The St. Ninian’s Senior Rugby side have now played their first two games of the season, facing Ramsey Grammar School and Castle Rushen High School.
The game at Ramsey was a tough encounter against a well organised side. Struggling to hold on to possession meant long spells of defence for the Saints, which took its toll and led to conceding a number of tries. Despite some difficulties getting players to training earlier in the week, the boys who played gave their all and showed pride, giving the team a solid platform to build on moving forward.
Last week, after a long bus journey, the squad took on Castle Rushen. A strong start from the visitors suggested it would be a challenging afternoon, but the Saints adapted quickly and competed well in what was a very even first half. Castle Rushen’s good breakdown work forced a number of turnovers, and they capitalised on overlaps several times. Theo Head controlled parts of the game with his kicking and showed great pace and clever play with the ball in hand, crossing the whitewash twice to help the Saints to a half-time trailing score of 19-12. The second half started similarly, but a few missed tackles allowed Castle Rushen to score again, giving the visitors a boost. With momentum on their side, Castle Rushen piled on the pressure and crossed the line a few more times before the final whistle. Special mention to Courage and Jacob, who both played their first ever games of rugby this week. A fantastic achievement and a great start to their rugby journey.
Overall, the Saints showed significant improvement and should be proud of their efforts. Their commitment to tackling and creating opportunities was evident, and the team is showing potential. The focus now is on continuing to improve as a squad with more training and match experience. Well done to everyone involved!