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Gad’s Juniors tackle tag-rugby mini ‘World Cup’ tournament
With the eyes of sporting fans across the globe focusing on New Zealand 2011, where the big guns of rugby union are slugging it out for the World Cup, Gad’s Juniors meanwhile, have been taking part in live action much closer to home!
Held at Medway Rugby Club, the Gad’s squad took part in the second phase of Medway Mini Youth Games, with the sporting event being a Tag Rugby tournament. In a twist to the event, each of the 33 teams taking part were assigned a Rugby World Cup National team, with the Gad’s squad representing France.
To get in the spirit of the tournament, the Gad’s players donned berets, painted their faces with red, white and blue colours and waved French flags!
Having come scored a fourth place against 22 other school teams in the Hockey competition earlier in the month, the Gad’s squad began the tournament with quiet confidence. And scored the following group-stage results:
Bryony School (Japan) Won 5 – 3
Byron (Canada) Won 6 – 3
All Saints (Tonga) Won 5 – 3
St Augustine of Canterbury (Belgium) Won 4 – 2
Walderslade (New Zealand) Won 8 – 3
The results put the Gad’s team at the top of their group and through to the knock-out competition.
In the second round playoff, Gad’s met St. Mary Island (Ukraine) and beat them 4 – 1.
This result placed the Gad’s side in the last eight of the tournament and as quarter-finalists. They were to face the formidable Hempstead School, who earlier in the month were the only school beat Gad’s in the mini Hockey tournament, knocking them out of the competition. Hempsted later went on to be crowned eventual winners of this particular competition.
There was a really good battle with Hempstead and the Gad’s team traded scores, however at the final whistle Hempstead came out on top by the narrowest margin of four tries to three.
Hempstead went on win the competition easily beating all teams to the final.
Coach and Sports teacher, Mr Ray Jelfs said: “It was a shame that we met Hempsted so early in the knock-out stage as I would say that the Gad’s team were easily in the top three teams at the competition. The referees and organisers commented on our excellent play and sportsmanship and I must single out Nicholas Batchelor and Thomas Miles played particularly well. But our player of the tournament was Jessica Avery who was a natural at the game, scoring several tries and being picked out on a few occasions by the referee as the ‘stand out’ player of the match. Well done to the whole squad!”
Certificates and medals were awarded to:
Thomas Miles, Nicholas Batchelor, Cameron Murray, Edward Taylor, Tyler Rodberg, Thomas Spurling, Oliver Bolton, Eleanor Bolton, Chloe Earl, Lilly Frankiln, Jessica Avery.