Rathkeale College on defence against Christ’s College on Monday. PHOTO/SUEANNE MCGLASHAN
RUGBY
JAKE BELESKI
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The Rathkeale College First XV heaped more misery on the Christ’s College First XV in atrocious conditions in Christchurch on Monday.
Christ’s lost to bitter cross-town rivals Christchurch Boys’ High School last Thursday and would have been hoping to bounce back in their traditional clash with Rathkeale.
But it was the visitors who adapted better to the wet and muddy conditions, building up a 10-0 lead in the first half and then defending stoutly in a scoreless second spell.
Winger Logan Prendeville scored a brilliant individual try in the first half, beating at least five defenders on a 50m run to the line.
First five-eighth Jack Eschenbach added a conversion and a penalty to complete the scoring.
Coach Jonathan Tanner said his team had adapted well to the trying conditions.
“There was some remarkably good rugby considering what we were playing in.
“We scored a really good try in the first half and had a tough call go against us when we scored another but were called back for a forward pass.”
Christ’s – coached by former All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne – had gone close to crossing though a rolling maul, but Rathkeale held firm.
Tanner said they were pleased to get a win against Christ’s for “the first time in quite some time”, but acknowledged the task was only going to get harder in the coming weeks.
“We’ve been going well but we have a lot of very tough games in front of us,” he said.
“We’ve got Wesley College coming up, and Francis Douglas Memorial College as well, who all the Barretts played for.
“We’ll be aiming to push ourselves up the table but we’re realistic about it as well.”
Rathkeale use a system where 3, 2 and 1 points are given to their players of the match, but Tanner said the coaching group agreed the whole team had performed exceptionally well on Monday.
They will now prepare for next Tuesday’s traditional against Wanganui Collegiate, which Tanner described as the biggest exchange on the sporting calendar.
The match also doubles as their next Central North Island First XV Championship match.
Christ’s did have success in their hockey and football First XI matches against Rathkeale on Monday, however, after they won the hockey 2-1 and the football 1-0.
