Southwest Crusaders take on Denmark Agricultural College
On the weekend of the 28 October 2006 the Southwest Crusaders U17’s travelled to Denmark to play two games against Denmark Agricultural College. The Southwest side coached by Scott Webster and Callan Hatchman travelled with a minimal squad due to injury and school exams.
The South West played two matches of rugby against a well oiled Denmark side. With only two full training sessions and one game together the Crusaders came away with two very close hard fought games.
The first game played on Saturday afternoon in hot and dry conditions was tight and tough as expected with two well matched and highly competitive teams. The final score was SW Crusaders 10 losing to Denmark 20. Fly Half Billy Watts was man of the match for the Crusaders with some massive hits and two superb tries.
Unfortunately, injuries to Centre Josh Carter and Billy Watts forced them out of the second game for the Crusaders.
With three Denmark players joining the Crusaders for the second game the contest was another tight affair. The Crusaders down by five points with ten minutes to go saw Winger Brody Whitburn score a superb solo try under the posts picking up from the ruck and darting through the Denmark forwards. The try was followed by a Mathew Cardona (half back) Conversion and the Crusaders were up by two points. However, lapses in defence allowed Denmark in for a try to steal the game by 5 points. The final score was SW Crusaders 19 and Denmark 24.
Brody Whitburn was named Man of the Match for the second game and Player of the Weekend for his huge effort in attack and also massive tackling effort throughout the weekend.
A big thank you goes out to all the boys who participated and displayed some great rugby skills, considering for most who have never played the game before. A special mention also must go out to Scott Webster who put in a massive nine hours of Bus Driving for the trip.
Much appreciation and thanks go to Glen Benari and the Denmark Agricultural College for being such great hosts and giving our boys such great exposure to the game of rugby.
Hopefully this marks the start of some great junior rugby in the southwest with planning commencing already for a junior South West rugby Competition and SW Crusaders Colts side for next year. Hopefully this fixture will be a calendar event.
