Rugby
New Hall defeat KEGS
Griffins 1st XV 18 – 17 KEGS Under 13 A
This derby match, played on 22nd September, saw a gutsy performance from the New Hall 1st XV team to overcome their older and larger opponents from KEGS in a game which swung one way and then the other.
The first half started well for New Hall and it was clear that although they were much smaller than their opponents, they were playing at a much quicker pace and were causing their KEGS opposition many problems. The Griffins were quicker thinking than the KEGS boys and took advantage at line-out time and after penalties. An early penalty was well kicked over from distance by Miles Fletcher and this was just reward for some excellent play from scrum-half Josh Jones who was hunting for the ball in the loose. KEGS regained their composure after the fast New Hall start and exerted some control using their strong runners in the backs to make territorial gains. The close defence from New Hall was able to withstand all that the KEGS boys could throw at them but a missed tackle on the outside allowed the KEGS team to take the lead 5-3. This was a shot in the arm for the Griffins who responded well. New Hall were dominating in the Scrum, despite being considerably lighter and this gave them the opportunity to push KEGS back. The pace that the New Hall team was playing the ball was improving and they were awarded a penalty after 3 KEGS players were offside in midfield. Miles Fletcher again was reliable and New Hall had taken the lead 6-5. KEGS scored a try in the last minute of the half after more missed tackles to take the half time lead 10-6.
After some positional changes at half time, Callum Fletcher moved from full-back to the second row and Freddie Benson and Sam Odell were drafted into the backs from the Second XV to replace Harry Robins and Casey Morgan. The second half did not start well and after a kick-off was fumbled KEGS were on the attack. They scored and converted the try to take a 17-6 lead. At this stage it was not looking good for the Griffins, but the boys do not know when they are defeated and came out fighting. The forward pack took the lead and with great phase play they marched the KEGS team up the pitch. The rucking was excellent, and all eight forwards played their part in allowing Josh Jones to cross for a vital try. Miles Fletcher kicked the conversion to leave the score 17-13 to KEGS. Callum Fletcher and Dominic Hitchens in the second row were working well with the back-row of William Kitteridge, Darius Roohi and Franklin Bruno. The front row of Sam Jones, Conor McCaffrey and Tobias Tay-Smith were performing excellently in open play, but especially in the scrum. Josh Jones and Miles Fletcher were developing an excellent partnership in the half-backs. Both offered a real threat and were providing good service to the centre partnership of Callum Kidd and Luke Pordham. The back 3 of Sam Odell, Henry Dowell and Freddie Benson had few opportunities to break free but did their defensive job well and when given possession were able to reset play for the team. Fitness and momentum were with the Griffins and after more good forward play Franklin Bruno bulldozed his way through for the match winning try. There were nervous moments in the final minutes, but the boys had worked too hard to allow the game to slip away. The final whistle was greeted with great celebration and relief. This game will go down as an excellent comeback, and one which the team showed great self-belief and maturity to respond to difficulty without panicking. There are many areas for improvement, but with continued hard work the season could be a successful one.
In the second XV match we were defeated by the KEGS Under 12 A team 34-15. This result reflects good progress, and while some improvement is needed in defence the boys worked hard and scored 3 good tries through Edward Fenton, Oliver Pitt and Alex Wood.
Success for Griffins at St. Joseph’s College Ipswich
1st XV defeated SJC Ipswich Under 13 A 15-5
2nd XV defeated SJC Ipswich Under 13 B 19-10
3rd XV lost against SJC Ipswich U12 A 34-12
This was the first occasion that the Griffins have fielded three teams against another school on the same day, and it turned out to be a great success. New Hall won two of the three matches played, and the matches were away from home.
For the 3rd XV, it was the first taste of rugby for many of the players. They really enjoyed their experience and can come out of the match with their heads held high. Some missed tackles allowed St. Joseph’s to take the lead, but the boy’s showed great determination to score two tries in the second half. The Griffins had opportunities to score more but were held out by some desperate Ipswich defence. Captain, Chris Ryan and Joe Clark scored the tries while Bradley Appleton kicked a successful conversion. Now that the boy’s have played their first match they will be better prepared for their next challenge against Holmwood House 3rd XV.
