three halves’ against Dilworth and Rangiora High School on Upper. This provided an opportunity to push for 1st XV selection. The following weekend, the squad of 45 met the John McGlashan College 1st and 2nd teams in Timaru for two very worthwhile warm-up matches. The Miles Toyota Championship season started with a strong showing against Lincoln High School before taking on St Bede’s College in a high-pressure match. St Bede’s College held on for the win after College challenged hard in the last 10 minutes. However, there were encouraging signs, especially up front. The away trip to Ashburton proved to be a ‘try-fest’. It was the first time College had scored 100 points in a match for a very long time. The next week, the improving Timaru Boys’ High School team played with resolve to snatch the win with a late penalty. So, it was a mixed bag of results that led up to the annual fixture against Christchurch Boys’ High School (CBHS) but there was confidence in the way the team was playing. College took an early lead through a Angus Hammett try and two Callum Summerfield conversions before CBHS responded with a try and a penalty. A Sean Rutherford-Bradford try was converted by Summerfield to give College the lead, 18–10, at half-time. Early in the second half, both teams played high-quality rugby. CBHS scored two quick tries to put College behind, 18–24, before
Johnny Lee scored after a charging down a clearing kick. Summerfield’s conversion put College back in front, 25–24. The lead changed, with a CBHS penalty followed by another Hammett try and Summerfield conversion to take College up, 32–27. With the second half nearing its end, CBHS scored a converted try to get back in front, 34–32, before Summerfield had the last word with a calmly struck penalty with minutes to go. In an epic battle, College took the win, 35–34 – its second one-point win in two years. In the next fixture, College had a 48–0 win over Marlborough Boys’ College before a mixture of 1st and 2nd XV players took on Otago Boys’ High School in the traditional midweek fixture. The younger players revelled in their opportunity, running out winners, 26–13. It was
the first win in this fixture since 1999. The next three fixtures against Shirley Boys’ High School, Waimea College and Aoraki Combined resulted in wins as the team headed towards the annual Quadrangular Tournament played on Upper. In the first match against Wellington College, College impressed with a 28–23 win. Nelson College defeated Whanganui Collegiate School, 41–14, to set up a final that doubled as a Miles Toyota Championship match. College took control in the first half, dominating possession to lead 20–3 at half-time. The possession stakes were reversed in the second half, with Nelson responding with three tries to tie the scores, 20–20. College scored a try to get back in front, but Nelson had the final say with a converted try in the dying seconds to take the match, 25–27.
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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