College 1st XV on to the Quarter Finals

Our 1st XV boys have successfully made it through into the Quarter Finals in their last pool game against Eniesei STM from Russia, at the Sanix Junior World Rugby Competition in Japan, securing a 55-0 win.

This was always going to be a game that was not going to challenge us as Russia had lost both their previous games against the two Japanese sides, and they are technically not as strong as our boys. It was also a chance to rest a number of our first team players, and the replacements did a good job of helping us to score the overall 55-0 points.

The game was played in a temperature drop of about 10 degrees accompanied by a blustery wind, our team playing with the wind in the first half. Blake Van Der Maas, Patrick Herbert and Will Raea all scored two tries, and a try each to Joseph Mitai, Suliasi Vunivalu, and Farrell Keil. Patrick Herbert converted 5 of the 9 tries.

The boys will now play Gose Industrial High School from Nara, Japan in the Quarter Finals then have a rest day before the Semi Finals on Saturday. The return of hard running centre Jonathan Apaula from an ankle injury will be a huge boost to us as we will be looking to build some momentum heading into the final stages of the tournament.

Head of Sport, Mr Martin Piaggi reports if things continue on form, the boys will then play Australia in one Semi Final, and South Africa will play England in the other. He says the English are looking like the favourites so the boys are taking each game as it comes.

More updates to follow as they come to hand.