Under 8s
Coach: Trisha Abbott
1 May - Souths/Vikings 40 v Old Collegians 30
Under 11s
Coaches: Tara Naige & Tony Collett
Manager: Duncan Armstrong
August
The past few weeks have shown a vast improvement from a very
talented group of young rugby players. A few outstanding games,
particularly against Brighton, Vikings and Souths, have shown how much
these boys and girls have improved over the season. The support play and
effort of the whole team has been fantastic all season, but everyone seems
to have picked up in the last round.
Performances by the hooker Stewie Nutt, 5/8 Chris Russell, centre
Paddy Macklin, fullback Darren Pinkerton, flanker/lock Terry Wilkinson and
No 8 D’Arcy Sadler have consistently impressed. Bryce, Johnno and Nick
Chattaway have improved remarkably each game.
One moment which ticks in my mind is the most recent game against
Souths. Sam Collett, one of smallest players in the team, received a kick
at full back and chose to chip & chase rather than get smashed. The
biggest kid from Souths caught the ball, and Sam picked him up and drove
him into the ground in the best tackle of the year! This resulted in a
turnover and a subsequent try, thanks to the excellent support work by the
rest of the team. We lost that game, but good rugby like that made me the
proudest coach in history!
1 May – Souths 7 v Old Colls 0
Souths did not have an U10 team, so combined their U11s with the U10s.
After discussion with Old Colls and some waiting, the game started and
ended up being half a regular game. All Old Colls players played extremely
well and saw some very good tackles on the opposition.
Under 13s
Coaches: Danny McCartan & Mark Gill
Manager: Philip Norris
3rd July 2004
Next time for sure. In probably the toughest game we’ve played
yet we missed out but conceded only 2 tries to Onkaparinga the competition’s
benchmark team….a team like ourselves that invariably scores at least
5-6 tries a game against the rest of the competition. In the face of much
larger opposition neither our forwards or backs took a backward step. But
for a decision here or a lucky bounce there the game could have been very
different. The second half was particularly rugged and we had to use all
of our reserves…not to give everyone a run, players were just knocking
themselves out on the opposition and had to be replaced. In the end we
lost the game but gained an awful lot of experience which will stand us in
good stead for the next time we meet.
Final score: Onkaparinga 12, Old Collegians 0.
26th June 2004
Slightly better weather but same grim determination from the team…except
for the first 3 minutes when we allowed a large, fast Vikings player to
run untouched for a surprise try which was then converted. “A wake up
call” said the coach. After the shock the team got down to business and
ended up running in some 6 try’s to Viking’s 2 (yes they scored
again!). Overall the team played very well and there were some patches
where there was a lot more passing than usual….players not simply dying
with the ball when there are players in open spaces ready to keep the runs
going.
Final score Old Colls 32, Vikings 12.
1 May – Souths 7 v Old Colls 29
(George, Guy, Liam 1 try each, Matt 2 trys, Liam 2 conversions).
All of our players had very good first games of the season.
Forwards rucked, mauled and backed up at least as well as they had last
year. Our backs were largely new players who all played extremely….James
and Guy ran and tackled extremely aggressively, and Harry at half back
didn’t make a mistake all day. Other new players included Nick
Harrington, Jack de Caux, and Greg Churcher who all performed well even
though they didn’t get as much game time as they’d hoped.
With quite a few new players it took the team until well into the
first half to score the first try. After some robust build up work by the
forwards followed by a 5 metre penalty George scored the first (“hand of
God”) try. Shortly afterwards Liam broke through on the far side of the
field to send a perfectly timed pass to Matt who, as usual, was moving too
fast along the side line for the opposition to lay a hand on him. So at
half time we lead by 10 to 7. The second half saw the team get into second
gear and very quickly to see Liam once again work his way through the
entire forward pack to score, and then for Matt to outpace the opposition
to score out wide. Guy then scared the coach to death, and put the final
result out of question with a one handed touch down after a good piece of
straight running.
Under 15s
Coaches: Dean Bradley, Ryan Nielson, James Bradley, Daniel Boughtwood
Managers : Doug Mein & Ben Rokobaro
1 May - South/Vikings 5 v Old Colls 10
With a large list to choose we fielded a team of experience players
and some first gamers. The game started brightly with the forwards/backs
interplay we came to expect last year. Rowan Mein scored the first try of
the match, breaking through the Souths defence at the 22 from inside
centre. Bulla kicked well, but failed to convert. Several try scoring
opportunities then came and went. The second half became a mauling war as
fitness and match practice (err lack off) started to tell. Only our better
individual defensive skills stopped the game getting away from us. Will
Sadler scored from a typically incisive run leaving OC's to win at 10 - 0.
Best players were Jack Campion and James Marshall who both worked
vigorously in the front line all match.
Under 17s
Coaches: Terry Richards & Jeremy Thewlis
Manager: Geoff Lucas
Old Colls 5 v Vikings 12
A tough game for all concerned with 3 of the team playing state and
2 with injuries we knew we had a big challenge ahead. We were able to gain
a new 2nd rower in DJ Castine who spent a fair time trying hard but was
dazed by an after play tackle in the last 20 minutes. Jem Shimmield and
Rory Shepperd although not largest on the field were a great demonstration
of what shear guts and talent can produce. Guy Barrett played well being
for the first time in No 8 but the Vikings showed the Old Col's under 17
what team work and a will to win can do. Unfortunately Edward Ellis Flint
took a hard tackle and was injured and probably miss 2 or 3 games. Hope he
get back on his feet quickly. We need to get out on the practice field
more and the rewards will be there. A hard fought game but the better team
won on the day.
