High School of Glasgow Under13 and Under 14 Rugby Tour


There were a few early scares for the tour. Firstly the boat that we were due to sail from Stranraer to Belfast was taken out of action due to the fact that a lorry had decided to commit suicide by jumping of the back of the ferry mid-crossing. The lorry actually changed its’ mind and remained on board but by doing so prevented passengers from leaving and the boat needed repairs. The weather was to be another scare. The days leading up to the tour were cold with snow lying on the ground. Would we actually get to play any rugby when we were away?

By the time we left on the Friday morning, the thaw had set in and the ferry was running to time. The touring party of 44 boys and 5 staff were looking forward to their ‘overseas’ adventure. We were based in the White Horse Hotel just outside of Derry. This was the third time that we had stayed in this hotel. Either the credit crunch was so bad that they needed the money or our behaviour on the two previous visits was so good that they did not mind us coming back.

The Saturday matches were against Cambridge House Grammar School from Ballymena, who we have played twice before. The last occasion was in February 2007 at New Anniesland, when Old Anniesland was deemed unplayable due to the amount of rain that had fallen. Some of the staff were worried when they turned around and saw the size of what they thought were the opposition coming out of the next changing room. Luckily these guys were from Belfast Royal Academy playing a 1st XV cup game. The under 14’s opened up with a comfortable 47-12 win and the under- 13’s looked far better than the 14-0 score line suggested. We then went to the City of Derry RFC clubhouse to watch the France-Scotland game. This gave Fergus Wallace(junior) a chance to play the pipes before the game and at half time.

Sunday was not really a rest day but a three hour battle at the paint balling. It was pleasing to see that Mr Clarke’s and Mr FitzGerald’s yellow team took most of the credits. Dougie Mill was the awarded the ‘Rambo’ award due to his kamikaze runs into opposition territory and Jason Tennant named as the MVP. We then returned to the rugby club to watch the Italy-Ireland game although some of the boys found the women’s match on the main pitch more interesting.

An early start on Monday morning took the tour party up to the Giant’s Causeway, where some of the squad got a bit too close to the waves crashing over the rocks and then had to spend time drying out under the hand dryers in the nearby toilets. In the afternoon we had two very difficult matches against Limavady Grammar School. Both teams stuck to the task in front of them, but struggled at times against bigger boys and not quite getting the rub of the green. The under 13’s were defeated 7-20 and the under-14’s lost a tight game 21-31. They conceded a late try under the posts when they were called back into their own twenty two due to an early infringement, just when it looked like they were going to break out and go the length. The evening was rounded off with Mr. Broadbent’s quiz, which was won by Charlie Telfer’s team.

Tuesday saw an official visit to the Guildhall in Derry and a meeting with the Mayor. The pupils had a chance to ask the Mayor various questions on the history of the area as well as his duties as leader of the council. The local press were present to take a photo of the touring squad and the mayor. The final game of the tour was against Foyle and Londonderry College, who we have a connection with going back a few years. The under-13’s struggled in the first half, but managed to show what they could do in the second half and ended up winning 40-7. The under 14’s were involved in a see-saw battle that ended 19-19. The day finished with Charlie Large and Dessie Lynch, who were the locals responsible for the smooth running of the tour, presenting the player of the tour awards to Callum Derrick for the under-13’s and Calum Dalrymple for the under-14’s.


The bus on the way home on Wednesday was much quieter than the one that had left Glasgow six days previously. My guess is that there was probably one or two that didn’t quite make breakfast on Thursday morning. However I am sure that by the time they are back at school next Monday they will be wide awake telling anybody that will listen what a great time they had.

A final tally of three wins, one draw and two defeats is nothing to be sniffed at. The boys struggled at times to get to grips with the Irish version of the laws and their interpretation. No lifting in the line out meant that there was very little clean ball from this source. Number 8 pick ups had left our back row wondering which way to look. With kicking allowed from anywhere on the field by anyone, there were a few kicks that didn’t quite go where the player intended. It was a very good learning experience and the boys will have come home with a better understanding of the game as we move into the last part of our season.

Note from Ed
Thanks to Barry Fitzgerald for this report

This article was posted on 19-Feb-2009, 23:02 by Hugh Barrow.