Being the only Scottish side, it was a fantastic opportunity for our players to take on top rugby-playing schools in the UK and leave their comfort zones behind as they faced more physical and quicker matches than any of the Scottish schools they face in the SRU Conference.
Each opposition provided different challenges for the Strathallan side as they played in unique ways. QEGS Wakefield, Millfield School, and RGS Newcastle were in our Group for the Day 1 matches. Strathallan off to a great start and beat QEGS Wakefield 12-10, second we lost to Millfield 24-0, and then lost 15-0 to RGS Newcastle in the final group game. To play eventual winners Millfield School in our 2nd group match was a great experience and we matched them physically. Their speed of ball across their backline was a real challenge to deal with.
Day 2 saw us enter the Bowl competition were we faced hosts St. Joseph's College in the Quarter-final bright and early in the day. In a very competitive and physical game, we got off to the perfect start with winger Oscar Baverstock finishing a great try in the corner set up by the forwards from a very good driving lineout. Ill discipline cost us, however, and we narrowly lost 10-5. We then moved into the Shield semi-final against Whitchurch High School, seeing a Wales v. Scotland battle commence. This game went down to the wire with play continuing for an extra 5 minutes into overtime as the ball never when dead. Having defended for their lives on our own goal line for several minutes, the Welsh team finally drove over to steal the win. Our last game on Day 2 was against Marlborough College who were another very good side. They exploited spaces out wide and took a 12-0 lead lasting for most of the game. We never gave up and scored 2 tries in 2 minutes at the end of the match to win 14-12.
The team scored some great tries over the weekend, the best one being in our last match of the Festival where we needed a converted try to win the game with the game clock out of time. We secured the restart, went coast-to-coast out wide, with centre/fullback Joe Townshend making a great break out wide going into their 22m area, to then side-step inside twice to score under the posts to finish off a great team try. He converted his own try to seal the victory.
There were no easy games, and with each game, we grew as a team and worked on different aspects of our play. The nature of the short matches, 12.5 minute halves on Day 1 and 10-minute halves on Day 2, meant that added pressure was there throughout the weekend as chances had to be taken and mistakes were punished by the high-quality teams that were in attendance.
The atmosphere was electric all weekend which added to the experience. Curtis McDermott played his part as he did an amazing job piping the players onto the pitch each game, adding to the atmosphere and showcasing our traditional Scottish culture. His piping was a constant talk along the touchlines throughout the weekend.
To end the Festival on this high was the just reward for all the efforts the players put in over the whole weekend. They were a credit to the school and Scottish schoolboy rugby. We can’t wait to return next year to continue to grow and develop our rugby year-on-year.
Next year's 37th National Schools Rugby Festival will be played on Saturday 21st & Sunday 22nd of October 2023.
Strathallan Travelling Squad
1. Carlos Aija
2. Adam Anderson (Captain)
3. Ellis Anderson
4. Oscar Baverstock
5. Stan Brodie
6. Archie Chisholm
7. Hamish Chisholm
8. Andy Clark
9. Ellis Cooper
10. Robert Cromar
11.Dougie Gordon
12. Zac Gray
13. Zak Henderson
14. Ratmir Khusyaynov
15. Jamie Langley
16. Patrick MacIntyre
17. Curtis McDermott
18.Murray Oliver (Vice-Captain)
19. Magnus Moody
20. Sean Norza
21. Archie Rankin
22. Kyle Robertson
23. Cole Stirling
24. Colby Taylor
25. JoeTownshend
