St. Mary's senior rugby team embarked upon their end of season tour to Dublin on Friday and it was a fantastic end to the season. For some, it was their last ever matches for the school and they undoubtedly went out on a high.

 

Travelling on the Friday, we arrived at our hotel before quickly transferring to our first fixture against St. Columbas, Rathfarnham the most expensive boarding school in Ireland. The boys started well and ran into an early lead with Daniel Frost powering over for the first try. Joe Reade excellently converted and St. Mary's were ahead 7-0 at half time. In the second half, St. Mary's started excellently and a trademark pick and go from Adam Caffrey saw him offload to Jonathan Bonner who then offloaded to Jonathan Bonner who found Danny Frost for his second try. St. Mary's lost focus for a small period and St. Columba's scored a try in the corner. With the score at 12-5, time was running out and Joe Reade restored a two score advantage with a long range penalty to make it 15-5. St. Columba's came back again and with the score 15-12, St. Mary's held on to record a win. A fine performance by all of the boys with the man of the match award going to Demetrios Christophorou for a trademark physical performance. St. Columba's 12 15 St. Mary's College.

On the night, we went to watch Invictus at Swords Cinema where we saw an outstanding film about South Africa post-apartheid. It was a great film but most of the team were ready for bed by the end of a tough day.

Day two was another fun packed day with a 10 am kick-off against the High School Dublin. St. Mary's started strongly again inspired by their own Nelson Mandela (Deventer) and Francois Piennar (Manley) with a try from Jonathan Bonner scoring after a 50 yard run involving a world record five hand-offs. Joe Reade excellently converted. St. Mary's maintained their slender 7-0 lead into half-time but their fatigue from two matches in two days was beginning to show. The High School were much superior to the previous days opposition and in all honesty St. Mary's put in a bigger performance than the day before and despite some brave defence form centres Anthony Bennett and Jacob Allen eventually went down 14-7. The opposition were excellent host and deservedly awarded Daniel Frost the man of the match award. He was undoubtedly the player of the tour. High School, Dublin 14-7 St. Mary's College. The match was professionally photographed and photographs can be found at http://picasaweb.google.com/tonyconroy/HSDVStMarySLiverpool6thFebruary2010#

Straight from the game we went to Croke Park to watch Ireland versus Italy in the first match of the Six Nations Championship 2010. The 'craic' was fantastic and we enjoyed the pre-match Irish Music in the stadium. The match was a great experience for pupils and staff alike.

 

The evening was spent having a meal at our delightful Clarion's Hotel, watching the England versus Wales game and then Liverpool versus Everton on Match of the Day. The day after, we went into Dublin and visited O' Connell street before introducing the boys to the Temple Bar area, a spot we were sure they would enjoy once they're old enough. We came back to the airport where we watched Scotland verus France on the big screen before returning home.

 

The boys were great ambassadors for the school and staff at the hotel commented on how well behaved they were. Mr Armstrong and Mr Deventer would also like to thank parents/doctors Rick Turnock and Tony Manley for their invaluable help and would like to thank skipper Tom Manley who has been an outstanding captain both on and off the field during the season.

 

We say goodbye to a number of the boys and thank them for their efforts during the seven years. They are: Michael Turnock, Demetrios Christophorou, Musab Lafi, Adam Caffrey, Jacob Allen and Tom Manley

Tour party:

 

Tom Manley: Skipper and top scrummager, and example to the boys. Thanks for your efforts.

Michael Bennett: Great in defence on both days and a top tourist. Put in some great work particularly on day one. 

Joe Reade: Kept us going forward with his outstanding kicking game. One for the future without doubt organizing his ever changing backline during the tour.

Anthony Norman Jones (ANJ/Sicknote); Having missed the first game through injury, he defied doctor's orders to put in a fine and brave performance in the second match. Outstanding

James Moore: Played a great game on the friday and was asked to play centre on the saturday making several yards.

Joe McGrady.: Another who played out of position on the first day but played two great games defending the fringes very well and working hard for the team.

Jonathan Ford: Played out of position at scrum-half on day one and was outstanding on the wing on day two.

Gregory Best. Awesome in the lineout and top tourist putting in a great performance on day two.

Mark Mclaughlin (Macca): Made the tackle of the tour against the High School seciond row on day two and he still has the bruise to prove it.

Jonathan Bonner (Chest). Scored a remarkable try on day two and work rate was phenomenal.

Anthony Bennett: Played at centre on day oine and full back on day two and was outstanding throughout.

Adam Caffrey: Gained many yards around the breakdown on day one putting in two excellent performances.

Demetrios Christophorou (D-Train): This boy is a legend. Man of the match on day one and put in some great defence in both matches.

Musab Lafi (JLS): Performed well on day one in the back row and had to play wing on day two and was excellent. He maintained his boyish good looks and JLS supporters will be pleased to know he suffered no injury.

Jacob Allen: Capped off an excellent season with two fine performances to finish his St. Mary's career. Defensively outstanding.

Michael Turnock Noxy): Put in two typical, honest hard working performances doing a lot of the unseen hard work that his teammates benefitted from. outstanding in the tight exchanges.

Daniel Frost: Player of the Tour and outstanding prospect. Won most of the lineouts on day two without being lifted. A legend in the making.

Mr. Armstrong: Tour organiser

Mr Deventer: Senior Rugby Coach

Tony Manley and Rick Turnock: Parents, doctors and great tourists who were fantastic additions to the tour party. Well done to all!