Under 55 Rugby Team wins the tournament

The St Paul’s U55 White Rugby Team had an impressive season which resulted in the win of the Under 55kg Waikato Championship in the final against Hamilton Boys' High School. 

The team went through the first round of the competition undefeated, including three winning margins of more than 50 points. There were also wins over the eventual top teams Te Awamutu College, Hamilton Boys' High School and the St Paul’s Grey Team. 

Partway through the season, the competition split into the top four and bottom four and the team had to effectively start over again, losing nine boys down to Tihoi and gaining five new players in return. The core group of Year 9 players held the team together and fostered a culture of excellence by working hard together every practice and turning up for each other every Saturday on the field. The group was keen to learn new skills and improve each week.

The team's strengths included a dangerous backline (including speed to burn, players such as Ashley Pryor and Kahn Heath who were a sight to behold in full flight), a bruising forward pack (led by Reagan Piso) and the level heads of co-captains James Verry and Maccy Maber. Throughout the season, the team played a high-tempo and high-skill-based game.

On the day of the final, the conditions were wet and muddy, which was always going to make the result come down to the team who made the least amount of errors. After being down by two points with less than ten minutes to go, the team stuck close and worked their way down the field with a number of effective short passes until they were eventually five metres from the try line. The forwards got behind Reagan who crashed over for what would prove to be the winning try. 

Now ahead on the points table, the team still had to secure the final kickoff and retain the ball so that HBHS could not have an opportunity to score. A crucial turnover close to the St Paul's try line allowed the team to force the ball dead in the in-goal area and with time up on the clock, the final whistle sounded with the final score 17-14. The boys were elated to finish the season as champions in what was for many, their first season of rugby for St Paul’s.

The team would like to thank coaches Mr Holdgate and Ed Hopping as well as the large group of supporting parents that turned up every weekend rain, hail or shine. With a host of talent and energy for rugby, these lads represented the school with great pride. They were humble in victory and determined to hold themselves accountable by playing rugby in the spirit of the game each week.