Rugby Union

Game Day

Early breakfast as the rugby fixtures today were both being played in the morning. Again the boys looked immaculate as they boarded the coaches in their ones for the short journey to Pietermartinzburg where Midlands Development Rugby Squad would be there to greet us.

As we arrived at the very impressive rugby ground it was clear that the boys would have to be at their best. Once off the coach and in the ground the lads dropped bags and spread out to throw a couple of balls about and get used to the new surroundings and take in the atmosphere whilst sizing up yet another rapid looking township team. Both teams changed and went through their drills before the ref blew his whistle signalling play was about to begin.

The opposition formed a tunnel for both games to welcome the Bolton players onto the field which came as a bit of a shock but touring is all about new experiences and being clapped on was certainly that.

After two competitive games both played with excellent spirit there were presentations upstairs in the main club house. The teachers gave short speeches thanking their counterparts for two great games. The Bolton School Plaque was presented and ties exchanged by the Captains followed by the Bolton Tour Anthem. The local team then shook hands with all the boys, collected the tour T Shirts and left the boys to enjoy a quick snack before we all departed for the hotel.

The tour up until now has been so hectic that there has been little if no time to chill out and relax. The next 24 hours will be just that R&R time to enjoy the pool take a stroll on the beach catch some sunshine before tomorrows training session at Kings Park Stadium.

Captains Report by Dave Cryer

After a long journey and a lack-lustre training session, we surprisingly started well with an early try from A. Harrison and the forwards. We carried on playing in the forward pack and we persisted to make in-roads. As the half moved on we had failed to make the lead greater. With the sweltering heat and increasing pressure our defence finally broke. The home team scored two quick tries making the score 12-7 at half time. During the break we made a few changes and they certainly made an impact. We battled them all half and with 10 minutes to go Alex Riley crossed the line only to hear the referee say “held up”. Not surprisingly Alex crossed the line again and converted his try; the score was then 14-12 to Bolton. With the seconds counting down and a few mistakes their winger scored with the last play of the game to make it a 17-14 loss. Although the team were disappointed we had played well and thought we maybe deserved the win. We switched off after our last score and paid the ultimate price. We still enjoyed the day and go into our last match looking to make amends for our collective mistake.

2nd Team Report by Peter Jackson

In temperatures reaching 25’c Bolton School’s B team took to the field in the their 3rd tour game at the Woodburn Stadium near Durban. The side started well with forwards making good inroads into the Midlands Development Squads (MDS) defence. Matthew Birch all was awesome in attack and defence making it difficult for MDS to find any rhythm. Early forward pressure and some very good rucking saw Alistair Harrison crash over from close range. Davis Cryer converted to make the score 7-0.

However this was as good as it got in the first half for Bolton School. Several mistakes and poor decision making allowed the fast MDS backs to make the most of bad ball an they were able to slice us open us open on two occasions making the score 12-7 at half time.

Half time gave us a welcome break from the Durban heat and several changes were made to the experimental side. Bolton then camped inside the MDS half for most of the second half but some excellent defence by the home team made it difficult to score. Alex Reilly came to our rescue or so we thought with a well deserved try after much good work by the forwards. Reilly converted to make the score 14-12 with seven minutes to go. With two minutes remaining Bolton were awarded a penalty just inside their own half. A missed kick to touch allowed MDS backs to penetrate into our 22 metre line before being bundled into touch. The referee announced “last play of the match” Bolton line out, which had been excellent all game came unstuck when we really needed it the ball, was lost and MDS passed swiftly through several sets of hands to score in the corner, 17-14.

The result highlights the importance of decision making, defence and set piece play, if this team is to develop and improve before their final game against Westville Bys High School on Thursday.



1st Team Captains Report by John Allcock

With several key players sidelined for the 3rd match The Midlands Development Side proved difficult and dangerous opponents. Despite initial dominance up front by the Bolton pack, and with Bolton having the majority of the possession, it was Midlands who took an early lead after a cruel bounce lead to a breakaway try from the home team, giving us our first glance of their clinical finishing. Indeed strong defence was needed from Bolton, with Grundy and Newton racking up a high tackle count.

