Cambridge High School make top four
25th August 2011 10:22AM
By Hamish Forsman
Cambridge High School has bounced back from their Waikato secondary school rugby final defeat to qualify for the national co-educational schools top four rugby tournament for the first time.
After narrowly losing the Ian Foster Shield to St Peters School, Cambridge last week beat top Bay of Plenty co-education school Western Heights and Counties-Manukau secondary school champions Manurewa High School to qualify as the Chiefs region representatives at the Rotorua tournament this weekend.
After trailing early on against Western Heights, Cambridge regrouped and went on to win comfortably 37-13 with No8 Isaac Van der Valk the hero, scoring three tries. Centre Josh Gascoigne, prop Ihaka Mita, and loose forwards Mitch Jacobsen and Laulea Mau also touched down.
Co-coaches Kerry Bayliss and Wayne Bootten were impressed at their side’s response just a few days after the disappointment of missing out on the Waikato schools title.
“It was an outstanding effort. We had to turn around quickly after the St Peters loss and step up another level, but we managed to get back to our game plan and slowly took control,” Bootten said.
To seal their place in the top four Cambridge then needed a win on Saturday over highly fancied Manurewa High, who had beaten Western Heights 41-11 and were fresh from upsetting Wesley College in the Counties-Manukau secondary school final.
An even first half ended 10-all as both teams moved the ball quickly around the field. Gascoigne scored Cambridge’s try, and kicked a penalty, while first five Jarred Fletcher added a conversion.
Cambridge’s game plan to play the game at pace then became too much for the bigger Manurewa side in the second half, as Van der Valk and wing Josh Hansen both scored to give Cambridge breathing space. Manurewa continued to threaten on attack but the Cambridge defence was too good, holding on for a 25-10 win.
“It was an amazing game of good clean fast rugby - one of the best I have watched”, Bootten said. “We knew it would be close and Manurewa were a huge side, but we played clever rugby and tackled well and that’s all it came down to in the end.”
Cambridge have been drawn against St Andrew’s College from Christchurch on Friday and a win will see them through to Sunday’s final, televised live on the Rugby Channel, against the winner of St Kentigern College and Feilding High School.
Meanwhile Hamilton Boys High School has missed out on a place in the overall national top four tournament to Wesley College.
Despite comfortably beating Rotorua High School 41-17 in last week’s playoff game, Hamilton’s previous loss to Wesley College was enough to deny them the Chiefs region spot in the final four.
Although it was ultimately a disappointing end to their season Hamilton ensured they finished on a high note in their last outing with an impressive five tries to two win over Rotorua.
Fullback Joe Webber was the standout for Hamilton, constantly splitting open the Rotorua defence, while first five Bryn Gatland kicked a perfect seven from seven with five conversions and two penalties.
Gatland's combination with Ben Finau in the halves was also influential in directing the big mobile Hamilton pack around the park.
