Hamilton Boys’ High was in cruise control as they eased past the Odyssey XV by 64-0 during their opening match of the World Schools Festival in Thailand.
The boys from Hamilton ran in ten tries as the combined XV had no answers to stop their attacking process. Hamilton’s right-wing, Caelus Putoko, scored a hat-trick of tries with captain and Nr. 8, Oli Mathis and hooker, Inga Kokohu, also bagging a brace of tries.
The boys from Odyssey had the odds stacked against them as they’ve also played in the opening match of the tournament against the Rugby Travel Academy from South Africa. Players from the Rugby Travel Academy were used in the second half of the clash to secure player welfare.
The Rugby Travel Academy (RTA) won their clash against Odyssey by 29-12. RTA is coached by former Oyonnax en Blue Bulls flyhalf, Len Olivier. The Odyssey XV is coached by Wessel du Plessis who is currently the head coach of the Bulls u21-side and also a former coach of Grey College’s first XV.
Mathis is regarded as one of the best loose-forwards in New Zealand schoolboy rugby.
The match was also reduced by seven minutes in the end as the New Zealand outfit was picking up steam.
In the Celtic clash between St. Michael’s College of Ireland against Cardiff & Vale of Wales it was the latter who came out on top 12-11 in a tightly contested match.
The Irish side led by 8-7 at the break thanks to a penalty by their outside centre, Jules Fenelon. He also slotted a penalty in the second half to stretch their lead to 11-7.
It was however the captain and hooker of Cardiff & Vale, Saul Hurley, who crashed over the tryline with just a couple of minutes left on the clock to secure his team a victory as well as a place in the semi-final of the competition.
Scorers:
Hamilton Boys’ High 64 (24) – Tries: Caelys Putoko (3), Oli Mathis (2), Inga Kokohu (2) Kurtis Hana, Dupre Marshall, Breyton Legge. Conversions: Wyndham Patuawa (7). Odyssey XV 0 (0).
Cardiff & Vale 12 (7) – Tries: Dylan Lewis, Saul Hurley. Conversion: Tom Hughes. St. Michael’s College 11 (8) – Try: Joe Elliot. Penalties: Jules Fenelon (2).
