Rugby

 

 

We have had another very successful season in 2011.
Some highlights from the playing season include the stellar season by the 1st XV, the unbeaten seasons by the U15A, 4A and 7A teams, the six teams that qualified for finals and the 14 of 19 teams that qualified for semi-finals.

These successes deserve acknowledgement to all of the players, parents, teacher coaches, parent coaches and other volunteers. With the continued and active support of all of you, we have been able to experience all that rugby has to offer. Thank you!

Rugby playing strength and results

There were 17 teams registered to play in competitions run by the ASSRU – the same as last year. We also had U12 and U13 teams that competed under the Marist banner in Auckland club competition. Registered player numbers were 404 versus 453 last year. We found coaches for all of our teams.

Of our 17 senior school teams, the 1st XV qualified first after its unbeaten round robin season and made the semi-finals for the first time in 15 years. Of the other senior teams, 11 made a semi-final of some description (12 last year), six advanced to a final (eight last year), and four won the final (five wins and one shared championship last year). Results wise we have done very well again. Our grade rugby once again has continued to provide a benchmark for us.

In the open weight category our U14A, U15A and for the first time our U15B sides all qualified for the semi-finals, with the U15A side going through to win its final. This indicates upcoming strength in our senior open weight category, which for me has had a disappointing season, apart from the 2A side, which along with the 1st XV, qualified top of its competition but unfortunately lost its semi-final.

The senior open weight teams are an identified area of weakness for our rugby programme and we intend to address this next year with the establishment of a 2B Rangatahi side made up mainly of younger players with a small group of Year 12 and 13 players to provide leadership and guidance through the season.

Both of our junior school Marist teams made semi-finals in their respective club competitions and for the first time in my memory the U13 restricted team claimed the club championship.

There have also been ongoing improvements in the skill levels of players especially those coming out of the Rugby Institute. My thanks to Mr Dave Dillon and Mr Paul Melloy who continued this year with their more rigorous routines and higher expectations of these players around training and diet.

Following is an excerpt from last year’s report on rugby: “I do not consider myself to have done a satisfactory job until I can say that the Sacred Heart College 1st XV has made the top four and we have 2010’s level of success in the other grades. I don’t want 2010 to be a standout year. I want it to be the norm.”

The first part of that statement has been achieved but I am adamant this year’s achievement is not to be a stand out where the 1st XV is concerned. I want it to be an expectation that we qualify for semi-finals every year, not just for the 1st XV but for all grades we enter a team.

To finish the season we selected U16 and U17 teams to play in tournaments, with the U17 group coming first equal in the Ardmore-Marist tournament. We also put a composite team together to play Tonga U15.

Off the field a highlight has been the establishment of the Sacred Heart Rugby Supporters Club. We have around 60 members of the club and the aftermatch deliberations in the clubrooms have provided an opportunity for a large number of our rugby community to come together and celebrate success at all levels. Long may it continue and I look forward to seeing growth in membership, which will in turn provide financial support for rugby’s growth at SHC. Funds raised through the rugby club are used to support the 1st XV and rugby at other levels.
Mr Milton Ross, Master in Charge of Rugby
Rugby Administrator in Schools - SHC