The 2nd XV made it two wins out of four this season with a well deserved victory. They started the game well and had taken a good lead by half-time through tries from Harry Robins (2) and Louis Poynter. Sam Prebble successfully kicked two conversions. In the second half, St. Joseph’s came back but the New Hall team held out for a 19-10 success.
The 1st XV recorded a third victory in a row, but were made to work hard by St. Joseph’s. New Hall started well and some early pressure told when Miles Fletcher crossed in the corner. Mistakes at kick-off time and missed tackles allowed St. Joseph’s to equalise before half-time. The second half saw a much more competent display from the Griffins. Improved defence coupled with solid forward rucking put enough pressure on the Ipswich boy’s to allow Luke Pordham and Franklin Bruno to cross for the vital scores. This has been a good start to the season, and the team has shown its mettle to come out on top in the last three matches, which have all been close encounters.
Griffins Vs RHS
New Hall enjoyed a successful fixture against the Royal Hospital School, winning the First and Second XV matches against Under 13 opposition, while the Third XV lost against the opposition Under 12 A team.
Playing their first home match, the third team performed well in the first half to trail 7-12 at the break. William Simons score the try which was converted by Ciaran Moore who is returning from injury. The second half saw a rear guard action hold strong until the last ten minutes when RHS crossed three more times to make the final score 7-31.
The Second XV played its last game of the half term against the RHS U13B team and emerged winners 10-0. There was not too much between the teams with both defences playing well. The score was 0-0 at half time but in the second half New Hall secured victory with a try by Joe Beale which was converted by Bradley Appleton. Appleton added a penalty and despite some serious pressure they managed to hold out to record their fourth win in seven matches so far this term.
Following a very poor performance with an under strength team against Holmwood House the previous week, the First XV had a lot to prove against the RHS U13A team. Once again the opposition were much bigger than the Griffins, but again they emerged victorious in a close game, 17-12. RHS held the edge in mauling, but after a slow start the New Hall rucking game started to control the game. Dominic Hitchens scored two good team tries in the first half, one of which was converted by Miles Fletcher to leave the half-time score 12-0. The second half saw a spirited comeback by RHS which put the Griffins under some pressure. After an RHS try New Hall responded well and Franklin Bruno crossed for an impressive individual try. With one of the last plays of the match RHS scored again to leave some last minute tension, but with the final whistle relief was in the faces of the New Hall team. This was an impressive reaction to a poor performance against what was a very capable RHS team.
What a difference a year can make!
2006 result
St. Columba's 39
New Hall 0
2007 result
New Hall 12
St. Columba's 5
This was to date the most complete team performance from this developing side. Playing against a team high on confidence, with an undefeated record this season and a psychological edge due to the corresponding fixture last season, the omens were not good for the Griffins before the match. However, previous results this term have given the side a strong mentality and they approached the match with a 'nothing to lose' attitude. Right from the start it was clear that this was an improved New Hall team. Good scrummaging from the smaller New Hall pack put the St. Columba's backs under pressure and the Griffins line-out was proving varied and hard to read. Despite early domination of territory two missed kicks at goal meant that the New Hall boys still had no points to show for their efforts and after sixteen minutes they were punished when an excellent break by the St. Columba's number 8 ended up with a try being scored on their first visit into the New Hall 22. Undeterred, the New Hall team resumed its onslaught on the St. Columba's pack and eventually scored a well deserved try when from a scrum in the right corner Franklin Bruno broke on the open side to cross untouched to level the scores. Ciaran Moore kicked the conversion to give New Hall a 7-5 lead. St. Columba's responded with a well worked kick-off to gain territory in the New Hall 22. A series of scrums were dominated by the Griffins pack but eventually it was good work from Darius Roohi to steal the ball which saw the half-time whistle go with New Hall in the lead.
The second half was dominated by the New Hall forwards who almost entirely starved the St. Columba's team of possession. The Griffins grew in confidence from their multi-phase play and eventually they found the St. Columba's team to be tiring. The score which was to prove the winning score came again from Franklin Bruno who drove through 3 defenders to reach the try line. The kick was missed, but this was the score which was to give New Hall a lead which in truth they never looked likely to surrender. It is great credit to the St. Columba's team that New Hall did not add to their points tally.
