Otago Rugby Club has competed in another 10-a-side tournament, being the only team to go undefeated.
According to Otago spokesperson Jack Beardmore, Otago travelled to Victoria on November 9 to participate in the tournament, featuring four teams, sponsored by the Rising Tide team, at Windsor Park.
“We had to rush down to Victoria on the first ferry because we were scheduled for a 1 pm game,” said Beardmore. “We travelled like mad dogs and got there right at 1 pm. They pushed kickoff back to 1:30 pm for our first game against Cowichan.”
Beardmore said Otago had previously faced Cowichan earlier this fall in Duncan, having defeated the island opposition.
“We were up against the same guys in the first game and for the first five or six minutes, it was pretty much back and forth,” said Beardmore. “There was good ball movement, but no progress by either side. Then, Shane Morrisey made a beautiful breakthrough and ran a try in under the posts. We hit the kick so we were up seven-zip.
“The second half started and Cowichan was a little more determined. They ran the ball harder with a few more young guys and ran in a try, but it was in the corner, so the kick was missed by a lot. We were up 7-5.”
Beardmore said Peter Tucker, the team’s youngest player, who is just 18, made a phenomenal break around the outside and ran a 60-metre try.
“To say we were ecstatic for him would be an understatement,” said Beardmore. “It was really great to see it happen for him.
“For the rest of the game, it was just Cowichan trying to defend. They were running out of gas so our boys just kept going at them. We were right at their try line when the game ended.”
Otago won the game 12-5.
“It was a good effort,” said Beardmore. “Our defence was just unbelievable. The tackling has improved dramatically over these past few months. We have really stressed that, plus keeping a flat line, taking away space instead of leaving space for our opponents to run.”
The second game was against the host Rising Tide team, another side Otago had faced and beaten in the Cowichan tournament. Beardmore said he was listening to Rising Tide players before the game, who wanted to avenge the loss.
“They put out their best team,” said Beardmore. “They had 21 players to our 12. We only had two spares. However, we went out and took everything.
“The Rising Tide are a big side and they wanted to keep the ball tight. [Coach] Geoff Matheson and I both stressed getting the ball wide on them and making them run. Our guys did exactly that. The first part of the game was hard up against those big players, but we played solid defence.”
On one of Otago’s possessions, they were able to take the ball and run a try, with Brian James crossing the try line. The kick was missed, so Otago was up 5-0. In the same half, Sawyer Gowans made a phenomenal run and put the ball across the try line close to the posts, so the kick was made, upping the score to 12-0, according to Beardmore.
“Rising Tide brought on more players, thinking they could get some fresh legs and take it to us,” said Beardmore. “If anything, it had the reverse effect. Our guys were warmed up and they played above themselves in this whole tournament.”
Otago ran a third try in the second half and the final outcome of the game was 17-0 for Otago.
“We got a shutout, and to say that Rising Tide were mad was an understatement,” said Beardmore.
Otago was supposed to get a third 10-a-side game in the tournament, but Beardmore said the hosts decided to have a full 15s game, so the two south island teams, Rising Tide and Castaway Wanderers formed one side, and Otago and Cowichan formed the other side. The hosts decided on a 30-minute game rather than the standard 80 minutes for 15s. Beardmore said the game was loosey-goosey and it ended two trys to one for the south island.
“It was a phenomenal weekend for us,” said Beardmore. “We were the only team that won both of its games. The other teams had a win and a loss.”
Otago has one more contest this year, playing Port Alberni Black Sheep here on December 7. Beardmore said the game will feature full 15s, playing a standard rugby game. Beardmore acknowledges that Otago will be in tough because Port Alberni has the best division one team on Vancouver Island.
“We’re going to be up against it, there’s no two ways around it, but we are going to go full-out in our training and we intend on turning some heads,” said Beardmore.
Otago has won eight of its last 10 rugby matches.
Beardmore said efforts are being made by him and some other Vancouver Island team representatives to revive the third division. In the interim, there are plans to hold 10-a-side tournaments regularly.
He attributes the team’s latest success to the coaching of Matheson, plus having attracted some experienced rugby players who have added to the team’s depth.
“It’s made a monstrous difference because we have gone from having not a lot of game experience to having some guys who are phenomenal rugby players,” said Beardmore. “We are also playing more games, which is making us better. We’re getting in the game time.”
Beardmore now wants to build up the women’s side. He said there are six committed players, but Otago is looking for more.
“If we could get a women’s team here, it would be the greatest thing going,” said Beardmore. “We’re trying to build on that.”
Otago practices at Cranberry Field on Thursdays at 5 pm. All are welcome.
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