The Rugby results from the Cape Schools Week held over the June holidays at SACS attest to the new regime of skills and resistance training that is proving to be a valuable foundation for all our rugby players. The commitment of the 1st and 2nd XV squads to sometimes seven sessions per week of training, including weights and speed/endurance sessions, is setting a strong example for the rest of the School.
The results also point to some success from our planned program to build, from the junior sides up, the participation rates, skills and strength of rugby at Rondebosch Boys’ High School.
The coordinated, three-sessions-a-week coaching program for all 14s to senior teams is well under way for this season and we now have 10 old boys regularly coaching our junior and senior rugby teams.
The Rondebosch Boys’ High School 1st XV v Grey 1st XV matches has traditionally been a close, hard fought encounter.
This year was no exception with the teams going tackle for tackle. Grey High preventing a Cape Schools clean sweep at the opening of the Cape Schools Week. Rondebosch as always responded well to the physicality of the game. Scores were locked at 12-all and then 17-all. With two minutes to go 21-20, Grey then broke through the midfield and scored to take the match to 27 – 21. Lock-forward Louw Naude adjudicated ‘Man of the Match’.
In the second match of the festival Selbourne threw everything at our side.
The Selbourne forwards were relentless in the rucks and in defence. Our back line attempted to penetrated for the whole match, demonstrating enhanced skill levels and fitness, but devilish tackling stopped us from scoring. Scott van Breda had his kicking boots on and slotted all the points for the match whenever a penalty was awarded in Selbourne’s 22m. At the final siren, the 1st XV was stormed from the sidelines by the 200 strong Bosch supporters, celebrating a hard earned 15-8 win. Scott van Breda selected as ‘Man of the Match’.
The final game for the festival was against Muir College. With numerous players away on holiday and slight niggles, the team called up one or two second, third and under 16 players. Urged on by Steven Wallace, stand-in captain and ‘Man of the Match’, the palpable high spirit and a relentless drive to not give up, our boys responded with a convincing win by mauling in 7 tries to take and keep the victory 39-09.
My thanks must go out to the players who have sacrificed all their holidays, public holiday’s and weekends for the glory of Rondebosch rugby. The two weeks off will do load to replenish the batteries and I encourage our parents and players to spend time together as a family.
The seriousness with which our rugby is taken can be seen by the advanced training equipment being erected at school. Firstly a tackling machine, the first of its kind in the country has just been completed and will soon be in use. With the new changes in rules and regulations in the tackle, we want to be at the leading edge of training technology, the apparatus will train youngsters how to tackle correctly and remain on their feet, and drive the opposition backwards, thus giving away fewer penalties.
Secondly, we have a new tackling bag which holds a ball for coaching players to the ball on the ground and how to capture space when counter-rucking is already in use by some of the teams.
Rondebosch will once again be defending their winner’s trophy at the Villagers’ 7’s tournament, along with a definite plan to succeed at the Hamilton’s 7’s. Training has begun under the watchful eye of Mike v Rheede and Bob MacFarlane, and strategist Tom Dawson-Squibb.
Showing posts with label rondebosch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label rondebosch. Show all posts
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Beginning
The Beginning
Firstly, this month is a large month of ‘thankyou’s; to the Bosch Rugby Supporters Club and the Boland Old Boys for giving us the opportunity that the training camp afforded the team to develop and grow.
There were some great lectures, work and effort made by the players, coaches, management, support staff and supporters of Rondebosch rugby, thank you! The camp site at Turner’s (E94) Bontebok Ridge was the perfect setting for a team get-a-away.
Training rugby line-outs and performing backline moves whilst the Bontebok looked on seemed odd, yet relaxing. Meal time was a learning process on its own, with the teams having to cook for forty people on military style cookers (fun was the name of the game around supper time). The tents were only used to store the older generation and kit as the team slept under the stars, until it rained.
