2021 Leavers v School 1st XV Rugby At last! Sport has returned after the pandemic, and Truro School can once again begin to showcase all the wonderful sporting activities that the school has to offer.
First up in the new 2021/22 academic year was the much-loved Past v Present rugby match, which sees the last academic year’s school leavers play the present school 1st XV. I am very aware of how much this tradition is loved and this year’s is probably my favourite one so far. Firstly, I want to say thank you to all the staff who made this possible. Tom Lagden, the head groundsman, had the 1st team pitch looking splendid and, of course, Andy Burt (Chef Manager) and Gareth Casey (Deputy Catering Manager), supported by the rest of the catering team, ensured that the players and supporters were well fed and watered. Thank you to Mr Excell for helping with all the loose ends and a special thank you to Will Becconsall CO21, who organised the Old Truronians team. The two captains for the day were Sam Trudgian CO21 (Past) and Noah R (Present). The match started with the School team clapping the 2021 leavers on to the pitch, who then sportingly returned the favour. Set against this backdrop of mutual respect, the game began, and what a fantastic match we were treated to. The OT team was the bigger side and contained some of the best players Truro School has produced, whilst the School’s team was dusting off the rust of going 18 months without a competitive fixture. The OTs started well and, with plenty of powerful runs from the forwards (Hallam, Baker, Pritchard et al), the School team was on the back foot. Despite some ferocious defence, after five minutes the OTs had breached the try line and touched down in the corner, with Matt Pritchard CO21 scoring. Conversion missed. Play went back and forth and, after a clever kick and sustained pressure from the OT team, Tom Baker CO21 muscled his way over the line to extend the score to 10 - 0, in the OTs’ favour.
DAN SANDERSON DIRECTOR OF SPORT
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After taking 10 minutes to realise that they could compete with the recent leavers, School came roaring back with
some fast, skilful rugby that had the OTs struggling to keep up. A neat kickthrough took a deflection and School fullback Harvey P gathered to score under the posts. Harvey converted his own try, and the score was 10 - 7 to the OTs. The match was split in to three 20-minute blocks and it was soon the end of the first section. Both teams made changes and it was the OTs who adapted quicker, scoring two quick tries to take the score out to 20 - 7. The game began to open up and this suited School. After a lineout in the OTs’ 22, some quick hands and powerful running saw School score in the corner via Kobe K. Conversion missed, 20 -12 to the OTs and the end of the second block of twenty minutes. With a few tired legs on the pitch, the backs began to have more room and the OTs’ back three were really stretching the School defence. Ethan Knight CO21 in particular was making good progress and scored the OTs’ fifth try to extend the score to 27 - 12, the try being converted. While the recent leavers dominated the loose play, the School team started to build phases and put the OTs’ defence under pressure. Recyling the ball well, through both backs and forwards, Finn M crashed over making the score 27 - 17. There was still time for one last score, and it went to the Old Truronians, after a sweeping move from the backs. Final score 32 - 17. The 2021 leavers were fantastic throughout the game and were extra coaches at scrum time, allowing the School team to fold into the scrum and get comfortable learning the dark arts. The game was played at a brisk pace and, whilst there were some strong tackles, both sides maintained the highest respect for one another. Added to this, both teams left their respective changing rooms in immaculate condition, and I want to say thank you again to both teams for providing us all with a great match. Well done to all and I am already looking forward to next year’s games.
