Rugby Club, September 2015
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Newsletter 5, 2015 Friday 18th September Being Director of Rugby at Scots College for this 2015 season has been both enjoyable and rewarding. They are a great group of young men at this college and parents should be proud of their success and character throughout the season. Scots has only 187 rugby players registered and we field 8 teams. I would like to thank all the players for the hard work they have put in this season. A special thank you must also go to our dedicated team of coaches, managers and parents who have supported us this season. Without you, we would not have had such a successful season - “together we are stronger” We managed to have 5 teams make the semi-finals in their grades - the U55s, U65s, U15s, 2nd XV & 1st XV. From those teams, 3 teams made their respective Grand Finals - the U65s, 2nd XV and the 1st XV. This is a huge achievement. From those 3 finals, we had one team crowned as Champions of their grade and we would like to congratulate the Under 65s for their great season, they are worthy winners of their grade. Well done to their Coaches Dave Scott, Peter Connell & Cliff Montu, and thank you for the great work you have put into the boys this season. The 2nd XV made their fourth consecutive Premier Three final for the mighty Onslow Cup. This was a team who have grown in skill and depth over the season, turning early defeats into victory at the business end of the season. Excellently coached by Will Struthers, Alistair Hamilton and Kevin James they fought all the way in the final against St. Pat’s Silverstream but couldn’t quite deliver the knockout blow. This same team then stepped into the 1st XV’s breach at Quad and performed with real passion and pride in the Moascar Cup defence against STAC’s Development team. Judging by the comments after Quad and irrespective of the result, the boys valued the experience highly. What an amazing journey the 1st XV have had over the last couple months. Character and determination are just some words to describe the performances that this group of young men put together to prepare themselves for contention in the National Top 4 competition. It all started for this special group at the Wellington Weltec Premeir 1 final where they were undefeated going into the match and they lost their first match of the competition against a very good St Pat’s Town team. Coming 2nd gave the 1st XV another lifeline and they went into a wild card game against Wanganui High School. Winning this game meant they would travel 8-10 hours up to Gisborne and play the highly rated Gisborne Boys’ High School. Winning meant they would play in the final of the Hurricanes region, a repeat against St Pat’s Town. This time we won and the 1st XV won back to back Hurricanes titles – champions again and an outstanding effort by this team. From there the 1st XV played their Top 4 semi final against a very good Otago Boys’ High School side who were South Island Champions. We managed to fight back and win a tightly-fought match 35-27. The final was always going to be tough and was played against a very mature and experienced Rotorua Boys’ High School on their home pitch. The team played their hearts out in this match but it was not meant to be losing 36-27. Thank you to all our Scots college rugby community for the ongoing support that you have given to all our teams this year. Congratulations to all our teams this year but I would like to add a special mention to our three 1st XV players who have been selected to play for the New Zealand Secondary Schools team to tour Australia this month. 1. Alex Fidow 2. Thomas Umaga-Jensen 3. Peter Umaga-Jensen Peter Umaga-Jensen also has been named captain for the New Zealand Secondary School team for 2015. This is excellent news and we are so proud of you all. Filo Tiatia Director of Rugby [email protected] Club sponsorship – a big thank you to: Premier Sponsors of the Scots College Rugby Club Suzuki New Zealand Bronze Sponsors Unichem Clive Fine Touch Catering We also acknowledge and thank those families who supported our recent appeal to purchase items of equipment. 