Fantastic celebration of Bedean Rugby

Always a tough matchup coming up against a red hot St Bede’s U58kg team and this fixture proved to be no different, having bragging rights, a friendly rivalry and this time the chance at winning the grade on the line. The Red side started phenomenally well, managing to keep the ball out of our hands for what almost felt like the entirety of the first half, severely testing our defensive capabilities. This put us behind by a few points but nonetheless our boys continued to soldier on and enjoy their last few minutes of their season playing with a bitta flair and fun rugby. This resulted in a full-field try orchestrated by Caleb and finished off by Andrew. Of all people to kick this conversion however it was our lock Archie who slotted it beautifully between the sticks. More special mentions go again to Ngakau and Andrew on their bustling runs through defenders, Caleb who managed to fold the opposing winger like a load of washing in a tackle off of a tactical midfield bomb, and finally Hamish who endeavoured the Lima Sopoaga spinning back kick which didn’t quite come off. Overall full credit to the boys for another fantastic game of Bedean footy.

Ben Fleming Co-coach of the U58kgs Black team.

Comments from the " Red" team:

The season for the U58 Red team was wrapped up on Saturday morning with a win over St Bedes U58 Black to claim the U58 Title.

The fact that the final was played between the two SBC teams is a great highlight for the season and confirms the positive approach taken to this entry level grade. The U58 Black side had definitely been our toughest competition during the year and we entered the final game wary of their ability to put us under a lot of pressure. It’s a very rare, and possibly unique, circumstance for a grade to be played off between two teams from the same school. The Reds dominated possession and displayed great ball skills throughout the game. All players contributed in a meaningful way and it would be unfair to single any players out as the score was purely a result of a full team effort. The game was competed in a hard but fair way with great camaraderie and sportsmanship. The Blacks never gave up and scored the try of the day with an end to end effort with much speed and passing.

Our team has been unbeaten and todays silverware goes with the Challenge Shield already claimed some weeks ago. Played 12, won 12. Point for – 814, points against – 89. Definitively a season to remember however the real success of this season lies a lot deeper.

We need to remember back to the start of the season when we were in Covid 19 lockdown and Rugby looked like a distinct improbability. These boys, in their first year at St Bedes, were itching to get out there but were stuck at home, missing out on that amazing first year of new friendships and experiences. Coach Wayne Robertson was keen to ensure that any time with the boys was optimised. “ Due to the uncertainty around training, games and whanau and supporter involvement, we needed to make sure that the time we had was well utilised. We focused on making sure the boys were exposed to and part of a culture and environment that was inclusive, more holistic and built a brotherhood on and off the field. There was a strong focus on putting in the "mahi", being kind, respectful and humble, and growing an appreciation of what a great sportsperson is. In saying this we also wanted to make our time together enjoyable and fun. This naturally led to our training's being related to game sense and play rather than just drills and playing a game that suited our players involving teamwork, showcasing skills, running a fast game, tap & run and enjoying ourselves. Whilst the stats and titles are nice as coaches we are more proud of all the hard work both physically and mentality these boys have put in (in challenging circumstances) and how the team improved during the season. Certainly the impact of the pandemic has affected a lot but we hope that we’ve made the most of it.”

The season lurched into existence, but there was no time for trials and only one pre-season game. Basically there were enough boys for two teams in the U58s and the sides were simply picked at random, trying to ensure that all positions were covered. As the boys were lightweight, this meant that a number of the team were backs and had to become forwards. We were very lucky to have John Norton as the other team Coach "This is a really wonderful grade. It’s a grade that provides opportunity. An opportunity for players who are a bit smaller to play confidently and in safety. There’s great opportunities for boys to play in different positions and learn more about the game. The grade naturally gravitates to an open running game and the skill level is fantastic. It’s a great innovation to the game and the Rugby Union needs to be commended.”

The SBC Rugby Club are intent on ensuring that the boys get the best development regardless of what team they are in. It was great to see during the season that the boys received specialised coaching, even from the likes of Mike Cron and John Haggart. It was marvellous to see our younger blokes in the same clinics as the 1st XV. The support from the club and Senior School players has been great but the support of the parents has been simply outstanding. Clearly there was a lot of experience on the sideline (albeit restricted due to the pandemic) and it was evident that they enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity for their boys to play in this grade environment. All of the parents have gotten on very well and its just a shame that Covid has restricted the social calendar.

The team was co-captained by Conner Johnston in the backs and Tom Robertson in the forwards. Both received specific leadership training during the season. The team always showed great sportsmanship and respect to the opposition. Often providing players for the opposing team if they were short and always acknowledging the game officials and opposition supporters at the end of the game. Playing the game with dignity has been a strong thread for the side and this was fully achieved.

Tom sums up his season well ” I was nervous and excited starting at St Bede's this year but playing in this team (of all Year 9's) was easier and fun. It seemed a long time before we actually started training and playing games but once it started we enjoyed playing a fast open game together. We learnt a lot from our coaches John and Wayne during the season and a big thanks to Andy and our parents."

Perhaps the best way to measure the success of a season is to determine whether the boys had fun, loved the game and grew in stature as young men. I think this has been achieved. Overall, just a marvellous season with plenty of challenges and a great result for the boys all round. A big thank you to RDO Mark Ealey for all of his support. Also special thanks to the Club and School for getting the season off the ground. We are certainly a lucky community. Bring on 2021.