Tough fixtures against three of the best New Zealand rugby nurseries and a holiday development camp have helped build momentum for The Armidale School’s senior rugby teams, which have two important matches in the next five days.
Opens players returned to school early from the winter vacation for some intensive training ahead of matches against fellow GPS outfit St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill on Saturday, and then a visiting side from Wimbledon College, UK, next Tuesday.
Teams from across all age groups will be making the visit to Joeys, a junior rugby powerhouse.
The 16s teams will be hoping to build on their experiences during a rugby tour to New Zealand last week. The A’s team won two of their three games, taking the points against Mt Aspiring College 7-0 and Christchurch Boys High School 16Cs (55-0), while going down to Shirley Boys High School 0-12.
The B side improved with every match against the same schools, progressing from an 0-35 loss against Mt Aspiring College to a 14-35 result to CBHS, before finishing their tour with a hard-fought 19-19 draw against Shirley BHS. No doubt a training session with world-class coaches from the Crusaders, was an inspiration to all the TAS players.
“Their growth in confidence every time they played translated into a greater sense of purpose and trust in each other, and the boys are match-ready and looking forward to playing St Joseph’s this weekend, and the season ahead,” MIC Rugby Will Caldwell said.
Mr Caldwell thanked the TAS coaches and parents for their support of the annual tour, which also allowed them some recreation time exploring skiing and jet-boating in a country renown for a sense of adventure.
“It is their sacrifices that make these amazing experiences possible,” he said.
