1st XV: Won 28-0 vs Roncalli Aoraki 1st XV

The 1st XV travelled to Timaru on Saturday to play the Aoraki Combined team at Roncalli College. With a number of players out with injury the team took the field with a rearranged backline and forward pack. Added to this was a determined Aoraki side who defended tenaciously throughout the game. St Bede’s scored two first half tries to Angus Grant and player of the day Flynt Preston. Between them the front row lead to scoring this season and highlight the depth we have in these positions. The second half began well and the all-important bonus point was secured. This half was dominated by the scoring of 1st five Mason Allison who added to his two earlier conversions with two converted tries of his own. Aoraki defended doggedly and the final score was 28-0. Roncalli’s hospitality was first rate and now the team look forward to their match against Christchurch Boys’ High on the last Saturday of the term.

2nd XV: Won 31-19 vs Shirley BHS 2nd XV

Facing Shirley this week we needed to make amends for last week’s performance. In the first two minutes of our Round 1 game against Shirley, they opened with a unconverted try out wide, this time the same happened again, but rather than luck and capitalising on our lack of awareness, the try came from structured play and a team that looked fitter and better drilled.

Shirley played a physical game early on, repeatedly testing our defence, but by the ten minute mark we started to take control and dominated both possession and territory. We just could not make the final link to score though, twice spilling the ball forward, within metres of the try line after numerous phases, had bought us so close. A try to Javier Elizalde in the eighteenth minute saw us take the lead after a successful conversion by Tobias Williams. The later part of the first half saw much of the same until Shirley broke our defensive line and score an unconverted try just before the half time whistle, to take the lead 12-7.

It was the forwards that seemed to change the game early in the second half with two tries, one to Masa Atsumi unconverted and one to Oliver Barber converted that took us out to 19-12. Not to be outdone, Shirley responded moments later scoring a converted try to bring the game level.

The final ten minutes saw the backs fire up again, and off a set piece the ball was feed out wide to Luke De Roo who was already at full pace, and from half way evaded two players to score out wide. Not to be outdone, Javier Elizalde then connected off a set piece broke the defence and scored behind the posts, for an easy conversion.

Special thanks to the players from other teams that stepped up to provide cover for us, Ben Shipley, Zeke de Gouw, Mitch Shaw and Charlie Stenberg.

HT 12-7, FT 19-31.

Tries: Javier Elizalde 2, Kazumasa Atsumi, Oliver Barber, Luke De Roo

Conversions Tobias Williams 3.

Rowdy Kitchen, Player of the Day: Ben Shipley

3rd XV: Lost 12-32 vs CBHS U18 “Blue”

4th XV: Won 39-12 vs Christ’s College 3rd XV

U16A: BYE

U16B: Won 48-14 vs Linwood RFC U16 “Nortons”

U15A: BYE

U15 Red: Won 36-24 vs Rangiora HS U15 “Gold”

U15 Black: Lost 24-65 vs CBHS U15C “Gold”

Tries to Billy McLoughlin, Ashton Haigh (x2) and ? (I thought it was the #8, but the boys say Leuan Raisin). 2 conversions from Ashton Haigh.

U14A Won 55-29 v Merivale-Papanui U14

The young men had a challenge, today against a strong Merivale Papanui side that had beaten us in the grading games.
Throughout the season the team is developing and learning the basics of the game. In the first half we played a simple pattern of play using the kicking game to get us into the right areas of the paddock . From there shorts line outs were used to setup phase play which lead to some well-constructed tries.
We had a good lead of 24-5 going into the break .
Merivale came back strong in the second scoring two length of the paddock tries from a lazy defence bringing the score back to 31-19.
The young men really finished the game of with some great shape to their game with forwards carrying strong, building phases and good width play in the backs to finish off some great tries outside, after the platform had been established in the collision area.
Another pleasing try was 15m out , a lineout drive that lead to another try.
The final score was 55 - 29.
The forward pack was lead by Christian with strong carries and tackles low and putting the opposition on the ground allowing his fetchers to go to work in James , Trent, Max and Jack . The big men up front of Hekes, Macca and Rev all carried and made good contributions to the forward effort and George continued to dominate our lineout as well as the opposition.
In the backs Joey and Lachie cleared the ball allowing Jermayne ,Riley and Will to set up good mid field options to allow Noah, T, Caleb to hold their width and score or make valuable metres. Harry was solid at the back retrieving ball and starting to build on his organisational skills.
Well done men keep up the good work and thank you to all our parents for their positive contribution from the sideline.

U14B: Won 50-34 vs CC U14 “B”

U58kgs “Red” Lost 19-24 vs ChCh FC Knights

U58kgs “Black” Won by default vs CC U58 kgs