RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
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3 September
The season has come to an end here at school with most players having thrown their gear in the corner - probably for mum to retrieve and restore for the future! There are still a few involved with Rep teams and we wish them the best in their games and tournaments.
The Under 15 Blues have been attending their tournament in Christchurch and have found the going very hard. Hopefully we will some sort of a wrap-up on their week when they return. Regardless of the end result I am sure all the players will have benefited from the experience and will be more aware of the standards they need to achieve if they aspire to reach the highest levels. With the conclusion of the season it is also time to review the existence of this site. Since it began a number of years ago the cost has increased to a point where we doubt it is worth running it as a seperate entity - when in fact it is only really of value during the period April through August. At present we are looking at the possibilty of appending it to the School website - although probably in a reduced form. Further information later as we decide on its fate. In the meantime thanks to those who have checked in and I hope it has been of some value. Cheers. PS. I will continue updating as long as I get information of interest, or our web plan is valid.
The Metro U16 Squad has been named and includes Troy Callender, Josh Casey, Hayden Cleghorn, Sam Ellis, Kyrin Gourley, Tyler Helm, Ben Hardy, William Holdem, Michael Keenan, Ben Miller, Josh Renton, Makisua Tanuvasa, Jacob Viggo and Cameron Watts. These players will be competing for places in the U16 Tournament team. Congratulations and good luck to you all. Five finals and two banners. Perhaps not quite the results hoped for but still a successfull conclusion to another season for the club. Congratulations to the Under 16 Blues for their win against Waitaki Boys' High School U16 and to the U14 Blues who fought out another cliff hanger against Kings High School Panthers winning 10-5. These two teams played each other on two previous occasions this season for 17-12 and 12-5 results - an indication of the competitiveness at this level. Congratulations to the two Banner winning teams for their efforts, but to all of our other teams also - you have represented your school and yourselves with credit. Some photos of the finals day matches and teams played at Kensington Oval can be found at Finals Day FINALS DAY. We have 5 teams involved today - 1st XV in Invercargill; Colts, U16 Blue and U14 Blue teams at Kensington Oval and the U13 Blue team on Carisbrook. We wish all teams luck and hope they can continue the to build on the fine record they have built during the season. Sadly we note the death of Don Harley earlier this week. Don was an Old Boy who went on to play for Otago. He is remembered in the School Rugby Club through the Harley-Taylor Trophy - contested between Otago Boys' and Kings High Schools. The trophy was at stake for the first time this year and Don was present to see an evenly contested match with School becoming the first holders. We pass on our condolences to the family. 18 August The 2010 U15 Tournament team is: Good luck to the team who will be playing in Christchurch from August 29 through September 3. 14 August New photos added to U13 Blue (v Taieri), U15 Blue (v U16 Blue), 1st XV (v Gore High School) 9 August Ox tales? Not really - Ox has plenty of his own tales to tell so you will have to ask him about them. Neill Baker (aka Ox) is calling it a day at O.B.H.S at the end of this year so this will be his final season as Master in Charge of Rugby. It would be hard. Perhaps impossible, to find a more dedicated supporter of rugby at School. Neill is an old boy, starting at O.B.H.S. in 1959. He was a member of the 1st XV in 1963, 64 and left school to attend Otago University. He was back at school in 1971 as a teacher for a year before doing his O.E. and returning full-time in 1976 In 1979, he was instrumental, with a few others, in setting up the National U15 Invitational Rugby Tournament - a format that saw eight regular participant schools taking turns in hosting the tournament in their home area. Eight local teams were invited to join the tournament and they in turn helped provide the billets. Neill took teams to these tournaments through until 1984 while also organising the 1983 tournament which was hosted by O.B.H.S. Although we have only ever won it once this tournament has proved a valuable pathway for our players into the 1st and 2nd XV's over the years. Neill coached the 1st XV during the period 1984-89 (incl) with Des Smith. 1989 was a pinnacle year for the team and the School, being the first time all six interschool fixtures were won in the same season. During this time Neill was an Otago U16 coach, South Island U16 selector/coach, Otago Secondary Schools coach and N.Z. Secondary Schools selector and selector/coach of the Otago Colts team. From 1990 til the present he has been Master in Charge of Rugby. His season begins with rugby registrations, selecting trial teams for the various grades, organising the trials and liasing with the coaches to ensure the make-up of teams is relatively even. Recruitment of coaches has always been a challenge but in recent years has become more difficult as less staff members have been actively involved. Neill has developed a very good relationship with the Otago Sports Academy who have provided coaches for many of our junior teams. With outside coaches it is not always practical for them to hold team meetings prior to the game on Saturday - just another role that Neill plays - in ensuring all teams have a full team and know where and when they are playing. Saturday is 'game' day and Neill regularly follows as many teams as possible beginning at 10-00 with the U13 Blues and, more often than not, ending with the 1st XV later in the afternoon. With the widening of the schools competition to include North, South and Central Otago teams, our boys travel frequently to places such as Wanaka, Cromwell, Oamaru or Balclutha and Neill is always on hand when buses leave the Archway at 8-00am - making a long day even longer! Oh, and who ensures each team has practice and match balls, checks the draw and ensures the teams are getting a fair go, runs the Parents Committee, organises buses to and from practices and out of town games, attends judicial meetings, attends the Secondary School Rugby meetings and puts out the pads and flags on Littlebourne, revs up players, encourages coaches and still manages to find time to teach!!! Ox does. And that's does not even list all the players he has mentored and coached to high levels in Otago and New Zealand rugby. O.B.H.S. has had many staff members who have served well in a whole variety of fields over the years but Neill has to rank with the very best of them. 9 August The 1st XV survived the cold and the Kings' High School attack to win their match by 22 points to 6. A win against Gore High School next week should ensure them a place in the final. The Colts team have been enjoying a run of success and have dropped only one match of the eleven played. An impressive win against a strong Cromwell team at the weekend continued their winning momentum. Other teams with a real chance of making the final play-offs are the 1st XV, U16 Blues, U14 Blues and U13 Blues. 5 August The success of the 1st XV's season could well rest on the result of Saturdays game against Kings High School. It has been a week where the team spirit has been tested to the limit, with a trip to Invercargill to play against Southland Boys on Saturday, and then back on the bus on Monday for a trip to Christchurch - both trips being in vain. Can they bounce back with a win and ensure a high placing in the top 4 section of the Highlanders 1st XV Competition? Littlebourne, 1-00pm, Saturday will be the proving ground.Bottom of Form 24 August
23 August
22 August
If any parent or supporter has photos you are welcome to forward them to me for inclusion.21 August
20 August
Byron Aitken, Morgan Bartlett, Sam Bull, Josh Carrodus, Josh Dawson, Chris Dickie, Adam Driver, Matt Ellis, Alex Faulkner, Tom Frood, Jacob Hamer, Adam Hollander-Dunn, Cameron Mackie, Chris Maunsell, Zac McGregor, Chris McNoe,Tim Medder, Corey Miller, Jamie Mowat, Ben Taiawa, Jesse Te Maihoroa, Kristian Tekie, Nic Tipa, Michael Williams, Michael Walker.