Secondly, ‘Thanks’ to staff who during the weekend gave the team lectures on various topics; on nutrition - Tarryn Povey, Backline moves - Gareth Wright, Forward play – Robbie Kempson, mental health and goals – Thomas Dawson-Squibb, motivation – Andrew Louwrens and rugby related skills, myself.
1st XV
The 1st XV had a disappointing start to the season with a loss 10-0 against Paul Roos in the Canal Walk Newlands Rugby Day. The 40 minute match played at Newlands under lights offered the coaches the chance at seeing the players in their positions and playing under pressure. The warm up game came just before the Easter break, before the training camp and the King Edwards VII Rugby Festival.
An excellent run of game strategy, planning and player management at the King Edward VII Rugby Festival saw the team climbing the confidence table and start thinking about winning each time they took the field.
The games were dotted with some fantastic displays, especially when the chips were down and our players needed to dig real deep into their fitness and concentration levels. All our matches were against high league opposition and the games won seemed lost in the first half and yet easy in the second. Our play never started off comfortably or to the pre-game plans, only after harsh or stern words at half-time did the team play their normal play.
All in all Rondebosch has some excellent players with the player of the tournament for myself being the captain Chad Matthews, followed by a number of polished performances by Louw NAude, Michael Aristidou, Jamie Croeser and Matthew Foster to name but a few. A lack of experience and depth in the tight five meant that a number of players were shifted each game and taught how to handle these new positions to carry us through the festival. Hopefully this problem has been solved and the best five will now start each game.
The final scores being a win against Westville Boys’ High School 18-15, a narrow loss to KEZ in the dying seconds of the game 24-15, and a well earned win against Pretoria Boys’ High School 22-18.
A huge thank you must be sent to the Headmaster, parents, old boys and staff that attended the festival and supported our efforts.
U15 Paarl Boys Festival
Coaches and players worked as hard as they could to have a team ready for the Paarl Boys Festival. The final results and competition helping the team prepare for the season ahead. The team played against tough opposition and narrowly lost two matches namely, Menlow Park 10-0, Jeppe Boys’ High 14-13 and finally drew against Swartkops from Pretoria 0-0. Thanks to the parents and coaches who gave up their holidays for the benefit of rugby at Rondebosch.
The Way forward
Player moral is high and training on the whole was enjoyable and light on our return from the festival, a number of factors came into play here however competition for places is great hence the feeling that they need to train is that great. The school is lucky to have the top four senior teams almost on par with each other in skills and game readiness, something that might’ve lacked before.
Thankfully we were able to put a team together without many injuries for the Paarl Gim match. The hush that settled across the fields in Paarl last Saturday gave the distinct feeling that not all the games were going the hosts’ way. I must congratulate all the teams for fine performances. The 1st Xv half time score of 3-3 had the opposition reeling, The teams, some narrowly missing out on wins, mostly in the dying seconds of the matches. A tough day in the field but fabulous skills show by several players. Our brand of rugby worked on by all the coaches seems to be working. A feather in the 1st XV’s cap was the decision by Paarl Gim not to scrum against our pack but rather take uncontested scrums, the final score being 13-6. One of the closest scores in the last ten years. This being the second school in just a few matches to crumble under our front row, well done coaches and players.
The u14A rugby team received an unexpected surprise as the 1stXV gave each of the players a token rugby ball before their first match, as Captain to Captain traditions are passed down.
Finally, it was a pleasure to have Springbok Seven’s coach Paul Trau drop by training this week to watch and offer advice to all our coaches. His presence and gentle manner in assisting was of great value to all, ‘thank you’ for your time.
The management and coaches wish all the teams participating in the Wynberg High School Festival the best of luck... Proudly pursuing perfection.
Firstly, this month is a large month of ‘thankyou’s; to the Bosch Rugby Supporters Club and the Boland Old Boys for giving us the opportunity that the training camp afforded the team to develop and grow.
There were some great lectures, work and effort made by the players, coaches, management, support staff and supporters of Rondebosch rugby, thank you! The camp site at Turner’s (E94) Bontebok Ridge was the perfect setting for a team get-a-away.
