous phases on the St Stanislaus line, Scots finally scored through a strong Brett Wellington pick and drive, the conversion missing.
Things went south from there for St Stanislaus when the kick off didn’t make the 10-metre line and allowed Scots to have another opportunity in their half. Scots capitalized straight away through a slick inside offload with Joe Brial scoring 10 metres from the sideline; the conversion missed.
With St Stanislaus feeling the pressure, they tried an unorthodox chip and chase which unfortunately didn’t pay off. Scots lost a player when Nick Zylstra was sent off for an infringement defending their line but a gutsy effort from the rest of the boys held out St Stanislaus.
After an unfortunate missed penalty goal from St Stanislaus, they finally scored on the bell through a strong run by Thomas Hooper, backed up with a successful conversion. Halftime 10-7.
The first 10 minutes of the second half was replicated in the second half as players continuously dropped the ball and gave away penalties. After 15 mins of struggling football, Scots hit back with an unbelievable try through a break by Seb Strang and a one-handed offload to a flying Jack Mosman in the corner.
St Stanislaus tried their luck with a long penalty goal with 6 minutes to go but fell short. They chucked everything at a tired Scots defence in the dying moments of the game but they just couldn’t get through.
After a late intercept by Scots and a few phases, Scots scored a try on the bell by Nick Wingrove, the last conversion also missing its mark. The final score saw Scots victorious over St Stanislaus, 20-10.
REST OF THE ROUND:
Trinity 24 defeated St Patricks College 0
Sydney Grammar 3 defeated by St Aloysius’ College 36
Waverley 27 defeated by St Ignatius College 33
Kings 32 defeated by Barker 36
Kinross Wolaroi 41 defeated The Armidale School 12
Cranbrook 29 defeated St Pius College 3
St Josephs’ College vs St Gregory’s College
