Allen Glen High School’s first rugby team emerged victorious during the Golden Lions finals hosted at Hoërskool Florida on July 22.
The first team played against Hoërskool Bekker and won the game 41–12.
According to Allen Glen’s coach John Kruger, the team has had a rough time these last couple of months due to several unfortunate deaths close to the team.
“It was a tense match and we were under a lot of pressure because Bekker made a great comeback in the league match,” John explained, “we came up with an alternative game plan and playing pattern to see if we could catch our opponents by surprise. I am glad to say that the plan worked and we are so proud of our team for playing through the match with such dedication and teamwork.”
John continued by saying that it’s rare that a coach can say his plan worked out perfectly, but during this match, they came as close to perfect as can be.
“Our team’s motto is ‘chasing perfection’ in everything we do, on the field or off, and Saturday was a good example of when a motto becomes more than just something you say, it becomes a lifestyle,” he stated proudly.
The team’s nickname is the Blue Machine and attributes to the fact that they function best when the team works together as one, put the team and the school’s name above their ego.
“This is why it’s so difficult to name a man of the match because it was a great team effort,” John elaborated, “not just the 23 players who were there that day, but the whole group who have been dedicated to pitching up for training and rooted for the team’s success.”
According to John, one of the highlights of the day was the fact that the team played the rugby game for 70 minutes, not just for themselves, but also for everyone else cheering them on on the sidelines.
“The second highlight was the immense sportsmanship and humility with which both teams played the game,” John added.
The results for the rest of the Allen Glen rugby teams:
The U14s lost 14–8 against Glenharvie High School; the U15s won 22–10 against Glenharvie High School; and the U16s were tied against Hoërskool Carletonville.