14 August
Great to get out of the mud and play Souths/Vikings at the lovely,
grassy Gleneagles Park. In what turned out to be a scrappy game we
established our dominance in the first half with 5 tries to 1. Kicking was
tricky into a stiff breeze and conversions proved elusive. Second half
honours were even with a converted try each, though in fairness we
dominated the game and should have been able to reflect this on the score
board. The final score was OC’s 27 – Souths 14. Best on the day were
Philip Gold and Jamie Foster.
7 August
Back to winning ways! Old Colls U15’s demolished Burnside at
Tregenza with a powerful 36 – 10 display. With Burnside short on numbers
and the teams reduced to 13 a side our Eastside rivals had no answer to
our ball movement and fast running back line. Two tries to Alex, singles
to Ed Lucas, Will Mc, Will S and Kabil. Two conversions by Will Mc and one
from Jack Maclin.
31 July
It was back to back Brighton (this time Blacks) and back to back
losses. This was a close game, and though under pressure the first half
score line of 7 all left the game wide open. Not a lot different in the
second half – a try scored by each. Sadly Ro Mein could not convert from
out wide and the game finished 12 – 14 in favour of the Blacks. No
disgrace here, with the pack standing up manfully to the much larger
Brighton forwards and plenty of endeavour shown by all 22 players. Tries
to Alex (con Will Mc) and Kabil. Top performances by Tom Nothcott, Nick
Walker and Ed Lucas.
24 July
All good things come to an end they say, and so it was when we
clashed with Brighton Gold in this round. Coming off the break we were not
sharp enough to truly challenge this well organised outfit. In a wet,
greasy conditions at Brighton over use of the kicking game simply turned
over the ball too many times. Down 12 – 5 at half time there was a
chance. But the second half ended scoreless and with the first defeat of
the season. A good try to Jamie Foster, with Andrew Bradley, Jack Campion
and Tom Northcott as the standout performers.
3 July
The winning run continues for the U15 with a romping 45 – 12
victory over Onkaparinga at Tragenza. An early try and conversion from
Full Back Will McCullough set the tone. First half tries also to Alex
Rokobaro and a storming Robbie Bell sent Old Colls to the break 19 – 12
up. Jamie Foster scored the best (well most spectacular) diving try of the
season so far for his first of the year. With two tries to Ro Mein and one
more for Will Mc and conversions by Ro, Alex and Will Sadler, O.C’s
played a stunning 26 – 0 second half. Best players Will Mc and Ed
Lucas.
26 June
At home to a formidable Brighton Black U15’s shaped up as a good
contest. And in a game played with short periods of intensity and long
ones of pure grind OC’s shut out Black with two tries (Will Mc and Ed
Lucas) in the first half through better ball use. Although the Brighton
boys gave their best they could not break down OC’s defence and when
Kabil scored on the end of a 30 m running break by centre Rowan Mein the
game was ours, 17–0. Best players Alex, Jamie Foster, Ed Lucas, and a
brave Chris Chattaway.
19 June
On the first cold day of the season the U15’s played Burnside at
Parkinson. With a threatening sky above and a boggy pitch beneath a good
tussle resulted in another solid win. In 12 – 7 at the half thanks to
tries from Kabil (conversion by Rowan) and Robbie, the second half
finished 17 all. Alex Rokobaro scored an excellent hat trick in the second
half (one converted by RM). So, a close 29 – 24 win over our Eastside
rivals. Best players Jack Campion, Will Sadler, Alex, Will Mc and Nick
Walker.
5 June
A hard fought first half had the U15’s 7–5 down against a hard
working and determined Souths/Viking side. Souths/Vikings continued to
dominate in the second half putting on three converted tries to one try.
Then, in a quite remarkable burst on totally committed play OC’s run in
4 tries, converting 3 of them, in the last few minutes of the game to run
out 36–28 winners, leaving the home crowded gasping at the spectacle.
Two tries a piece to Kabil and Will Sadler, singles to Rowan Mein and
Robbie Bell. Rowan kicked three conversions. Best players Vince, Jason,
James Marshall, Rowan Mein, Robbie Bell and Will Sadler.
29 May
After three excellent wins OC U15’s faced Brighton Gold at Port
Adelaide. Last season this side proved a tough challenge and a spirited
contest was expected. We used the strong breeze well in the first half to
apply real pressure and when in 12–5 at the half with tries from Kabil
and Rowan, and one conversion from Will Mc. Brighton evened up shortly
after the break and it was game on. Rocket man Kabil run in two more tries
for his hat trick and although out scored in the second half 12 to 10 the
result was an excellent 22 – 17 victory. Best players Alex, James
Marshall, Vince, Andrew, Will Mc, Will S and Rowan.
22 May
On a bright sunny day in the Southern Vales OC U15 faced the first
big test of the season so far – away to Onkas. In a first half played at
pace OC’s set the pattern with excellent ball movement and outstanding
foot speed to lead 19 – 5 at half-time thanks to two tries to Alex, one
to Kabil and two conversions by Fullback Will McCullough. The second half
was tighter with both sides scoring two unconverted tries. This time
Robbie Bell and Ed Lucas the scorers. The final result was a well deserved
29 - 15 win. Best Players Vince Donohoe, Robbie Bell and Alex.
1 May – Elizabeth 5 v Old Colls 32
Scorers: Tom Sutherland, Oliver Greenwell, Andrew Giles and Reuben
Boughtwood.
The game started strongly with Old Colls leading from the start.
The team initially used forwards well to enable use of the backs to score.
Tom Sutherland scored an excellent try with Andrew Giles again showing his
natural ability.
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