St. Ninian’s Year 7 Rugby players took to the field on Saturday morning at Douglas Rugby Club to face Ballakermeen in the annual Douglas Cup, and the Saints delivered another outstanding performance to lift the trophy for the second year running. The squad’s commitment to Rugby this term has been exceptional, and it showed. With such strong numbers and enthusiasm, we were able to field two different teams across the two halves, both of which played with real confidence, physicality, and enjoyment.
The Saints started brightly, working hard at the breakdown and moving the ball with purpose. Captain Sebastian D led from the front with powerful carries that put Ballakermeen under pressure. After a period of sustained possession close to the line, the boys in red and blue finally broke the deadlock with a well worked try. At fly half, Lucas C controlled the game superbly. Given a bit of space, he showed his class with a brilliant mazy run to score the second try. Although Ballakermeen enjoyed plenty of possession, St. Ninian’s defensive work was the best it has been all season, with some courageous individual tackles forcing turnovers that led to further scores before the break.
The second half brought a fresh Saints team, but the quality remained just as high. Jack C burst through for an excellent try, while Toby S was a constant threat with ball in hand. Ballakermeen pushed hard and kept the game tight, but strong defensive sets in the final moments ensured the Saints finished on top when the whistle blew.
A huge thank you goes to Harry Cartwright and Douglas Rugby Club for hosting the event, and to Kris Hattem for refereeing. Well done to Ballakermeen for contributing to a fantastic fixture, and massive congratulations to all of our St. Ninian’s boys for their effort, teamwork, and progress this season.
With the Manchester tour in March now on the horizon, preparation will step up after Christmas. A brilliant morning of Rugby, well done everyone!
Saints Win the Douglas Cup!