Bolton regained their composure quickly, with Whelan and Jones in particular providing plenty of impetuous at the breakdown and the Bolton pack making the hard yards that were required. Especially as the Bolton back line had failed up to this point to break down an accomplished Midlands defence.

The good field position lead to Bolton’s first try through a quick penalty tap close to their line from which Jones crashed over, duly converted by Clegg tying the scores at 7-7.

Another quick break led to Midlands second try. After a hack through of a wayward pass the rapid Midlands backs were quick to pounce on the loose ball to record their second try in the far left corner. Taking the score to 14-7 which was how it finished at the half.

At the beginning of the second half replacements were made in the pack, with Chisnell, Hough and Smith coming on further increasing our dominance up front. Further replacements were made with Newman and Stimpson coming onto the field adding composure and decision making in and around the ruck area.

After a series of penalties leading to great field position a catch and drive maul was taken over the line from a close-range lineout, unknowingly scored by Whelan. However the difficult conversion was missed meaning that Bolton were still behind 12-14.

The lead was taken when heavy pressure by Bolton lead to a poor clearance kick, with Radcliff seizing the loose ball in the in goal area.

The win was sealed after a penalty try was conceded by the Midland team after Goswami was taken out off the ball after a kick and chase from Stimpson. The easy conversion was taken resulting in a final score of 26-14.

1st XV Report by Caspar Joseph

Game 3 – The weather could not have been more different from what we left in Cape Town as we set off to Pietermatinzburb for our first fixture of the Durban leg of our tour. Selection had led to a decision to field a team of predominantly year 13 players and to rest several 1st XV players who had played two games already. Most pleasing personally for me was to give the opportunity to John Allcock the privilege of Captaining the side, a job which he did with distinction.

The fixture was to be played at the Woodburn Stadium were Natal Sharks have played in front of 20,000 passionate fans. It was a slightly smaller but enthusiastic crowd that greeted our team who again made a shaky start to the game and conceded an early converted try after the pace, penetration and silky skill of the MDS team caught the somewhat lethargic Bolton Boys. This was the tonic we needed and it led to some fierce exchanges up front with Whelan, Coulston, Grundy and McDermott doing the hard yards and setting up good field position. A team that had not played together since year 10 now began to click onto gear and Jones went over for a superb try converted by Clegg to level the scores. The penalty count began to rise as the MDS side scrapped for possession and tackled their hearts out, and it was no surprise to see them increase their lead with a future converted try after a big midfield hit had spilled the ball and blistering pace on a rock hard pitch proved too much for the Bolton defence.

Half time was a chance to take on water and make some changes and reinforce what our tactics had to be to maintain our unbeaten record thus far. The cavalry duly arrived and Chisnell dominated the lineout, stealing opposition ball and setting up driving mauls. Which eventually led to Whelan crashing over for a try wide out on the right which Bate tried to convert and only narrowly missed striking the upright leaving us two points behind. The Newman boys, Radcliff, Smith and Hough now began to combine driving play with expert offloads and the power and pressure applied by the forwards proved too much for the MDS side who conceded a further try Radcliff converted by Roberts. Now ahead for the first time we began to play a more confident and expressive game with Newman doing the spadework and Bates, Stimpson, Allcock and Sanders probing and pushing forward which led to a penalty try under the posts converted by Roberts. The final whistle saw a drained, relived but happy and triumphant Bolton Team now more determined to take things up a notch for the final game.

After the match we enjoyed splendid hospitality in the club house where some thirty years before a North West County Side including Billy Beaumont, Steve Smith had played against Natal, What an experience for us all. A novel rendition of “you are my sunshine” was enjoyed by our hosts who looked resplendent in their new Bolton 2008 T-shirts. In 2005 the U19 World Cup semi final between England and South Africa had been played at the Woodburn Stadium, England lost that day, today Bolton 1st XV triumphed, but most importantly we had made new friends and left behind a good impression of our school. The opposition coach Khayn Memela spoke glowingly about the team and looks forward to our return to Pietermartinzburg so do I.