IAPS Small Schools Tournament

7 a side Rugby , Sunday 15th March 2009
 IAPS National Small Schools  Tournament held at Oundle School

With the Tournament being for Schools with less than 50 boys in years 7 & 8 and a weight limit of 9 and a half stones. The squad travelled with optimism. In the first group match S.Anselm's faced Castle Court from Dorset and took the lead within the first minute , two further tries followed in quick succession with some good handling and running lines, at half time a 17-0 lead. However, in the second half S.Anselm's took their foot off the pedal and allowed Castle Court back into the match conceding an unconverted try, our pattern of play was re established and a ,further try scored earning an important bonus point, the final score line was 24-5 which should have been more but for careless handling errors. Our next group match was against All Hallows from Somerset again S.Anselm's scored an early try, but then failed to keep their shape and conceded two converted tries to trail 14-5 at half time. After some stern words from the coach at half time, the S.Anselm's players woke up and snatched victory from the jaws of defeat recording a 19-14 win. Then the deciding group match against Pinewood from Wiltshire who had also won their opening two matches. S.Anselm's soon conceded an early unconverted try but then took the lead with a converted try. Pinewood re established their supremacy and went into half time leading 12-7. S.Anselm's showed their fighting qualities and scored an unconverted try to tie the scores, S.Anselm's had two chances to take the lead but poor handling saw the ball dropped and from one of these Pinewood ran the length of the pitch to score. Despite exerting pressure on the Pinewood line S.Anselm's were not able to get an equalizing try. So S.Anselm's finished their group in second place and qualified for the plate competition as joint 8th best team on the day.
In the plate quarter final by chance we played All Hallows again who qualified in 15th position. Some sloppy tackling saw All Hallows establish a lead and with seconds to go the score line was 12-7 in favour of All Hallows only for S.Anselm's to put in one final effort to score under the posts and record a 14-12 victory on the final whistle. The S.Anselm's players by this time were getting very weary and met St Peters from Devon in the plate semi final, the opposition had 'two flyers' who ripped through some weak tackling and it was one way traffic although some pride was restored with a consolation try the final score being a 34-5 loss. The boys had given their all and the coach could not have expected any better. I have not mentioned any individuals purposely as the whole squad performed to the best of their abilities and showed the true S.Anselm's spirit, Tom B, Charlie T, James C, William S, Ben D, John B, Rory P, George M

MAC