Welcome to the home page of Guildford Grammar School. Total Rugby is delighted to be able to host this school on its New Zealand tour in 2012. This is the first time we have worked with Guildford. However, the coach, Michael Holland, toured here with us when he was with Aquinas in 2009. Western Australia is a part of the world I am familiar with having worked and taught there for a number of years. My rugby club was Palmyra and it is wonderful to see that rugby is still alive and well in the W.A.
Mike travelled to the West Coast in 2009 and has asked for more the Coast experience this time round. Traveller driving over the two passes and spending time at Carters Beach are truly seeing some iconic New Zealand – the magnificent Southern Alps and the wildly rugged west coast. Not to mention the Kiwi characters that inhabit this regions.
The Christchurch Boys’ High International Rugby Festival is still the largest 1st XV tournament in the country and one of the main events on the pre-season calendar. You will experience something of the NZ secondary school rugby culture – in a somewhat compressed version over three days of demanding rugby.
I know you will have a magnificent time and we look forward to meeting you all and sharing some of the magic that is New Zealand with you.
Guildford Grammar NZ XV vs Buller High XV
Buller High hosted Guildford Grammar, who went into the match determined to build a strong defensive wall. The visiting team’s defensive work held out Buller for the entire first half, leading at the break with a 12 – 0 score.
Buller High managed to keep their heads up throughout the match, despite facing a larger and more rehearsed team, and running out of front-row forwards early in the second half. Their spirited play was rewarded with a late try. But they were unable to prevent a healthy 31 to 5 victory by the Guildford Grammar team.
The score was helped by Linden Marrisen scoring 3 conversions out of 5. Callum Fraser, a 6′ 4″ 16 year old scored a cracking try to leave him as lead tour try scorer with three to date. Other Guldford players of note were Jack Merritt, who was outstanding on the wing, and Nick Pearson who lead the team well throughout the match.
Guildford Grammar NZ XV vs St Andrews College(STAC) 1st/2nd XV
This was always going to be a competitive match, staged on the St Andrews’ team’s home ground, and play started well, however Guildford Grammar found they were playing within themselves, and STAC made better use of the ball, moving it wide, and then with the bigger boys making yards from the ruck. Guildford tried to compensate by pushing up through the middle, but they lacked the physical size to realise any gains. St Andrews College went to the break with a 17 to 3 lead.
In the second half, the visitors had begun to realise they could be competitive in this game and made some keys changes on the field, which soon resulted in gains on the scoreboard. The final score was 29-15 to St Andrews.
Some of the standout Guildford Grammar players who deserve mention for their stirling efforts included Daniel Fleay at inside centre, Jack Reid as blindside flanker, Barry Erasmus, Malcolm McClellan at scrum-half and once again the captain Nick Pearson.