Training rugby line-outs and performing backline moves whilst the Bontebok looked on seemed odd, yet relaxing. Meal time was a learning process on its own, with the teams having to cook for forty people on military style cookers (fun was the name of the game around supper time). The tents were only used to store the older generation and kit as the team slept under the stars, until it rained.
Secondly, ‘Thanks’ to staff who during the weekend gave the team lectures on various topics; on nutrition - Tarryn Povey, Backline moves - Gareth Wright, Forward play – Robbie Kempson, mental health and goals – Thomas Dawson-Squibb, motivation – Andrew Louwrens and rugby related skills, myself.
1st XV
The 1st XV had a disappointing start to the season with a loss 10-0 against Paul Roos in the Canal Walk Newlands Rugby Day. The 40 minute match played at Newlands under lights offered the coaches the chance at seeing the players in their positions and playing under pressure. The warm up game came just before the Easter break, before the training camp and the King Edwards VII Rugby Festival.
An excellent run of game strategy, planning and player management at the King Edward VII Rugby Festival saw the team climbing the confidence table and start thinking about winning each time they took the field.
The games were dotted with some fantastic displays, especially when the chips were down and our players needed to dig real deep into their fitness and concentration levels. All our matches were against high league opposition and the games won seemed lost in the first half and yet easy in the second. Our play never started off comfortably or to the pre-game plans, only after harsh or stern words at half-time did the team play their normal play.
All in all Rondebosch has some excellent players with the player of the tournament for myself being the captain Chad Matthews, followed by a number of polished performances by Louw NAude, Michael Aristidou, Jamie Croeser and Matthew Foster to name but a few. A lack of experience and depth in the tight five meant that a number of players were shifted each game and taught how to handle these new positions to carry us through the festival. Hopefully this problem has been solved and the best five will now start each game.
The final scores being a win against Westville Boys’ High School 18-15, a narrow loss to KEZ in the dying seconds of the game 24-15, and a well earned win against Pretoria Boys’ High School 22-18.
A huge thank you must be sent to the Headmaster, parents, old boys and staff that attended the festival and supported our efforts.
U15 Paarl Boys Festival
Coaches and players worked as hard as they could to have a team ready for the Paarl Boys Festival. The final results and competition helping the team prepare for the season ahead. The team played against tough opposition and narrowly lost two matches namely, Menlow Park 10-0, Jeppe Boys’ High 14-13 and finally drew against Swartkops from Pretoria 0-0. Thanks to the parents and coaches who gave up their holidays for the benefit of rugby at Rondebosch.
The Way forward
Player moral is high and training on the whole was enjoyable and light on our return from the festival, a number of factors came into play here however competition for places is great hence the feeling that they need to train is that great. The school is lucky to have the top four senior teams almost on par with each other in skills and game readiness, something that might’ve lacked before.
Thankfully we were able to put a team together without many injuries for the Paarl Gim match. The hush that settled across the fields in Paarl last Saturday gave the distinct feeling that not all the games were going the hosts’ way. I must congratulate all the teams for fine performances. The 1st Xv half time score of 3-3 had the opposition reeling, The teams, some narrowly missing out on wins, mostly in the dying seconds of the matches. A tough day in the field but fabulous skills show by several players. Our brand of rugby worked on by all the coaches seems to be working. A feather in the 1st XV’s cap was the decision by Paarl Gim not to scrum against our pack but rather take uncontested scrums, the final score being 13-6. One of the closest scores in the last ten years. This being the second school in just a few matches to crumble under our front row, well done coaches and players.
The u14A rugby team received an unexpected surprise as the 1stXV gave each of the players a token rugby ball before their first match, as Captain to Captain traditions are passed down.
Finally, it was a pleasure to have Springbok Seven’s coach Paul Trau drop by training this week to watch and offer advice to all our coaches. His presence and gentle manner in assisting was of great value to all, ‘thank you’ for your time.
The management and coaches wish all the teams participating in the Wynberg High School Festival the best of luck... Proudly pursuing perfection.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
