Sassenachs Rugby Tournament 2018

Tahuna clean up at annual interschool rugby tournament! With the Year 7 Boys, Year 8 Boys and Year 7 & 8 Girls winning their grades!

On Wednesday the 22nd of August Tahuna 69 Tahuna students bused out to Bishopcourt to compete in the annual Sassenachs Inter school Rugby Tournament. It was a typical Dunedin morning with a brisk southerly to really chill the bones. In the Year 7 Pool was Tahuna, DNI, Kaikorai Valley College and Balmacewen. Year 8 boys had Balmacewen, Taieri College, Kavanagh College. The girls Balmacewen, Kaikorai Valley College and Taieri College. 

Straight off the bus, the Year 7 boys were into their opening fixture against Kaikorai Valley College. The old combinations of club footy and lunchtime touch coming together well to put the Valley Boys away by 60points. The year 8 boys and Girls teams both had convincing wins also, raising the bat by scoring over 50 points. 

Before the second game however, Mother Nature reared her ugly head. Freezing, horizontal rain began to come down from the heavens, making passes hard to hold onto and tackles even more painful. Each team was able to overcome this adversity by looking at the mighty albatross embroidered over their chest and bleeding green, white and blue. 

The girls continued their winning ways in dominant fashion. With nearly all girls scoring a try in the next two games. Coach Vanessa Macdonald's efforts in the pre-season really starting to show through.  The year 8 Boys got through against Balmacewen Intermediate by 15 points, after some tenacious defence and a 15-1 penalty count against the fellas. Some great counter-attack and hard running by the big forward pack saw the Year 8's stay undefeated in their next game. The year 7's battled the conditions and won relatively comfortably against Balmacewen, however their biggest test was against DNI in their third game.  After conceding a try in the first minute, the boys rallied together and showed monumental ticker throughout the game. It was a sea-saw fixture that saw a dangerous centre from DNI complete his hat-trick. The year 7 legends wouldn't die wondering however! On full time the forwards provided some great front foot ball, the backs threw it wide to the left-hand side and the fellas had crossed in the corner! 29-29 with the kick to come! Preston Talamaivao, who had been striking them well all day, crushes his conversion right into the left hand upright! 29 all final score! 

With all three teams staying undefeated, it was finals time baby!

All three games were played at 2:20pm. The rain stopped, the players were ready and the stage was set for an absolute slobernocker! As it happened, the Tahuna ticker was just too much for their opponents. Some great teamwork, genuine talent and excellent coaching provided Tahuna with a clean sweep. Year 7's defeated Dunedin North Intermediate 42-7, Year 8's beat Balmacewen 28-15 and the girls triumphed  25-15 over Balmacewen. 

A happy bus trip back to school, with three trophies weighing down the vehicle.