Under 8s
Coach: Trisha Abbott
1st May - Souths/Vikings 40 v Old Collegians 30
Under 11s
Coaches: Tara Naige & Tony Collett
Manager: Duncan Armstrong
August
The past few weeks have shown a vast improvement from a very talented group of young rugby players. A few outstanding games, particularly against Brighton, Vikings and Souths, have shown how much these boys and girls have improved over the season. The support play and effort of the whole team has been fantastic all season, but everyone seems to have picked up in the last round.
Performances by the hooker Stewie Nutt, 5/8 Chris Russell, centre Paddy Macklin, fullback Darren Pinkerton, flanker/lock Terry Wilkinson and No 8 D'Arcy Sadler have consistently impressed. Bryce, Johnno and Nick Chattaway have improved remarkably each game.
One moment which ticks in my mind is the most recent game against Souths. Sam Collett, one of smallest players in the team, received a kick at full back and chose to chip & chase rather than get smashed. The biggest kid from Souths caught the ball, and Sam picked him up and drove him into the ground in the best tackle of the year! This resulted in a turnover and a subsequent try, thanks to the excellent support work by the rest of the team.
We lost that game, but good rugby like that made me the proudest coach in history!
1st May - Souths 7 v Old Colls 0
Souths did not have an U10 team, so combined their U11s with the U10s. After discussion with Old Colls and some waiting, the game started and ended up being half a regular game. All Old Colls players played extremely well and saw some very good tackles on the opposition.
Under 13s
Coaches: Danny McCartan & Mark Gill
Manager: Philip Norris
3rd July 2004
Next time for sure. In probably the toughest game we've played yet we missed out but conceded only 2 tries to Onkaparinga the competition's benchmark team....a team like ourselves that invariably scores at least 5-6 tries a game against the rest of the competition. In the face of much larger opposition neither our forwards or backs took a backward step. But for a decision here or a lucky bounce there the game could have been very different. The second half was particularly rugged and we had to use all of our reserves...not to give everyone a run, players were just knocking themselves out on the opposition and had to be replaced.
In the end we lost the game but gained an awful lot of experience which will stand us in good stead for the next time we meet.
Final score: Onkaparinga 12, Old Collegians 0.
26th June 2004
Slightly better weather but same grim determination from the team...except for the first 3 minutes when we allowed a large, fast Vikings player to run untouched for a surprise try which was then converted. "A wake up call" said the coach. After the shock the team got down to business and ended up running in some 6 try's to Viking's 2 (yes they scored again!).
Overall the team played very well and there were some patches where there was a lot more passing than usual....players not simply dying with the ball when there are players in open spaces ready to keep the runs going.
Final score Old Colls 32, Vikings 12.
1st May - Souths 7 v Old Colls 29
(George, Guy, Liam 1 try each, Matt 2 trys, Liam 2 conversions).
All of our players had very good first games of the season. Forwards rucked, mauled and backed up at least as well as they had last year. Our backs were largely new players who all played extremely....James and Guy ran and tackled extremely aggressively, and Harry at half back didn't make a mistake all day. Other new players included Nick Harrington, Jack de Caux, and Greg Churcher who all performed well even though they didn't get as much game time as they'd hoped.
With quite a few new players it took the team until well into the first half to score the first try. After some robust build up work by the forwards followed by a 5 metre penalty George scored the first ("hand of God") try. Shortly afterwards Liam broke through on the far side of the field to send a perfectly timed pass to Matt who, as usual, was moving too fast along the side line for the opposition to lay a hand on him. So at half time we lead by 10 to 7.
The second half saw the team get into second gear and very quickly to see Liam once again work his way through the entire forward pack to score, and then for Matt to outpace the opposition to score out wide. Guy then scared the coach to death, and put the final result out of question with a one handed touch down after a good piece of straight running.
Under 15s
Coaches: Dean Bradley, Ryan Nielson, James Bradley, Daniel Boughtwood
Managers : Doug Mein & Ben Rokobaro
1st May - South/Vikings 5 v Old Colls 10
With a large list to choose we fielded a team of experience players and some first gamers. The game started brightly with the forwards/backs interplay we came to expect last year. Rowan Mein scored the first try of the match, breaking through the Souths defence at the 22 from inside centre. Bulla kicked well, but failed to convert. Several try scoring opportunities then came and went. The second half became a mauling war as fitness and match practice (err lack off) started to tell. Only our better individual defensive skills stopped the game getting away from us. Will Sadler scored from a typically incisive run leaving OC's to win at 10 - 0.
Best players were Jack Campion and James Marshall who both worked vigorously in the front line all match.
Under 17s
Coaches: Terry Richards & Jeremy Thewlis
Manager: Geoff Lucas
Old Colls 5 v Vikings 12
A tough game for all concerned with 3 of the team playing state and 2 with injuries we knew we had a big challenge ahead. We were able to gain a new 2nd rower in DJ Castine who spent a fair time trying hard but was dazed by an after play tackle in the last 20 minutes. Jem Shimmield and Rory Shepperd although not largest on the field were a great demonstration of what shear guts and talent can produce. Guy Barrett played well being for the first time in No 8 but the Vikings showed the Old Col's under 17 what team work and a will to win can do. Unfortunately Edward Ellis Flint took a hard tackle and was injured and probably miss 2 or 3 games. Hope he get back on his feet quickly.
We need to get out on the practice field more and the rewards will be there. A hard fought game but the better team won on the day.
