School Boy Era

Published by Alex at June 23, 2007

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Sample Image 24 June 2007 – Tokyo Gaijin RFC v Ryutsu Keizai Daigaku – LOSS
SCHOOLBOY ERA’S

"Life isn't all beer and skittles, but beer and skittles, or something better of the same sort, must form a good part of every Englishman's education."
Thomas Hughes Tom Brown’s School Days (1857)

Traveling out to Ryutsu Keizai Daigaku’s campus meant an early start for most members of the team. Too early for some it turned out and the usual lateness issues ensured that the pre-match build-up was mostly an exercise in counting heads.

However, from the opening whistle the pre-match disarray vanished. The Gaijin opened the scoring with a spectacular try from Mauro Sauco after a storming run from Joffa Harris. The pack, led by Dave Huffman, Rob Poulton and Murray Clarke, ensured the Ryutsu forwards were kept under pressure after the Gaijin’s opening score. The students did manage to recover though for two well-worked backline tries to retake the lead midway through the first half. At this point the senior players, especially Captain Nimmo and center Niall Conlon, stepped up a gear and dragged the rest of the team with them. The Gaijin re-asserted themselves on the match and finished the half with a try to Shaunne Hughes, set-up by a long series of the charges and hand-off’s that have become the trademark Gaijin style.

Unfortunately, the Gaijn could not sustain this pressure and the students had the better of the second-half – first retaking the lead and then securing the result. However, the second half still contained plenty of positives. The loose forwards (Dave Kelver, Joe Fisher and Gazz) continued to link well with the backs and keep things moving forward. Mike Parks and Erin Hughes made sure the forwards workrate stayed high by running themselves into the ground and the back three of Jyoh Iwasaki (playing injured), Lawrence Hii and Sato-san hustled all day – Lawrence’s spectacular try-saving tackle epitomizing a tremendously gutsy Gaijin effort.

Shaunne Hughes, in his final match for the club, was deservedly awarded Player of the Day.

1. Dave Huffman (Canada)
2. Rob Poulton (England)
3. Mauro Sauco (Argentina)
4. Mike Parks (England)
5. Murray Clarke (New Zealand)
6. Erin Hughes (USA)
7. Dave Kelver (USA)
8. Joe Fisher (New Zealand)
9. Al Nimmo (England)
10. Shaunne Hughes (Australia)
11. Lawrence Hii (Singapore)
12. Joffa Harris (Australia)
13. Niall Conlon (England)
14. Sato-san (Japan)
15. Jyoh Iwasaki (Japan)
16. Gazz (Scotland)

Alex

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