SPORT
This year’s 1st XV season featured Tyreece Asamoah’s destructive tackling and rucking, Louis Wright’s set-piece accuracy and leadership, and Tom Brearley’s feared ball- carrying, which combined to make an incredibly effective front row unit. Noah Cooper, the line-out general, stole countless opposition throws and led a second row unit of Enzo Croy and Ziyad Elkhawad with distinction. Jack ‘top of the chops’ Ramsay was consistently our most effective defender and the glue of the back row unit. Oludara Odunlami began to really throw some weight into his tackling and carrying, and Haydn Oakley showed true leadership skills with his powerful bursts supplemented by the cannonball impacts of Charlie Depel. Mikel Davies’ influence grows with every game at half-back, led superbly by the outstanding running, kicking and passing game of fly-half Sunni Jardine. Matty O’Flaherty’s silky passing game was an excellent foil to Captain Gleave’s more abrasive approach - a true centre partnership. Femi Sofolarin’s electric bursts and game-changing moments will live long in the memory, as will opposite wing Louis Ferrari’s free-scoring exploits and physical defence. Versatile Luke Castenskiold regularly showed clean heels and excellent handling. Max Bliss completes the back three with his laser-sharp running angles and composure at full-back. The team played far beyond the sum of their parts and came together towards a common purpose under the inspirational leadership of Oscar Gleave. It was a pleasure to have witnessed their remarkable season. Dulwich Rugby also takes great pleasure in saluting and wishing Mr Thomas the very best of luck in his new role at The Leys, Cambridge. His incredible impact on the boys over the last nine years, especially those in the 1st XV, will still be felt for some time to come, and we hope to see him back at Dulwich very soon. Individually, the number of our boys who play representative rugby continues to grow. Femi Sofolarin is our first international cap for a number of years, contributing to Scotland’s U18 Six Nations victory. Femi also represented Great Britain U18 at the Rugby Europe 7s Championship. Sunni Jardine represented Wasps in the culmination of their A league programme. We also have College boys playing with distinction for Saracens, Harlequins, London Irish, Lambs, Scottish Exiles and the County programmes. It would be remiss of me not to say a very heartfelt thank you to all the staff members, team coaches, catering, grounds and facilities staff who help produce such a comprehensive and enjoyable rugby programme for our boys.
These players have shown tremendous character, producing winning performances. Under the careful leadership of Oscar Gleave, the team grew in confidence through the early part of the season, with narrow losses to Wellington and Harrow, matches which could easily have swung in our favour. Sunni Jardine’s penalty with four minutes to go sealed victory away at Epsom College. A comfortable Champions Trophy win against St Paul’s set the tone for a breathless, ding-dong battle versus Brighton College: we won 29-26. Narrow away wins over Eton and Berkhamsted (Cup) saw the team head to St Joseph’s festival with only one objective. Solid performances on the Saturday led to dominant victories over Whitchurch High School, RGS Newcastle and RGS High Wycombe. Sunday morning saw tight and tense successes against Hampton and Denstone, setting up a semi-final versus Brighton College. Dulwich took the early lead but Brighton’s ability to capitalise on mistakes made us pay dearly. Brighton held on for a 12-7 victory and finished the tournament as worthy champions. The half-term break, and the heartache felt at St Joseph’s, seemed to further the team’s resolve and take them to new heights. A laboured performance against local friends, John Fisher, blew out the cobwebs before a Champions Trophy quarter-final away at Bromsgrove. In our most complete performance of the season, a truly magnificent combination of attack and defence, and Dulwich’s never-say-die spirit, saw the team win 37-19. A semi-final away at St John’s Leatherhead had been rightly earned and the boys faced an intimidating atmosphere, with the whole of St John’s school cheering on their team from the side-lines. The Dulwich forward pack set the tempo of the game with their relentless work ethic, whilst the back line picked angles and holes to spring the St John’s defence. Our 24-8 win does not fully reflect what was a hard-fought and close encounter, confirming our place in the final. Wednesday 6 December saw Dulwich take the field against Blundells at Allianz Park in the Champions Trophy final. Tries from our free-scoring wingers Louis Ferrari and Femi Sofolarin saw Dulwich race to an early two-score lead. Blundells replied with two quick scores and led by three, before a classic Dulwich driving maul restored a slender half-time lead over the men from Devon. Two further scores from Ferrari and Gleave widened the gap to 14 points again. However, Blundells were not finished and fought back to get within a score. A Jardine penalty eight minutes from time sealed a nervous and hard-fought 34-29 victory. This was a magnificent achievement, built on the selfless work ethic and character of each boy involved.
James Hanks
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