No celebrations at Cardinal Newman for St. Ambrose.

By Mrs A. Davies

Leaving the heat of Rio (34C), having enjoyed the sights (and the scenery was impressive too), we arrived back in Buenos Aires where the weather was typical of an English Summer 17C and drizzle. The boys must have felt at home especially as Cardinal Newman is a Christian Brothers school.

We spent the morning touring the colourful Boca district of BA concluding the visit at the home of Boca Juniors (Maradonna's club) The Bombonera stadium (means The Chocolate Box). Not an Old Trafford or Anfield but nevertheless impressive.

The boys knew that the matches in the afternoon were not going to be "boxes" of roses as CN are considered the best school team in Argentina but we hoped the managers and the boys could work some black magic.

The health of the teams was the main topic of conversation pre match as many were suffering from a head cold that has been passed round all the party. One or two heroes stepped up to play nursing minor injuries or coughing and sneezing.

By kick off the light rain had stopped and the grandstand slowly filled with opposition supporters.

Tom Gomoulko won the toss and CN kicked off. Alex Porter caught the ball and passed to Adrian Bevan who put in a fine kick to touch. CN won the throw in and pushed forward. A kick to touch by them was collected by Andrew Arnall but the ball was then lost in the ruck. CN passed quickly along the line gaining an overlap and ran in for a try 5 minutes into the game. The conversion was missed 5-0.

From the kick off CN collected and kicked down field. Ben Quiligotti caught the ball and kicked for touch. St. A won the line out but unfortunately knocked on. Scrum down. St. A gained possession but were unable to make much ground. A knock on resulted in another scrum. We won the ball but lost it immediately. CN passed quickly along the line but Niall Clancy alert to the movement was very unfortunate not to hold on to the interception. Scrum down for the knock on. CN won the ball but knocked on in the final stages of a clever move. St. Ambrose won the scrum and Adrian Bevan produced an enormous kick over the grandstand. From the lineout Niall Clancy was once again unlucky not to intercept cleanly. From the resulting scrum Adrian Bevan put in another big kick to pin CN back on the 22. CN won the line out and we were penalised for offside. CN kicked for touch. 12 yards out we won the line out but the ball was held up. CN won the resulting scrum. Tom Gomoulko won the ball in the tackle and we attempted to kick for touch. CN collected but three good tackles from Alex Roche, Pat Clear and Tom Gurrie meant they made little progress. Unfortunately slick handling and a good dummy allowed CN in under the post. Conversion successful. 20 mins. 12-0.

From the start the ball was kicked deep into CN territory. They failed to collect cleanly and it was scrum down for the knock on. A high tackle on a CN player gave them a penalty 10 yards inside their own half. St. Ambrose won the line out following the touch kick. Adrian Bevan kicked down field and Sam Waterhouse followed up putting in a good tackle that limited their progress. This was a temporary halt as fast passing and good handling allowed CN to make a lot of ground. Pat Clear was good in defence but CN were just too strong and went over for their third try. 17-0 after 25 minutes.

St. Ambrose were beginning to realise that this was not going to be a picnic. If we were to stop CN gaining more bounty we needed to make every tackle count.
Unfortunately this CN team was strong and their passing fast and accurate.

St. A pressed hard from the kick off and got close to the CN line. The boys tried to set up a clever line out move but the ball was judged not to have travelled 10 yards. The chance to make a score was lost as CN kicked to touch on the half way. The ball was not thrown in straight and from the resulting scrum CN continued their fast passing game to go under the posts. This was converted. 33 minutes 24-0.

This pattern of play continued for the remainder of the half. ST Ambrose worked hard trying to make ground but every time CN got the ball there was danger. Luck was with the opposition when a series of difficult bounces led to errors by St. A and CN scored. 37 mins. 29-0.

The half time whistle was blown as St. Ambrose mounted an attack.

The boys came out for the second half hoping they could get points on the board. Unfortunately 5 minutes in, CN scored again 36-0

Bernard Lennon tackled well but from the ensuing ruck CN once more beat St. A to the line. 7 mins. 43-0

Heads did not go down. Realizing CN were real smarties at rugby our boys were determined to at least get a score on the board. Unfortunately it was not to be and CN scored 5 more times.
The final score being 78-0.

The boys should not feel too despondent. There were spirited performances from many players. John Newsham, man of the match, and Bernard Lennon both tackled liked demons. Adam Gray saved a certain try with a fine tackle 25 mins. into the second half. Sam Waterhouse made a good forward drive gaining many yards in one attack.

The Cardinal Newman side were older and very much a quality (street) team. We were suffering injuries and illness. The boys did come close to scoring on a number of occasions.
More importantly they conducted themselves admirably and in a sportsman like manner under the most trying of circumstances. We were proud of them. Well done.