2015 End of the year prize giving evening What a fantastic evening celebrating a great season and the achievements of our players and the accolades that all our teams accomplished this year. I would like thank our guest speaker, Wellington and New Zealand All Black legend Andy Leslie, for the amazing words of wisdom and encouragement he imparted to all our players, staff/management and parents that were present for the evening. I would also like to thank all our rugby community for making an effort to attend this special Event - over 280 people attended the awards ceremony this year. As Andy Leslie mentioned in the evening “the winners that received trophies tonight will owe loads of credit to all their team mates, without you the winners would not have received their rewards” I would like to thank the efforts again from all our Coaches and Management team, but especially from all our players and supporting families. All Winners and our Suzuki Scots XV below Team Best Forward Best Back Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player 1st XV Alex Fidow Thomas Umaga-Jensen Harry Saker Peter Umaga-Jensen Team Best Forward Best Back Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player 2nd XV Josh Rippin Drew A. Meiklejohn Kiwa Erueti Newman Connor Rowbotham Team Best Forward Best Back Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player U15 Max Taptiklis Jack Gray Oliver Aikman-Nordon Jack Mexted Team Best Forward Best Back Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player U65 Max Gibbs Connor Nelson Harry Fraser Max Gibbs Team Best Forward Best Back Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player U55 Will Park Jack Healy Albert Humphries Harry Beverley Team Best Forward Best Back Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player Y7 & Y8 1st XV Jacob Hawtin Daniel Tafili Vihin Peckler Maea Tema Schmidt Team Best Forward Best Back Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player Y7 & Y8 2nd XV Louie Gibson Tane Gonzalez Matthew Boyle Fraser Harding Team Best Forward Best Back Most Improved Player Most Valuable Player Colts Scot Sheffield Marco Muollo Samuel Maitland Scot Sheffield Gray Gray Scots XV 2015 Team The Scots XV team is awarded to the most committed and outstanding player for each position selected from across all the rugby teams. It is a huge honour and rewards not just talent but character, leadership and effort. 1. Moala Katoa 2. Caelan Burns 3. Alex Fidow (VC) 4. Henry Mexted 5. Kiwa Erueti Newman 6. Connor Rowbotham 7. Hamish Mansell 8. Maea Tema-Schmidt 9. Harry Beverley 10. Stanley Solomon 11. Jake Thomson 12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen 13. Peter Umaga-Jensen © 14. Jack Healy 15. Jack Gray Other winners of the evening 1st XV Most Improved Forward – Moala Katoa 1st XV Most Improved Back – Ollie Whiteman Most Hearted Endeavour Player of the year - Laws Trophy – Alex Fidow 1st XV player of the year – Peter Umaga-Jensen Important Dates to put in the Diary MCKK Sevens tournament – Malaysia 2016 Scots has been invited back for the third year in a row. We intend sending an U16 Development side (12 players) to this tournament in late February 2016. Rugby Sevens registrations Now open to all that are interested in playing this great game at either Premier, U16 (see above) or U15 level. If you are unsure please contact the Director of rugby at [email protected] To register click on the link http://www.sportsground.co.nz/form.asp?formid=29888 6th October Sevens Open day training (To all players for open weight to U15 players) 16th October Rugby Fundraiser @ Monsoon Poon $50 a head (Includes food and drinks for the evening) – See next page 17th October Wellington 7s @ Wakefield park 26th October Wellington Schools qualifying for concords nationals @ Naenae College 21st November Under15 7s festival @ Naenae College Game Reports 1st XV Top 4 Final Scots 1st XV v Rotorua Boys High school 1st XV Venue Rotorua Boys High school Date 6th September Conditions Fine with a southerly wind breeze Rotorua Boys' High School: 36 (Isaac Te Aute 2, James Tofa 2, Te Ra Whata tries; Kaleb Trask 4 con, 1 pen) Scots College: 27 (Alex Fidow 2, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Jack Gray tries; Malo Manuao 2 con, 1 pen) HT: 19-7 Scots College's quest for a second successive national secondary schools rugby title failed at the final hurdle. They lost 36-27 to Rotorua Boys' High School in the final on Sunday, with the home team finishing strongly in front of their fans despite ending the game with just 13 men. Rotorua were leading 29-27 in the final 10 minutes when they had two brain explosions. Second-five Waisea Nuimataiwalu was sent off for a careless and dangerous tip-tackle, before halfback Ra Whata was yellow carded for punching with just minutes on the clock. However, after a series of breakdown turnovers, Rotorua No 8 Kaydis Hona bashed over to score the winning try and was promptly swamped by pitch-invading Rotorua fans. Rotorua first five-eighth Kaleb Trask sent the conversion through the posts as the final hooter sounded, sparking a second pitch invasion. It could have been very different for Scots, having gone up 22-19 early in the second half, after trailing 19-12 at halftime.