With a very difficult fixture list this half-term this result will give the team a tremendous boost.
New Hall 1st XV team: Tobias Tay-Smith, Conor McCaffrey, Sam Jones, Callum Fletcher(C), Casey Morgan, Darius Roohi, William Kitteridge, Franklin Bruno, Josh Jones, Ciaran Moore, Harry Robins, Callum Kidd, Luke Pordham, Domininc Hitchens, Freddie Benson
Essex Under 13 Cup
Round 3
New Hall School 30
William Edwards School 22
New Hall recorded a third successive Essex Cup victory with a very hard fought victory over a talented William Edwards team. Physical superiority appeared to be in William Edwards favour, and after less than ten minutes New Hall trailed by 12-0. A rout was on the cards but the Griffins showed excellent spirit to gain possession of the ball and start to play their normal game of possession and territory. Domination in the scrum helped New Hall to force rare mistakes for the William Edwards team and with Ciaran Moore gaining excellent territory for the Griffins the pressure told as Franklin Bruno scored from a back-row scrum move. Miles Fletcher kicked an excellent conversion from the right of the posts and minutes later Bruno once again broke to level the scores. Ciaran Moore this time kicked an excellent conversion from the left touchline to take New Hall into the lead. With fitness now appearing to be a factor, the Griffins finished the half on a high as Franklin Bruno crossed for his hat trick of tries. The kick was missed but it meant that New Hall led 17-12 at half-time.
The second half saw New Hall emerge high on confidence and determined to keep possession with some excellent multi-phase rucking. Bruno once again was too much for the William Edwards team to handle as he crossed for an excellent team try in the left corner. The kick hit the cross-bar, but it seemed to give New Hall another lift in spirits as they continued to starve the William Edwards backs of the possession that they would need. When they did have possession they looked very dangerous. The William Edwards team possessed some of the best athletes that the Griffins have faced this year. William Edwards excellent centre crossed for a long range try to bring his team back into the game. The New Hall team responded with a penalty by Ciaran Moore only for William Edwards to strike back with another try. The game was on a knife-edge, but New Hall continued to keep good phase possession. When it looked like New Hall were through to score a match clinching try, some deliberate slowing down of the ball was punished by Ciaran Moore who kicked the final points of a highly entertaining match to leave the score New Hall 30 - William Edwards School 22.
Man of the match - The New Hall Scrum
New Hall Team
Tobias Tay-Smith, Conor McCaffrey, Sam Jones, Callum Fletcher (C), Casey Morgan, Darius Roohi, William Kitteridge, Franklin Bruno, Josh Jones, Ciaran Moore, Harry Robins, Callum Kidd, Luke Pordham, Dominic Hitchens, Miles Fletcher.
Replacement: Sam Odell for Dominic Hitchens(inj)
Griffins Vs Orwell Park
New Hall School 1st XV 14
Orwell Park School 1st XV 7
The New Hall 1st XV gained a morale boosting victory in their final match before their tour of the North of England in this fixture against Orwell Park Preparatory School 1st XV. The match was another tense affair with the Griffins dominating possession but being thwarted by some gritty backs to the wall defence from Orwell Park. New hall took the lead through a Franklin Bruno try, with Ciaran Moore kicking the conversion. They were unable to keep their opponents pointless however, as an interception try was touched down under the posts on the brink of half time to leave the score 7-7.
The second half saw Orwell Park struggle to gain territory as New Hall played some good rucking phases. Unbelievably, the Orwell defence held strong under a barrage of attack from the New Hall backs and forwards to frustrate the Chelmsford team. With only minutes remaining, and after having been camped on the Orwell line, Franklin Bruno broke through to score a well deserved second try. Ciaran Moore added the conversion and when New Hall received possession in their 22, a sensible phase of play ended with the ball being kicked off the pitch to end an entertaining and tense match.
Final Score 14-7.
New Hall team:
Tobias Tay-Smith, Conor McCaffrey, Sam Jones, Callum Fletcher(C), Casey Morgan, Darius Roohi, William Kitteridge, Franklin Bruno, Josh Jones, Ciaran Moore, Sam Odell, Callum Kidd, Luke Pordham, Harry Robins, Freddie Benson
