The Second Game v Hart District Rugby Wildcats
Hello Everyone,
Sorry not to have posted earlier but there have been numerous commitments since the second game.
We are indeed fortunate to have been looked after by a wonderful group of people here in the Santa Clarita Valley in California. This is a special place and we appear to have settled into the life style all too easily.
The game last Saturday was hyped up in the local press and a crowd of about 2 to 3 hundred turned up in pleasant weather conditions to watch the encounter. The wind was blowing a gale and favoured the Wildcats in the opening stanza. It was decided to play 4 x 25 minute quarters. Our boys did not get off to a good start, probably suffering the combined effects of jet lag and the locals over feeding them. We were never in it and the score at quarter time was 21-0 favouring the Wildcats.
Coach Scott (as we refer to him now) reinforced at the break that the wind was a major factor in the game and encouraged them to have faith and to get out there and do us proud.
The second quarter heavily favoured the visitors. The forwards played with considerable passion despite crunching tackles by the locals. They pushed up towards the line with phase after phase of rucks with Tom Graydon finally literally throwing himself at the line placing the ball over for our first score. The whole team lifted as one and then proceeded to play one of the most passionate periods of schoolboy rugby that I have had the pleasure to view. This try was not converted, score 21- 5. Over the next 20 minutes the following boys scored tries:
Aaron Phipps
Jack Edwards
Connor Smith
Rowan Cackett.
The score was 21-29, favouring TC going into half time, a truly remarkable turn around.
Conditions in the third quarter again favoured the locals, and they made the best of it, scoring two converted tries. Score 35-29 favouring the Wildcats going into the final quarter.
The locals threw everything at us in the final quarter, and forced us into a series of defensive positions. We managed to resist this intense pressure. Callan Phipps strutted his stuff yet again and managed to score a try. Not converted. Score 35-34, Wildcats leading by one.
The game was played in the midfield, both teams evenly matched until about 3 to 4 minutes from the end when Connor Smith was on the burst when he received a perfectly timed pass. Connor ran a good 30 metres to score in the corner. Not converted. The crowd came to its feet for the final stanza as both teams played themselved to near exhaustion in the dying minutes. The game concluded with the final score of 35- 39 favouring TC.
The post match formalities demonstrated the strong bonds that had been forged with the locals. There was an exchange of gifts. The Wildcats nominated Callan Phipps and Danny McAuliffe as Men of the Match for TC.
This was a very satisfying win for the boys. They lifted enormously in stature with the victory.
The local team showed that they are more than competitive at this level of rugby.
The match even gained some local press coverage. Please see the links at the bottom of this post.
The entire team are grateful to the organisers of this match and the wonderful locals who took them in under their wings to house and feed them. There is talk of a return bout with TC hosting the Wildcats on our home turf.
Photos will be added at a later date.
Regards,
Bob Graydon
Links: (paste into your web browser)
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_4762557
http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=34824&format=html
Sorry not to have posted earlier but there have been numerous commitments since the second game.
We are indeed fortunate to have been looked after by a wonderful group of people here in the Santa Clarita Valley in California. This is a special place and we appear to have settled into the life style all too easily.
The game last Saturday was hyped up in the local press and a crowd of about 2 to 3 hundred turned up in pleasant weather conditions to watch the encounter. The wind was blowing a gale and favoured the Wildcats in the opening stanza. It was decided to play 4 x 25 minute quarters. Our boys did not get off to a good start, probably suffering the combined effects of jet lag and the locals over feeding them. We were never in it and the score at quarter time was 21-0 favouring the Wildcats.
Coach Scott (as we refer to him now) reinforced at the break that the wind was a major factor in the game and encouraged them to have faith and to get out there and do us proud.
The second quarter heavily favoured the visitors. The forwards played with considerable passion despite crunching tackles by the locals. They pushed up towards the line with phase after phase of rucks with Tom Graydon finally literally throwing himself at the line placing the ball over for our first score. The whole team lifted as one and then proceeded to play one of the most passionate periods of schoolboy rugby that I have had the pleasure to view. This try was not converted, score 21- 5. Over the next 20 minutes the following boys scored tries:
Aaron Phipps
Jack Edwards
Connor Smith
Rowan Cackett.
The score was 21-29, favouring TC going into half time, a truly remarkable turn around.
Conditions in the third quarter again favoured the locals, and they made the best of it, scoring two converted tries. Score 35-29 favouring the Wildcats going into the final quarter.
The locals threw everything at us in the final quarter, and forced us into a series of defensive positions. We managed to resist this intense pressure. Callan Phipps strutted his stuff yet again and managed to score a try. Not converted. Score 35-34, Wildcats leading by one.
The game was played in the midfield, both teams evenly matched until about 3 to 4 minutes from the end when Connor Smith was on the burst when he received a perfectly timed pass. Connor ran a good 30 metres to score in the corner. Not converted. The crowd came to its feet for the final stanza as both teams played themselved to near exhaustion in the dying minutes. The game concluded with the final score of 35- 39 favouring TC.
The post match formalities demonstrated the strong bonds that had been forged with the locals. There was an exchange of gifts. The Wildcats nominated Callan Phipps and Danny McAuliffe as Men of the Match for TC.
This was a very satisfying win for the boys. They lifted enormously in stature with the victory.
The local team showed that they are more than competitive at this level of rugby.
The match even gained some local press coverage. Please see the links at the bottom of this post.
The entire team are grateful to the organisers of this match and the wonderful locals who took them in under their wings to house and feed them. There is talk of a return bout with TC hosting the Wildcats on our home turf.
Photos will be added at a later date.
Regards,
Bob Graydon
Links: (paste into your web browser)
http://www.dailynews.com/search/ci_4762557
http://www.the-signal.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=34824&format=html
posted by trinityrugby at 10:03 AM
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