14th August
Great to get out of the mud and play Souths/Vikings at the lovely, grassy Gleneagles Park. In what turned out to be a scrappy game we established our dominance in the first half with 5 tries to 1. Kicking was tricky into a stiff breeze and conversions proved elusive. Second half honours were even with a converted try each, though in fairness we dominated the game and should have been able to reflect this on the score board. The final score was OC's 27 - Souths 14.
Best on the day were Philip Gold and Jamie Foster.
7th August
Back to winning ways! Old Colls U15's demolished Burnside at Tregenza with a powerful 36 - 10 display. With Burnside short on numbers and the teams reduced to 13 a side our Eastside rivals had no answer to our ball movement and fast running back line.
Two tries to Alex, singles to Ed Lucas, Will Mc, Will S and Kabil. Two conversions by Will Mc and one from Jack Maclin.
31st July
It was back to back Brighton (this time Blacks) and back to back losses. This was a close game, and though under pressure the first half score line of 7 all left the game wide open. Not a lot different in the second half - a try scored by each. Sadly Ro Mein could not convert from out wide and the game finished 12 - 14 in favour of the Blacks. No disgrace here, with the pack standing up manfully to the much larger Brighton forwards and plenty of endeavour shown by all 22 players.
Tries to Alex (con Will Mc) and Kabil. Top performances by Tom Nothcott, Nick Walker and Ed Lucas.
24th July
All good things come to an end they say, and so it was when we clashed with Brighton Gold in this round. Coming off the break we were not sharp enough to truly challenge this well organised outfit. In a wet, greasy conditions at Brighton over use of the kicking game simply turned over the ball too many times. Down 12 - 5 at half time there was a chance. But the second half ended scoreless and with the first defeat of the season.
A good try to Jamie Foster, with Andrew Bradley, Jack Campion and Tom Northcott as the standout performers.
3rd July
The winning run continues for the U15 with a romping 45 - 12 victory over Onkaparinga at Tragenza. An early try and conversion from Full Back Will McCullough set the tone. First half tries also to Alex Rokobaro and a storming Robbie Bell sent Old Colls to the break 19 - 12 up. Jamie Foster scored the best (well most spectacular) diving try of the season so far for his first of the year. With two tries to Ro Mein and one more for Will Mc and conversions by Ro, Alex and Will Sadler, O.C's played a stunning 26 - 0 second half.
Best players Will Mc and Ed Lucas.
26th June
At home to a formidable Brighton Black U15's shaped up as a good contest. And in a game played with short periods of intensity and long ones of pure grind OC's shut out Black with two tries (Will Mc and Ed Lucas) in the first half through better ball use. Although the Brighton boys gave their best they could not break down OC's defence and when Kabil scored on the end of a 30 m running break by centre Rowan Mein the game was ours, 17-0.
Best players Alex, Jamie Foster, Ed Lucas, and a brave Chris Chattaway.
19th June
On the first cold day of the season the U15's played Burnside at Parkinson. With a threatening sky above and a boggy pitch beneath a good tussle resulted in another solid win. In 12 - 7 at the half thanks to tries from Kabil (conversion by Rowan) and Robbie, the second half finished 17 all. Alex Rokobaro scored an excellent hat trick in the second half (one converted by RM). So, a close 29 - 24 win over our Eastside rivals.
Best players Jack Campion, Will Sadler, Alex, Will Mc and Nick Walker.
5th June
A hard fought first half had the U15's 7-5 down against a hard working and determined Souths/Viking side. Souths/Vikings continued to dominate in the second half putting on three converted tries to one try. Then, in a quite remarkable burst on totally committed play OC's run in 4 tries, converting 3 of them, in the last few minutes of the game to run out 36-28 winners, leaving the home crowded gasping at the spectacle. Two tries a piece to Kabil and Will Sadler, singles to Rowan Mein and Robbie Bell. Rowan kicked three conversions.
Best players Vince, Jason, James Marshall, Rowan Mein, Robbie Bell and Will Sadler.
29th May
After three excellent wins OC U15's faced Brighton Gold at Port Adelaide. Last season this side proved a tough challenge and a spirited contest was expected. We used the strong breeze well in the first half to apply real pressure and when in 12-5 at the half with tries from Kabil and Rowan, and one conversion from Will Mc. Brighton evened up shortly after the break and it was game on. Rocket man Kabil run in two more tries for his hat trick and although out scored in the second half 12 to 10 the result was an excellent 22 - 17 victory.
Best players Alex, James Marshall, Vince, Andrew, Will Mc, Will S and Rowan.
22nd May
On a bright sunny day in the Southern Vales OC U15 faced the first big test of the season so far - away to Onkas. In a first half played at pace OC's set the pattern with excellent ball movement and outstanding foot speed to lead 19 - 5 at half-time thanks to two tries to Alex, one to Kabil and two conversions by Fullback Will McCullough. The second half was tighter with both sides scoring two unconverted tries. This time Robbie Bell and Ed Lucas the scorers. The final result was a well deserved 29 - 15 win.
Best Players Vince Donohoe, Robbie Bell and Alex.
1st May - Elizabeth 5 v Old Colls 32
Scorers: Tom Sutherland, Oliver Greenwell, Andrew Giles and Reuben Boughtwood.
The game started strongly with Old Colls leading from the start. The team initially used forwards well to enable use of the backs to score. Tom Sutherland scored an excellent try with Andrew Giles again showing his natural ability.
