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Hollyfield

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Blenheim High School

The Year 8 rugby team played against Hollyfield this week. Hollyfield won the toss and opted for Blenheim to kick first. Evan (Scum Half) began with a short drop kick, allowing Aykut to sprint after the ball putting early pressure on Hollyfield. The first 15 minutes of the match saw Blenheim and Hollyfield lock horns in the centre of the field, with both teams showing excellent discipline and Hollyfield giving away a single penalty. After 18 minutes of the first half, Hollyfield were awarded an advantage, and managed to edge past the Blenheim defensive line, scoring the first try of the match. Hollyfield made some last minute changes in the front row before half time, which put the Blenheim defence under pressure. With fatigue setting in for Blenheim, Hollyfield’s substitutes managed to play excellent running rugby, scoring two more tries before the half time whistle blew meaning a half time score of 3 – 0 to Hollyfield. 

After a very intense first half, the Blenheim team used the half time break to recover, reset and come up with a different game plan, igniting a desire to win! Hollyfield’s drop kick landed safely in Aykut’s hands, and the Blenheim team played some excellent rugby, passing down the line to the left, protecting the ball in the rucks, before sending the ball back in to the centre field. Evan saw a space behind a ruck, made a quick dummy pass which saw him break in to space and score Blenheim’s first try. 

Hollyfield hit back, scoring a fourth try immediately after. Blenheim, at four tries to one down, showed amazing resilience and determination, resetting their plays and gathering momentum. Blenheim spotted a repeating mistake from Hollyfield, and saw a gap in their defence. Ben (Fly Half) and Daniel (Lock) executed some well-placed kicks to drive past the Hollyfield 22 metre line. Blenheim exploited the Hollyfield weakness in centre field, gaining a turn over, and allowing Nikolas (Hooker) to crash over the try line. 

With the game plan working, Blenheim repeated the process. Hollyfield were unable to adapt, and could not prevent Nikolas driving through the opposition’s defence twice more to even the score line. As the clock went red, and the momentum firmly with Blenheim, Hollyfield opted to kick the ball out and end the match with a draw. 

Every student on the pitch did Blenheim proud during the match. Each player was respectful, energetic and driven. They all showed amazing resilience even when, at one point, the team went 4 tries to 1 down! A special mention to Nikolas, who was awarded Player of the Match. 

Congratulations boys! #TeamBlenheim.