Early July saw the Lurgan College Senior Rugby squad depart for the rugby tour of a lifetime to play games in South Africa.
Twenty-five senior players under the experienced management team of Lurgan College Principal, Trevor Robinson, the recently retired Director of Physical Education and Movement Studies at Lurgan College, former Kings Scholar’s and Portadown RFC winger, Brian Hanna and coaches Geoff Caldwell and Trevor Carruthers set off for Pretoria where they played their first game against Pretoria Harlequin’s U19’s on Monday 4th July.
The tour party, which has been sponsored by Classic Mineral Water, Apex Blinds, APB, Avondale , Norman Emerson and Sons and Craigavon Office Supplies, took the opportunity to attend two Currie Cup matches before meeting the highly rated Harlequin’s RFC U19 team. They attended the Bulls v Boland game at Loftus Versfeld on Friday 1st July before taking in the Lions v Sharks game at Ellis Park on Saturday 2nd July. The tour squad had the opportunity to visit the Union Building as well as the Mandela Statue and surrounds before their first game of the tour.
In a superb start to the tour the Lurgan College team defeated the much physically bigger Pretoria Harlequin’s U19 team by 11-10. The Lurgan team started strongly and took an early 3-0 lead when full back, Robbie Norton, was successful with a penalty kick following good work from stand-in captain, Victor McKenzie, who was ably assisted by Ryan Emerson. The home team came roaring back and their power and pace saw them create an overlap on the left hand side of the pitch. Their winger touched down for an unconverted try to put his team into a 5-3 lead. The Lurgan College pack now took control of the game and got rewarded for their endeavours when second row forward, Ben McAlister, touched down for an unconverted try to give his team an 8-5 just before the break.
The Lurgan College team kept the pressure on their hosts for long periods in the second half. They attacked relentlessly at every opportunity and it was only the power and strength of the opposition that prevent the Lurgan team from scoring what seemed like certain tries only to be held up twice in the Pretoria in-goal area. Five minutes from the end of the game the hosts broke out of defence and scored a try in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Pretoria Harlequin’s team now had a 10-8 lead with little time on the clock. Not to be outdone the Lurgan College forwards roared back into action and, after several drives in midfield, a penalty was conceded by the home team forty five metres out but directly in front of the posts. Robbie Norton stepped up to coolly slot his kick to put his team ahead with by 11-10 with just one minute of time remaining. Superb defensive work from the entire Lurgan College team kept the hosts out and the group was ecstatic when the referee blew his no-side whistle to see the Lurgan College team record an excellent 11-10 victory at the end of this exciting game.
The Lurgan College squad then moved on to Johannesburg for a tour of the famous city which included a visit to the Apartheid Museum, a Soweto Township tour and a visit to the famous Wanderer’s Test Cricket Stadium where they were allowed access to the 'Square'.
Before flying down to George in the South West of the country for their second game the Lurgan College Tour Party will have the opportunity to visit a Game Reserve near Johannesburg.
The second game of the tour will take place on Friday 8th July when the Lurgan College team will play George High School in a game which will take place at Outeniqua Park in George. This game will be played as a curtain raiser to the South West District Eagles v Orange Free State Cheetah’s Currie Cup match. Quite an experience for the Lurgan College Tour squad!
Following this game the team will then take the short journey to Cape Town where they will play in the opening game of the Swartland Rugby Festival being held at Hopefield High School on Thursday 14th July.
Twenty-five senior players under the experienced management team of Lurgan College Principal, Trevor Robinson, the recently retired Director of Physical Education and Movement Studies at Lurgan College, former Kings Scholar’s and Portadown RFC winger, Brian Hanna and coaches Geoff Caldwell and Trevor Carruthers set off for Pretoria where they played their first game against Pretoria Harlequin’s U19’s on Monday 4th July.
The tour party, which has been sponsored by Classic Mineral Water, Apex Blinds, APB, Avondale , Norman Emerson and Sons and Craigavon Office Supplies, took the opportunity to attend two Currie Cup matches before meeting the highly rated Harlequin’s RFC U19 team. They attended the Bulls v Boland game at Loftus Versfeld on Friday 1st July before taking in the Lions v Sharks game at Ellis Park on Saturday 2nd July. The tour squad had the opportunity to visit the Union Building as well as the Mandela Statue and surrounds before their first game of the tour.
In a superb start to the tour the Lurgan College team defeated the much physically bigger Pretoria Harlequin’s U19 team by 11-10. The Lurgan team started strongly and took an early 3-0 lead when full back, Robbie Norton, was successful with a penalty kick following good work from stand-in captain, Victor McKenzie, who was ably assisted by Ryan Emerson. The home team came roaring back and their power and pace saw them create an overlap on the left hand side of the pitch. Their winger touched down for an unconverted try to put his team into a 5-3 lead. The Lurgan College pack now took control of the game and got rewarded for their endeavours when second row forward, Ben McAlister, touched down for an unconverted try to give his team an 8-5 just before the break.
The Lurgan College team kept the pressure on their hosts for long periods in the second half. They attacked relentlessly at every opportunity and it was only the power and strength of the opposition that prevent the Lurgan team from scoring what seemed like certain tries only to be held up twice in the Pretoria in-goal area. Five minutes from the end of the game the hosts broke out of defence and scored a try in the corner. The conversion attempt was unsuccessful but the Pretoria Harlequin’s team now had a 10-8 lead with little time on the clock. Not to be outdone the Lurgan College forwards roared back into action and, after several drives in midfield, a penalty was conceded by the home team forty five metres out but directly in front of the posts. Robbie Norton stepped up to coolly slot his kick to put his team ahead with by 11-10 with just one minute of time remaining. Superb defensive work from the entire Lurgan College team kept the hosts out and the group was ecstatic when the referee blew his no-side whistle to see the Lurgan College team record an excellent 11-10 victory at the end of this exciting game.
The Lurgan College squad then moved on to Johannesburg for a tour of the famous city which included a visit to the Apartheid Museum, a Soweto Township tour and a visit to the famous Wanderer’s Test Cricket Stadium where they were allowed access to the 'Square'.
Before flying down to George in the South West of the country for their second game the Lurgan College Tour Party will have the opportunity to visit a Game Reserve near Johannesburg.
The second game of the tour will take place on Friday 8th July when the Lurgan College team will play George High School in a game which will take place at Outeniqua Park in George. This game will be played as a curtain raiser to the South West District Eagles v Orange Free State Cheetah’s Currie Cup match. Quite an experience for the Lurgan College Tour squad!
Following this game the team will then take the short journey to Cape Town where they will play in the opening game of the Swartland Rugby Festival being held at Hopefield High School on Thursday 14th July.