St George’s beat Dolphin in opener
OVERSIZE Dennis Saul scored the first try in the inaugural Diamond Mineral Water Schools League rugby championship, leading St George’s High to 3-1 victory over Dolphin Secondary at the National Park, yesterday.
In the other ties, St John’s College edged out Charlestown Secondary 2-1, Tutorial High were awarded a walkover from New Campbellville Secondary but lost by a try to a combined St John’s/Charlestown line-up in a friendly, all in the Under-14 division.

The star-studded Dolphin Secondary, with several junior national in the line-up, hammered a hapless South Ruimveldt 17-0, in the lone Under-18 encounter.

Standing taller than his contemporaries in the Under-14 field, Saul received the ball in the southern half of the field at the right. He set out on a diagonal run, evading the defence and then out-running them for the try at the left corner.

He again collected the ball on the right flank and out-ran the defence for the second try and St George’s led 2-0 at halftime of the 15-minute match.
Shortly after the resumption, Trevor English pulled one back for Dolphin. He received the ball from about three metres out then after a few steps plunged towards the line for the try.

But Saul was not finished. He collected the ball at the halfway line and raced away for the try to seal the game for St George’s.

Andrew Bright was the shining star in St John’s victory over Charlestown. For the first try, he collected the ball close to the line and raced in. The team led 1-0 at halftime. He was in action again, converting an excellent piece of passing and making ground, for the second try.

Carl Lewis collected the ball at the left, dodged the defence and raced down to within ten metres of the line. With the defence closing in all around, Lewis stopped in his tracks and sent a superb pass to Bright at centre, who raced straight down for the try, evoking an applause from the crowd.

Glenville Hazel pulled one back for Charlestown just before the final whistle. The Under-14 played tag rugby, a non-contact form of the game.

The closing match was the full form of the game over ten minutes per half. Michael Brown was the first to reach the try line. From a scrum about five metres from the line, Dolphin were awarded a penalty, and Brown received the pass at the left and raced to the line. The team led 5-0 at halftime as the conversion attempt was no good.

Dilon Thompson got the second try, collected the ball at the right and raced for line, plunging under the goal for a try. Peabo Hamilton was accurate with the conversion.

Hamilton was back in action to score the closing try. After several plays close to the line, he got the ball on the right and plunged to line. The conversion was no good.

The competition continues next week Saturday with four more matches, three for Under-14 and one for Under-18.

Tutorial come up against Dolphin from 13:30 h in the first match, New Campbellville meet St John’s and St George’s take on Charlestown.

The lone Under-18 match pits Annandale against South Ruimveldt.