The Armidale School’s First XV has finished in second place on the AAGPS Third Grade competition, following a close 11-10 win over The King’s School on Saturday (12 August).
Coach Alan Jones said the team showed enormous character in their final outing of the GPS season and was a deserved win to the defending premiers which suffered just one defeat, to St Joseph’s College 24-12 the week before.
“Just as the score of the Joeys game belies how close that match really was, the TAS boys were significantly stronger on Saturday than the King’s points would attest. We couldn’t finish off certain phases of play and there were some uncharacteristic lapses in ball handling, but that can also be put down to four consecutive weekends of travelling to Sydney for matches, and also amidst the HSC trials for our Year 12 boys,” he said.
The heart and spirit displayed was a hallmark of the TAS team said Jones, who uncomplainingly accepted their lot travelling long distances and sleeping on the floor of school gymnasiums for five away fixtures. “Their efforts showing an enormous amount of character and to be runners up against a quality St Joseph’s side, is no mean feat.”
While Saturday’s game was the final one of the GPS competition, the team will re-group for a fixture against Toowoomba’s Downlands College at TAS on 2 September, with many also expected to take to the field the following week against Scots PGC in a special exhibition match for TAS Reunion Weekend before a large home crowd.
