Eric’s Blog

On Sunday the 23rd of may 2008, 12 of Te Awamutu Sports 13th grade boys set out for Ngrawahia, for 10 a side tournament.

We arrived and set up tent with the 11th grade and waited for our 1st game to arrive. It was 20 minutes before our game before we started warming up. After Dad ( the stand in coach for the day, also the only referee from Te Awamutu there) had lead us through some stretches (and push ups!) We headed to the field for a team run in the positions we were about to embark the field in. At first it was bit strange in the team run because there were only allowed to be 5 men in the scrum ( which meant the would be no flankers or no.8) and there was no pushing. Being 10 aside rugby it was also hard for the backs as you could only have 5 , so you would have to miss out some vital positions.

It was 5 minutes before our game and we all came into a huddle, after a few encouraging words from our manager (as Dad had already left to do his first game) it was my turn as captain to give the boys a rev up getting them ready for the game a head. We headed on strong headed but we didn’t play at our best and it showed with them running in seven or so tries and managing to keep us from their line despite a awesome break from rewieti. Final score 35-0 to Eastern Suburbs.

We sadly trudged back sadly thinking bout what we had done wrong. It wasn’t all bad as we could still win the plate division (2nd division) but we would have to win our next game ( against a team that had also lost their first game).

It was set we were to play Ngrawahia and we wpuld have to beat them if we wanted to get a decent placing. Twenty minutes before the game we started warming up once more. It was time… the decider was here, both teams needed a win to carry on the competition and only one could. I lead the boys out onto the field, with a high sense of desperateness in the air (for both teams). Our game had certainly stepped up a few notches since Eastern Suburbs but it still wasn’t enough to stop them from scoring their first try from a slack moment of defense. 5-0 the score at half time and all the T.A.S. boys knew we could still win this. Our game was at its best ever in the second half with courtesy of Justin ( our wingers) massive 3/4 of the field run we managed to score our first try but this just made Ngrawahia step up their game to the next step also allowing them to score a sneaky try. I think all our hearts sank when we heard the full time whistle blow. A yell of cheers came from the Ngrawahi side of field. We huddled up with less sense of disappointment after our manager had said four words to us ” you tried your hardest”. Shaking the other teams hand was great knowing for once we had just had a close game.

The day was over for us (well at least we thought so) and most of us left except me and the coach and the people who came with me and Dad. Then all of a sudden we found out we had a consolation game to play (against Hamilton Marist) but we only had five people so we had to forfeit. luckily the other team didn’t show either so it was counted as a draw.

The final whistle blew in my Dads final game and it was time to go. Even though we had lost all our games it was still a fun jam packed day of rugby and we got to see some of the teams we had not yet played, also to eye them up for our 15 aside game against them.

Oh yeah, I’m talking bout rugby if you do not already know

On Tuesday the 13th of May, 14 young but talented boys left T.A.I. for gallaway park, for the boys inter intermediate soccer. We departed school at 8:40am and arrived at gallaway park (in Hamilton) by 9:00 and eyed up the competition. Our first game came around fast. we kicked off at 9:45 against peach-grove. this was a very tight game ball going from end of the field to the other. In the end the final score was 5-0 to them. We trudged back to our station that we had set up and had a little bit to eat. After an hour of a mini soccer game it was time for our next game. This game was against Mairoa. This team was a lot easier than Peach-grove and we came away with the win 3-0. With smiles on our faces we headed back to our station for a well deserved drink and something to eat. We geared up for our final game. This was set to be hard hard game against Fairfield because both teams needed a win to get into the final. In the it was a disappointment for us with them beating us 4-0. The day was over for us so we packed up and headed back to school. We arrived back at school mostly grins on our faces even though we had lost because we gave it our all.

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