Rugby Report - Lent Term 2010
The School Rugby 7s team has been busy again this term, with the U14s at the Sussex County tournament winning 2 out 4 games. The U15s had an enjoyable, but testing, trip to the Llandovery 7and, despite not recording a victory, they just lost to Christ College Brecon, one of the top rugby schools in Wales.
The U18s have fared well, the highlight being winning the Plate Competition at the Worth 7s. Initially defeating Worth, they lost 15-7 to a very strong Brighton 2nd vii, going through, therefore, to the Plate Semi-Final. In a close game - and being 10-0 down at half time - they finally overcame Worthing Sixth Form College 15-13. In the final against Lancing, the team played with great commitment and achieved a historic first ever 7s trophy for the College 25-7. The College played its first 15-a-side fixture for many years against Box Hill School, winning 15-13. This match was arranged to prepare the rugby squad for their tour to Portugal .
Portugal Rugby Tour
At the end of last term, our under 16s team played a full 15 a side match against Box Hill School in preparation for their forthcoming tour to Portugal. A real dogged affair, in failing light, saw Ardingly snatch victory from the opposition in the dying moments, when Billy Newman went over for the winning try. This victory gave our team a real boost in confidence that would inspire them when they departed for Lisbon on the last Friday of term.
On the first day of the tournament our boys showed signs of fatigue as they left the hotel for the journey to the tournament venue. However, the sight of the Portugese National Rugby Stadium, and the hordes of players and supporters there, served to focus minds on the hard task ahead.
That day we were matched against strong teams from Spain and Portugal and, as expected, our boys put in a superb performance in both matches. Tries from Jack Harrison, Wilf Bridges, James Palmer, Josh Barber, Alex Maynard, Cass Saint and Josh Williams, resulted in victories in both games and Ardingly deserved their place as group winners.
The following day, Ardingly went into the quarter finals where they played a strong French international school based in Madrid who put up a very determined battle but who finally succumbed to constant pressure from our team.
In the semi-final we played the ‘President's Fifteen' who, it turned out, were in fact the Portugese National Team. As you would expect, the opposition were physically intimidating. However our boys, confident from earlier victories, took the match to them and, although we were defeated, did not concede a point in the second half and we continued to attack their line right up to the final whistle. Ardingly certainly gave the President's Fifteen (who became tournament champions) the toughest game of the tournament and it came as no surprise that a well deserved overall final place of third in tournament was secured by our team.
Many boys stood out for their commitment and determination to make this tour successful, both on and off the pitch, but special mention must go to George Clutton who, as Captain, presented as one of the very best that Ardingly has to offer
