The Fourth Game v Beaverton High School Barbarians
Hello All,
We again appear to have been extremely fortunate to have encountered a group of gracious and generous hosts. The billet families have been just wonderful in the way they have taken us into their homes, feed us, and ferried us around all over this city. I would personally like to record my thanks to Roger and Kay Helbling who have been extremely supportive, particularly in relation to our ill boy.
The game last night was played at Beaverton High School, on artificial turf and under lights. This is the "Home of the Beavers" and certainly, our boys played as though they had some experience in such conditions previously. It was wet and cold. It was decided to play 4 x 20 min periods. About 200 to 300 spectators turned up which is amazing considering the weather and it being a midweek night. The teams lined up for a stirring rendition of both National Anthems.
The game got off to a fast pace. Certainly, the training session the boys had undertaken the day before this game seemed to have cleared out a few prolonged tour related cobwebs. Connor Smith hit the ground running to score a try in the corner about 10 minutes into the game. Not converted. Score 5-0, favouring TC. The rest of this quarter, and indeed most of the game was characterised by frequent penalties against the Barbarians. Their lack of match practice, being the off season, worked against what is otherwise a quality local team. Most of the game play in this period was dominated by TC, and the score going into quarter time was unchanged at 5-0.
The second quarter was very much dominated by TC. The TC backs, thriving on the fast running surface, made any number of breaks. The quarter belonged particularly to Connor Smith who following receiving some superb passes, crossed the line another two times. One of the tries was converted. Score 17 - 0, favouring TC at half time.
The Barbarians were unlucky in the third quarter when they managed to get the ball across the TC line but it was held up. The locals were now playing for pride and threw wave after wave of offence at TC, but our boys managed to hold them back. The TC backs were impenetrable. Special mention must be made of Connor Smith, who played just as well in defence as he did in scoring a hat trick of tries. There was no score this quarter.
The final period belonged to the locals. Again, many infringements resulting in penalties stifled their game. However, 5 minutes from full time they managed to score a converted try. The final score was 17 - 7, favouring TC. Nil significant injuries.
All the boys gathered together for a group photo post match and it was evident that a lot of strong bonds have been forged in the short time we have been here. Later that evening, our hosts took us to a restaurant where the match presentations were made. The following boys were nominated by the locals for awards:
Connor Smith - Man of the Match.
Thomas Graydon - Forward of the Match
Alex Repsevicius - Back of the Match
Callan Phipps - Most valuable player.
We are so fortunate that the people of Portland have taken us under their wing and demonstrated hospitality that we can return when they hopefully come to tour Australia.
We are told that it does occasionally stop raining here but likewise, we tell tourists tall tales about drop bears and other mythological characters.
Yours, now starting to dry out,
Bob Graydon
We again appear to have been extremely fortunate to have encountered a group of gracious and generous hosts. The billet families have been just wonderful in the way they have taken us into their homes, feed us, and ferried us around all over this city. I would personally like to record my thanks to Roger and Kay Helbling who have been extremely supportive, particularly in relation to our ill boy.
The game last night was played at Beaverton High School, on artificial turf and under lights. This is the "Home of the Beavers" and certainly, our boys played as though they had some experience in such conditions previously. It was wet and cold. It was decided to play 4 x 20 min periods. About 200 to 300 spectators turned up which is amazing considering the weather and it being a midweek night. The teams lined up for a stirring rendition of both National Anthems.
The game got off to a fast pace. Certainly, the training session the boys had undertaken the day before this game seemed to have cleared out a few prolonged tour related cobwebs. Connor Smith hit the ground running to score a try in the corner about 10 minutes into the game. Not converted. Score 5-0, favouring TC. The rest of this quarter, and indeed most of the game was characterised by frequent penalties against the Barbarians. Their lack of match practice, being the off season, worked against what is otherwise a quality local team. Most of the game play in this period was dominated by TC, and the score going into quarter time was unchanged at 5-0.
The second quarter was very much dominated by TC. The TC backs, thriving on the fast running surface, made any number of breaks. The quarter belonged particularly to Connor Smith who following receiving some superb passes, crossed the line another two times. One of the tries was converted. Score 17 - 0, favouring TC at half time.
The Barbarians were unlucky in the third quarter when they managed to get the ball across the TC line but it was held up. The locals were now playing for pride and threw wave after wave of offence at TC, but our boys managed to hold them back. The TC backs were impenetrable. Special mention must be made of Connor Smith, who played just as well in defence as he did in scoring a hat trick of tries. There was no score this quarter.
The final period belonged to the locals. Again, many infringements resulting in penalties stifled their game. However, 5 minutes from full time they managed to score a converted try. The final score was 17 - 7, favouring TC. Nil significant injuries.
All the boys gathered together for a group photo post match and it was evident that a lot of strong bonds have been forged in the short time we have been here. Later that evening, our hosts took us to a restaurant where the match presentations were made. The following boys were nominated by the locals for awards:
Connor Smith - Man of the Match.
Thomas Graydon - Forward of the Match
Alex Repsevicius - Back of the Match
Callan Phipps - Most valuable player.
We are so fortunate that the people of Portland have taken us under their wing and demonstrated hospitality that we can return when they hopefully come to tour Australia.
We are told that it does occasionally stop raining here but likewise, we tell tourists tall tales about drop bears and other mythological characters.
Yours, now starting to dry out,
Bob Graydon
posted by trinityrugby at 11:37 PM
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